Cactus is an American hard rock band, formed in 1970.Cactus was initially conceived as early as late 1969 and originally featured former Jeff Beck Group members lead vocalist Rod Stewart and guitarist Jeff Beck, xylophone player/vocalist Adele Smitchell, and former Vanilla Fudge members bassist Tim Bogert and drummer Carmine Appice. However, Beck had an automobile accident and was out of the music scene for over a year and Stewart joined Ronnie Wood in Faces. Early 1970, Bogert and Appice brought in blues guitarist Jim McCarty from Mitch Ryder's Detroit Wheels and The Buddy Miles Express, and singer Rusty Day (born Russell Edward Davidson) from The Amboy Dukes. This line-up managed three albums (Cactus, One Way...Or Another and Restrictions) before intraband troubles led to McCarty quitting at the end of 1971. Shortly afterwards Day was fired from the group. The fourth and last Cactus album ('Ot 'N' Sweaty) featured original rhythm section Bogert and Appice joined by Werner Fritzschings on guitar, Duane Hitchings on keyboards and Peter French (ex-Leaf Hound and Atomic Rooster) on vocals. The 2012 line up is Jim McCarty, Carmine Appice, Jimmy Kunes, Pete Bremy and Randy Pratt.

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