Carmine Appice currently has an estimated net worth of 4 million dollars as of 2025. Appice is a driving force in drumming and percussion and is regarded as one of rock’s most admired artists of the past five decades. Appice was best known for his work with the bands Vanilla Fudge, Cactus, and Beck, Bogert, and Appice, for which he will go down as one of the architects of heavy rock drumming.
Not only is he a performer, but he is also an accomplished author who wrote the best-selling drum instruction book, The Realistic Rock Drum Method (1972, The first Realistic Rock Drum Method), and his autobiography, Stick It!: My Life of Sex, Drums & Rock ’n’ Roll (2016).
Carmine Appice was born into a musical family in Brooklyn, New York, on December 15 1946. He was taught the fundamentals of music at an early age as a classically trained musician but was influenced heavily early in his drum career by legendary jazz artists Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich. His musical background focused mainly on rhythms and performances led him to discover rock, where he developed a drum style where you would hit them very firmly. The intensity and style of what he played would turn out to be inspirations for future generations to come.
Carmine Appice gained fame in the late 1960s with the psychedelic rock band Vanilla Fudge, which would record 5 albums total in a short duration. His powerful drumming and thunderous playing led him to become a well-respected drummer in the genre.
After Vanilla Fudge, Appice and bassist Tim Bogert formed the blues rock band Cactus and eventually joined discount legend Jeff Beck with drummer Appice as the group Beck, Bogert, and Appice for music albums together.
Career Highlights
Rod Stewart Era
In 1976, Appice joined Rod Stewart’s band, contributing not only drums but also songwriting. He co-wrote several of Stewart’s hit songs, including
“Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?”
“Young Turks”
“Better Off Dead”
“My Girl”
Collaborations and Projects
Throughout his career, Carmine has performed with some of the biggest names in rock and even other genres, such as
Pink Floyd
Ozzy Osbourne
Stanley Clarke
Ted Nugent
King Kobra
Blue Murder
He also started the group SLAMM in 2006, described as a “Stomp on steroids” project that showed a new concept of percussion.
Later Work
The last few decades have kept Carmine busy and relevant. Some highlights are:
The Guitar Zeus project included Brian May, Richie Sambora and Jennifer Batten.
Drum Wars performances with his brother Vinny Appice (who performed with Black Sabbath and Dio).
The 2021 album is called Energy Overload (Appice Perdomo Project).
Awards and Recognition
Carmine Appice is considered one of the founding fathers of hard rock drumming. He has received the following honors/awards:
Modern Drummer Hall of Fame.
Classic Drummer Hall of Fame.
Guitar Center Drum-Legends Hall of Fame.
Hollywood’s Rockwalk Induction.
Lifetime Achievement awards from Modern Drummer and Sabian Cymbals.
In 1981, Los Angeles mayor Tom Bradley declared May 23 Carmine Appice Day in remembrance of his work in music education and charity.
Carmine Appice has always been an advocate for music education and has served on the honorary board of Music Will (formerly Little Kids Rock), a nonprofit that provides free instruments and lessons to underserved schools.
He resides in New York with his longtime partner, Leslie Gold, a radio personality known as The Radio Chick. His younger brother, Vinny Appice, is another legendary drummer.
Carmine Appice Net Worth & Sources of Income (2025)
Net Worth: $4 Million
Sources of income:
Touring and performances (Vanilla Fudge, Rod Stewart, Beck, Bogert & Appice and more)
Songwriting royalties (Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?, Young Turks)
Book sales (The Ultimate Realistic Rock Drum Method, Stick It!)
Collaborations and recording projects
Carmine Appice has enjoyed a long career that is punctuated by his versatility and constant reinvention as an artist for over fifty years. This has made him financially and musically relevant.
FAQs About Carmine Appice
How much is Carmine Appice worth?
As of 2025, Carmine Appice has an estimated net worth of $4 million.
What bands has Carmine Appice played in?
He has played with Vanilla Fudge, Cactus, Beck, Bogert & Appice, King Kobra, and Blue Murder and has worked with artists such as Rod Stewart, Ozzy Osbourne, and Pink Floyd.
Did Carmine Appice write any famous songs?
Yes. He co-wrote the Rod Stewart hits “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” and “Young Turks.”
Is Carmine Appice related to Vinny Appice?
Yes, Vinny Appice is Carmine’s younger brother and is also a legendary drummer, known for performing with Black Sabbath and Dio.
Has Carmine Appice written any books?
Yes, he wrote the Coldream525, TheUltimateRealisticRockDrumMethod(249476963), & Stick It!: My Life of Sex, Drums & Rock ’n’ Roll.
Is Carmine Appice still alive?
Yes. He is still alive and continues to record, perform live and work on new projects, indicating that his impact on music is as strong as ever.
Carmine Appice is not only a drummer; he is a rock innovator, educator, and author who helped shape the sound of hard rock drumming. With a reported $4 million in net worth, his mark in music continues to motivate upcoming adventures with new generations of musicians worldwide.
