Following the breakup of Vanilla Fudge in March of 1970, bass player Tim Bogert went on with drummer Carmine Appice to form Cactus with guitarist Jim McCarty (Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels), and vocalist Rusty Day (Ted Nugent and the Amboy Dukes). Says Tim, "Carmine and I were lying in the back of a limo on the way home from a gig in Arizona. We were talking about leaving the Fudge. We passed under a sign that read ' The Cactus Drive-In'. It was the easiest band name we ever thought of."

This high energy rockin' blues band gave Tim the opportunity to further prove his ability to fill the gaps in what was essentially an instrumental trio, while maintaining his meaty, melodic style. After three studio albums, Jim McCarty left the band and was replaced by an unknown guitarist, Werner Friching, from Germany that they met in New York. Carmine once said that he and Tim had trouble with many guitarists because the two of them were "crazy musicians from New York" and were too high energy. Well, so much the loss for the guitar players! With the addition of keyboardist Duane Hitchings, from the original Buddy Miles Express and a new vocalist, Pete French, from Atomic Rooster, they recorded a fourth album 'Ot 'n Sweaty in 1972. This Cactus version, lasted only another seven months before breaking up completely.

During Cactus' brief existence, they produced some of the most influential rock records of all time. Pay close attention to what Tim Bogert says on this site, because he is 1/2 of one of the most rocking rhythm sections of all time.