Vinny Appice "Sweet Evil" (1977), and "Derringer Live" (1977), before forming his own band Axis and recording "It's A Circus World" (1978). Appice joined Black Sabbath during the tour in support of the "Heaven and Hell" album in 1980. He was quickly brought in to replace original drummer Bill Ward, who quit the band mid-tour due to personal issues. Appice arrived for his first show with Black Sabbath at the Aloha Stadium in Hawaii with his entire drum kit packed into the back of a car. He was forced to learn the band's songs on stage, using hastily written crib notes for
Carmine Appice ESPN, using a NASCAR garage as a set and mechanic's hardware as instruments. They were voted as the runner-up in the "Drum" magazine poll for Percussion Ensemble (2008) after a special appearance at the magazine's drum festival. SLAMM also appears on the Modern Drummer festival DVD (2008). He recorded "Carmine Appice's Guitar Zeus: Conquering Heroes" (2009). This was the third album in his "Guitar Zeus" series. These albums have featured guitarists such as Jennifer Batten, Brian May, Ted Nugent, Richie Sambora and Yngwie Malmsteen. Carmine Appice lives in New York with his longtime girlfriend, radio personality Leslie Gold, The Radiochick.