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
King Kobra King Kobra King Kobra is a hard rock band founded by drummer Carmine Appice after his tenure with Ozzy Osbourne from 1983 to 1984. During the time of their first two albums, the band included four relatively unknown musicians that included vocalist Mark Free, guitarist David Michael-Philips, guitarist Mick Sweda, and bassist Johnny Rod. After two albums on Capitol records—"Ready to Strike" (November 9, 1985) and "Thrill of a Lifetime" (1986)—and an independent release entitled "King Kobra III" in 1988, Appice decided to dissolve the band and join guitarist John Sykes on his Blue Murder project in 1989. In 2010,