I was at the Clinic he was doing at Sam Ash in Paramus, N J. He had a bass player and guitarist and he was into for 15 or 20 minutes when John Bonham arrived in a limousine and just wandered in. Everyone was shocked, even Carmine Appice and his fellow musicians. Carmine got up from the drums and bowed to Bonham. Then offered the sticks to him and motioned for him to take the throne. Bonham declined and said he was here to see him. So, Bonham took a spot in the crowded SamAsh behind Appice and watched the whole clinic. It was an awesome night. Would have loved to see Bonham take the sticks and have at it, but Appice was great. I don't remember who the bassist and guitarist were, but it was a great jam session. Not bad for a free Drum clinic one memorable night in Paramus.

Carmine Appice is a class act all the way. The line “understatement of four decades” along with Carmine’s facial expression is priceless.

THIS IS WHAT I CHERISH ABOUT DRUMMERS- WE ARE SUPPORTIVE OF ONE ANOTHER- TRUE BROTHERS. AMEN

They say greats in any field learn from other greats . Carmen Appice and John Bonham , two of rock's greatest drummers .

Bonzo pretty much says the exact same thing about meeting CA as he is saying here. So does JB's brother who wrote a biography. He's not lying about this.

Carmine Appice has always just been one cool dude! He's one of the most musical drummers in rock 'n' roll that I've ever seen and a hell of a showman. What a great, great story that was!

We were there and he was allowing guests lucky enough to get in a chance to drum on a second kit set up in front of him. When Bonham showed up everyone jumped up on their chairs chanting " BONHAM BONHAM" John Bonham obviously respected Carmine and was his friend. This was at Sam Ash on route 4 east in Paramus. Thank you Carmine for your time and as if being in your audience was not cool enough talking to us in attendance but to have your friend the legend John Bonham take time to find you. If you remember you were told he was coming and you announced a special friend was in town ( New York) and was trying to find the location ( his green limo ended up at the front door)this was before gps. Haha. We had a great time that night and for three teenagers it will not be forgotten. Thank you again

Carmen Appice is one of the greats. Period.

I love Carmine not only because he's a legendary drummer, but also because he reminds me so strikingly of my late father-in-law, may he rest in peace. Both Italian, both Brooklyn-born, both as kind as they were talented in their respective trades (Carmine a musician, my father-in-law a chef and caterer).

"I remember calling Ludwig saying 'this new guy John Bonham, this group Led Zeppelin... I think they're gonna be big' " lol, what an understatement, what a great anecdote!

This has got to be one of the coolest rock 'n' roll stories on the net! Much respect to both...

Respect to Carmine...this man influenced both John Bonham and Ian Paice, these three are among the greatest rock drummers ever to sit behind a kit.

John Bonham, Ginger Baker, Neil Peart, Keith Moon and of course Carmine Appice have all contributed with many other names to rock and thank God they are all different so we can enjoy a universe of different sounds all connected to one time.

What Carmine says here is the truth. I saw VF after they released their first album in 1967 at the Fillmore in NYC. Carmine set himself apart from all drummers I had heard and seen previously. He brought in heavy metal drumming. He was heavy and funky with a dash of showmanship. I saw LZ on their first tour of the US open for the VF in early 69'. John Bonham was influenced by Carmine. From the sound of his drums to some of the licks he was playing you could see and hear it. That does not take anything away from Bonham. He was a great drummer in that style of music but Carmine started that style of heavy metal drumming.

It's so great to be able to hear actual stories from the ppl there like Carmine talking about Bonham. If you are my age and went to HS in the early-mid 80s most ppl cut there hair and we had Reagan, new wave, bad hair rock except for Motley and a couple decent bands, and the 70s super groups were basically dead and taking a break. That said you had guys like me that didn't really get or like the new wave thing that were kids in the 70s in awe of the older long haired kids on the block but were too young so we missed the boat but made up for it by going to the song at the midnight movies, read hammer of the gods, bought CODA in 82' etc. Now it's all on utube for your viewing pleasure but back then any footage you could find on a vhs or whatever was gold. Even as recently as when How The West Was Won came out around 2000 I bought it and my jaw fkn dropped when Zep entered that 1970 arena and busted into Were Gonna Grove. I got goose bumps just now just thinking back to that moment! Zeppelin just has something from beyond! Sorry I know this post is a bit scattered.

He still has "the" beer bottle John drank out of that night. Wonder what happened to the other 47.

The Young Rascals were a BIG influence on VF. They had a drummer named Dino Danelli. Lot of similarities between these guys. Loved watching them all play in the Village at one time or another. Hendrix too. The good old days of Rock and Roll.

thank you for sharing and congrats for Carmine for being around and doing so well

Led Zeppelin opened for Vanilla Fudge on December 27, 1968 at Seattle Center Arena, Seattle; and next day at Pasific Coliseum, Vancouver.

Carmine was there nobody else posting here was ,thanks Mr Appice