Tim Bogert obit

Vanilla Fudge Bassist Tim Bogert Dead at 76

"Tim introduced a new level of virtuosity into rock bass playing. No one played like Tim," long-time bandmate Carmine Appice writes 

He was not on the list.

Tim Bogert — founding bassist of the psychedelic rock band Vanilla Fudge and member of the supergroup Beck, Bogert, and Appice — died Wednesday at the age of 76 following a battle with cancer, Deadline reports.

Bogert’s death was confirmed by his long-time bandmate and drummer Carmine Appice, who played alongside Bogert in Vanilla Fudge, Cactus and Beck, Bogert and Appice, where the two were joined by guitarist Jeff Beck.

“He was like a brother to me. He was my friend for over 50 years,” Appice wrote in a Facebook tribute. “Tim was a one of a kind bass player. He inspired many, many bass players worldwide. He was as masterful at shredding as he was holding down a groove, and Tim introduced a new level of virtuosity into rock bass playing. No one played like Tim. He created bass solos that drove audiences to a frenzy every time he played one. And he played a different solo every night. He was the last of the legendary Sixties bass players.”

Vanilla Fudge, in its original incarnation with Bogert, released five albums between 1967 and 1969, including their self-titled debut album, which featured the band’s biggest hit, a cover of the Supremes’ “You Keep Me Hanging On.” The group disbanded in 1970 but would reform throughout the next five decades, with Bogert taking part in various reunions — including their 2007 album Out Through the in Door, a collection of Led Zeppelin covers — until his retirement from touring in 2009.

Following their tenure in Vanilla Fudge, Bogert and Appice formed the early heavy metal group Cactus, which released four albums between 1970 and 1972. After that band’s split, Bogert and Appice were joined by Beck to form the one-off supergroup Beck, Bogert, and Appice, with the trio releasing an eponymous LP in 1973. That album also featured the first recorded version of Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” — originally a collaboration between Wonder and Beck, with Bogert on lead vocals for the trio’s take — but Wonder released his solo Talking Book version before the BB&A album came out.

As a bass guitarist and vocalist he was best known for his powerful vocal ability and his fast runs, fluid agility and ground-breaking sound on his Fender Precision Bass. He was one of the pioneers of using distortion with his bass to help it cut through the mix with the low-powered amps of his time which also imparted a very sharp-edged sound to it. He was a frequent collaborator with drummer Carmine Appice; the duo performed in such bands as Vanilla Fudge, Cactus and the power trio Beck, Bogert & Appice.