Photos submitted to Times Observer Appice is the inspiration for the Muppet “Animal.”

From Rolling Stones to “The Muppet Show,” Carmine Appice is celebrated as one of the greatest rock and roll drummers of all time. On October 28, Appice and his band Vanilla Fudge are coming to Warren for a show at Struthers Library Theatre.

Named to the Classic Drummer Hall of Fame, the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame and ranked number 28 on Rolling Stones’ list of Greatest Drummers of All Time, Appice is a bruising power hitter with an instantly identifiable style.

Appice’s playing style, persona and black Fu Manchu moustache are so recognizable, it is rumored that Appice is the direct inspiration for the drummer muppet “Animal.” “Animal” is a muppet who plays the drums so wildly he must be chained to his drum set for everyone’s safety.

As one of rock’s most storied drummers, Appice is a member of Vanilla Fudge and was a member of Cactus; Beck, Bogert and Appice; and Blue Murder. Appice also thumped skins for Rod Stewart, Ted Nugent, Rick Derringer and Ozzy Osbourne.

Appice’s career was launched by Vanilla Fudge’s huge hit, a slowed-down, psychedelicized version of the Supremes’ “You Keep Me Hangin’ On.” On one Fudge tour, their support act was a young Led Zeppelin, for whom Appice tutored John Bonham on drum brands. Appice influenced a young John Bonham with his romping, aggressively funky grooves. Bonham went on to become Rolling Stones’ number one Greatest Drummer of All Time.

A valuable team player as well as a hard-driving solo star, Carmine Appice literally wrote the book on rock drumming: His 1972 text The Realistic Rock Drum Method has been a staple since its release.

Appice made his name in the late Sixties with eccentric psych outfit Vanilla Fudge, then adopted a heavier blues-rock style with Cactus and Beck, Bogert & Appice. He demonstrated his range in the late-Seventies Rod Stewart band, contributing sassy backbeats and key songwriting assistance on hits such as “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy.” Stewart reportedly called Appice “The Dentist” for all his fill-ins.

According to Appice, some of his key innovations came from the constraints of playing live rock music during his formative years: “All the stuff we all did – the stuff that I am [credited with] starting was just stuff that I did out of necessity,” Appice told Drum Magazine in 2011. “I pioneered the use of big drum sets and played with the butt end of the sticks early on. I did that because there were no P.A. systems.”

More recently, Appice has kept busy playing “Drum Wars” shows with younger brother and fellow elite hard-rock beatsmith Vinny, drummer for Dio and Black Sabbath. “I’m determined to bring the drums up front, man. I really think the kids are ready. We’re talking with Ludwig about maybe giving a drum set to the winner of the contest.

“There’s a battle of the bands in Daytona, Florida sponsored by Ludwig and I’m going to be the guest-star judge. Sometimes I wonder about myself!” he laughed. “People ask me, ‘Well, what do you do for fun?’ This is what I do for fun! You gotta keep that New York attitude. Once you lose that, man, you’re in trouble!”

Appice, still keeping the beat like a wildman, will be appearing at the Struthers Library Theatre on October 28 with his band, Vanilla Fudge. The show starts at 8 p.m. and tickets are available at the door, online at strutherslibrarytheatre.com, at the theatre office, or by phone from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. weekdays at 814-723-7231.