NEW YORK - As they celebrate a half-century of cutting edge music and live performances, VANILLA FUDGE will release the CD/DVD of LIVE AT SWEDEN ROCKS - THE 50th ANNIVERSARY. Available December 8th on MIG Records and distributed by MVD, LIVE AT SWEDEN ROCK presents the band in its rawest and most honest setting. Guitar, bass, drums and keyboards hold down the music, while the perfectly blended voices of the group provide the color behind the compelling lead vocals of Mark Stein.  The result is a band that sounds just as strong and relevant today as it did in 1967.

"Quite honestly, even though Vanilla Fudge has been together for half a century," says lead vocalist and keyboardist Mark Stein, "I really never tire of playing these songs and arrangements because the energy level never seems to dissipate."

Adds drummer Carmine Appice: "It was a great time playing the Sweden Rock festival. To see all those people enjoying our set was a great feeling."

The album features powerful psychedelic re-workings of classic songs from The Doors, Donovan and Led Zeppelin, along with a distinctive musical take on the Motown and R&B classics, "Shotgun" "Take Me For A Little While" and "You Keep Me Hanging On."

With Stein, Appice and Martell in place, along with bassist Pete Bremy, Vanilla Fudge is one of a handful of 60s bands who are still intact with most of its founding members.

Formed out of the ashes of The Pigeons, with Stein, Appice, Martell and bassist Tim Bogert, the band was soon renamed Vanilla Fudge, because of its musical concept of four white musicians playing re-vamped rock versions of popular soul hits. Sold out world tours; hit albums; and a reputation as a group steeped in cutting-edge musicianship has allowed Vanilla Fudge to be hugely influential. The group has remained together on and off ever since, with Bogert departing in 2006 after a motorcycle accident and his decision to retire.

"Playing with Carmine and Mark now is like waking up in the middle of a long solo that started in 1967," laughs guitarist Vince Martell, who, is also a US Navy veteran. "Is it tomorrow? Let's call it Vanilla Haze…" 

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www.VanillaFudge.com