Photos by Andy Argyrakis

Often referred to as “The American Led Zeppelin,” Cactus was one of America’s hardest hitting acts throughout the 1970s, and upon being reformed in the 2000s after influencing at least a couple generations of blues-leaning rockers, picked up right where it left off.

Led by original beat keeper Carmine Appice (also of Vanilla Fudge and Beck, Bogert & Appice fame, amongst several other super groups), the latest line-up typically features singer Ed Terry, guitarist Artie Dillon and bassist James Caputo.

However, when it came to the album release concert for the collaboration-filled “Temple Of The Blues II,” the Cactus All Stars expanded to include Billy Sheehan (Mr. Big, Winery Dogs), Eric Gales, Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake, Dio), Tony Franklin (The Firm, Appice’s Blue Murder bandmate, Lou Gramm Band), Pat Travers, Illinois’ own Dug Pinnick (King’s X), Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (Guns N’ Roses, Asia, Sons Of Apollo) and Rob Caudill (who impersonates Rod Stewart), marking yet another area exclusive for Ron Onesti’s Arcada Theatre in St. Charles.

The crests were too many to count, such a front half filled with the rumbles of Sheehan and “Bumblefoot” joining Cactus during Mose Allison’s “Parchman Farm,” the powerhouse Pinnick entering the fold for “One Way…Or Another” and the electrifying Aldrich accenting Howlin’ Wolf’s “Evil Is Goin’ On.”

Following an intermission, the momentum continued thanks to the core of Cactus, the fret monster Franklin and “Bumblefoot” on The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s “Purple Haze,” the bluesy wails of Gales and Sheehan revitalizing Willie Dixon’s “Back Door Man,” Travers tearing up “Big Mama Boogie” and Caudill aggressively interpreting Stewart’s “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” as co-writer/original drummer Appice flawlessly replicated his parts.

Almost everyone returned for a grand finale of Little Richard’s “Long Tall Sally,” a gigantic guitar jam if there ever was one, that put the emphasis on a universally shared influence, the cast’s camaraderie, and of course, the one and only Cactus holding down the entire foundation.

For those who couldn’t make it or want to revisit the studio versions, these same artists can be heard throughout the “Temple Of The Blues” series, in addition to Ted Nugent, Steve Morse (Deep Purple, Kansas), Joe Lynn Turner (Rainbow, Deep Purple), Dee Snider (Twisted Sister, Rudy Sarzo (Ozzy Osbourne, Quiet Riot), Tracii Guns (L.A. Guns) and Alex Skolnick (Testament).

As an added bonus, proceeds from the marathon event benefited the Tunnel 2 Towers Foundation, the Recording Academy’s MusicCares, Music Will, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame, pairing plenty of worthy causes with even more priceless performances.

For additional information on Cactus, visit CactusRocks.com.

Upcoming shows at the Arcada Theatre include In The Flesh! Echoes Of Pink Floyd (Apr. 4); Kashmir: The Music Of Led Zeppelin (Apr. 10); Harriet (Apr. 11); The Broken Hearts: Tribute To Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (Apr. 11); The Man In Black: A Tribute To Johnny Cash (Apr. 12); Max Weinberg’s Jukebox (Apr 16); Screeching Weasel (Apr. 17); Uli Jon Roth (Apr. 18); Small Town: A John Mellencamp Experience (Apr. 19); John Waite (Apr. 23); Tommy’s Rocktrip featuring Tommy Clufetos (Apr. 24); Buckethead (Apr. 25); Pavlov’s Dog (Apr. 26); That Arena Rock Show (May 1); The ’77 Experience (May 2); Scott Patterson (May 3); Toast: The Best Of Bread (May 7); Geoff Tate’s Operation Mindcrime (May 8); Little Feat (May 9); P!NK’D (May 10); Hell’s Belles: All Female AC/DC Tribute (May 14); Fozzy (May 15); Cinderella’s Tom Keifer Band (May 16); Jim Brickman (May 17); Great White and Slaughter (May 22); Vinny Appice’s Sabbath Knights (May 23); The Sixties Show (May 24); Terry Fator (May 28); Tusk: The Classic Fleetwood Mac Tribute (May 29) and The Dead Daisies featuring Glenn Hughes (May 30). For additional details, visit ArcadaLive.com.

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