She was barely over three years together. Between 1967 and 1970 she recorded five albums. The Vanilla Fudge formation has written music history with these and since then has been repeatedly apostrophized as the "best cover band of all time". Presumably the New York Quartet is the same, because there is no other act that has forged such heavy-blooded versions from sometimes light-footed originals by such different artists as the Supremes, Zombies, Beatles or Sonny & Cher. A phenomenon! In 1999 the reunion took place, which has lasted until today. Keyboarder and singer Mark Stein (70) and guitarist Vince Martell (72) are proud of the exceptional formation they co-founded.
eclipsed: How does it feel to have been a part of Vanilla Fudge for half a century?
Mark Stein: It's certainly not boring! (laughs) Which is also because we haven't played together for many years. This ensures that the batteries are recharged. Whereby we have always maintained sporadic contact with each other. And between 1967 and 1970, we enjoyed a wild, crazy time together.
Vince Martell: In 1967, the idea of revolutionary new music brought us together. We played them. This kind of thing welds you up, it'll last a lifetime. We'll always be friends.
eclipsed: Is the term "best cover band ever" a compliment to you?
Stein: I would rather say that we are the "weirdest cover band ever". (laughs) That's what we love to stand for!
Martell: That's a wonderful compliment! We took great songs and gave them power and opulence. So far none of the original songwriters has complained to us.