He is best known for his associations with Vanilla Fudge; Cactus; the power trio Beck, Bogert & Appice; Rod Stewart; King Kobra; and Blue Murder.

[6] Appice received classical music training, and was influenced early on by the work of jazz drummers Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa.

After five albums, the pair left Vanilla Fudge[7] to form the blues rock quartet Cactus,[8] with vocalist Rusty Day and guitarist Jim McCarty.

[12] In late 1983 Appice toured with Ozzy Osbourne in support of his Gold-selling Bark at the Moon album, but shortly afterward was fired from the backing group.

In 2005, he became an official supporter of Little Kids Rock, a nonprofit organization which provides free musical instruments and instruction to children in less privileged public schools throughout the USA.

He has personally delivered instruments to children in the program and has also performed at benefit concerts for the organization and sits on its Honorary board of directors.

[citation needed] The band filmed a promotional video for the Cable Network station ESPN, using a NASCAR garage as a set and mechanics' hardware as instruments.

2011–2012 saw Carmine performing Drum Wars shows with his brother Vinny Appice and guitarist Michael Hund, as well a reformation of King Kobra with Johnny Rod, Mick Sweda, and David Henzerling, with Paul Shortino replacing Marcie Free on lead vocals.

[23] Appice was set to play with Vinnie Vincent in a mini-reunion show slated originally for December 2018 but moved to February 2019 before ultimately being completely canceled.

King Kobra Marty Friedman Michael Schenker Mother's Army Pappo's Blues Paul Stanley Pearl Pink Floyd[29] Rated X Rod Stewart Sly Stone Ted Nugent Travers & Appice[31] (as duo with Pat Travers) Vanilla Fudge Vargas, Bogert & Appice