1) 1960s s… Read Full Bio ↴There are several musical projects under the name Cactus:
1) 1960s supergroup
2) A Bengali Rock Band from Kolkata, India
3) 8 piece ska band from Brisbane, Australia
4) a psytrance artist
5) Noise/Drone from San Francisco.
6) A Norwegian rock band with screamo elements.
1) The plan was for the Vanilla Fudge rhythm section of bassist Tim Bogert and drummer Carmine Appice to join with guitar god Jeff Beck and his singer Rod Stewart in a supergroup of sorts in the fall of 1969. The plan was derailed when Beck had an automobile accident that incapacitated him for the next 18 months. Stewart then joined pal Ron Wood in the revamped Faces (and pursued a somewhat lucrative solo career), leaving Bogert and Appice to find alternates for their dream band. They recruited guitarist Jim McCarty from Mitch Ryder's Detroit Wheels, Ted Nugent's Amboy Dukes and The Buddy Miles Express, and singer Rusty Day from Ted Nugent's Amboy Dukes.
This line-up managed three albums (Cactus, One Way... Or Another, and Restrictions) before interband troubles led to Jim McCarty quitting at the end of 1971. Shortly afterwards Rusty Day was fired from the group. The fourth and last Cactus album ('Ot 'N' Sweaty) featured original rhythm section Bogart and Appice joined by Werner Fritzschings on guitar, Duane Hitchings on keyboards and Peter French on vocals.
After Cactus' dissolution in 1972, Bogert and Appice finally joined with Beck to form Beck, Bogert & Appice. After one studio album (the self titled Beck, Bogart & Appice) and one live album (Live In Japan, released only in Japan) the band dissolved. Their second album remains unreleased to this day, along with recordings of the band's last concert at the Rainbow Theatre in London on January 26, 1974.
The New Cactus Band, led by Duane Hitchings, released one album (Son Of Cactus) and featured no original Cactus members. Mike Pinera, formerly of Blues Image and Iron Butterfly, came in on guitar, along with Roland Robinson on bass and Jerry Norris on drums. The New Cactus Band soon disbanded.
In the late 70s Rusty Day formed a new version of Cactus in North Florida, where he had relocated. This version of Cactus featured Steve Dansby on guitar, John Sauter on bass, and Gary Moffatt on drums. There are no known studio recordings from this era, though live recordings do circulate.
After a long hiatus Cactus unexpectedly emerged in June 2006 with two appearances in New York City: a radio appearance on 92.3 Free FM, and their first show since 1972 at B.B. King's Blues Club in Times Square. This show was a warm up for the gig which sparked the reunion, an appearance at the Sweden Rock Festival in Norje, Sweden. The 2006 version of Cactus sees original members Carmine Appice, Tim Bogart, and Jim McCarty reunited and joined by Jimmy Kunes on vocals. Randy Pratt joined the band in NYC and Sweden on harmonica.
Discography
Studio albums
Cactus (1970)
One Way...Or Another (1971)
Restrictions (1971)
'Ot 'N' Sweaty (1972)
Cactus V (2006)
Black Dawn (2016)
Tightrope (2021)
Live albums
Ultra Sonic Boogie (2010)
Do Not Kick Against The Pricks (2012
Tokyo Nights 2012 (2013)
Compilation albums
Cactology: The Cactus Collection (1996)
Barely Contained: The Studio Sessions (2CD, 2004)
Fully Unleashed: The Live Gigs (2004)
Fully Unleashed: The Live Gigs Vol. 2 (2007)
2)
A Bengali Rock Band from Kolkata, India, Cactus was formed in 1992. Inspired by the likes of Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden and many others, they started the journey with the purpose of doing rock n' roll in a language closer to our soil, thereby expanding the vistas and erasing all existing limitations. Cactus went on to become the first ever professional Bangla rock band. ( Prior to them rock already existed in Bangladesh and Cactus started doing music as modern bangla song. There music turned towards rock at a much later stage after Fossils and Lakkhichhara had already done rock music in bengali)
The professional debut of the band saw the light of the day on March 6, 1993, at Aban Mahal (CLT), Kolkata.
3)
Cactus was also an 8 piece ska band from Brisbane, Australia. They focused on writing songs that made no sense. They often practiced in the trumpeters basement and often played at birthday parties for the ska kids. After 3 years they broke up, rock and roll style, whilst playing for a friends 21st.
4)
Cactus is also the name of a psytrance artist
5)
Noise/Drone from San Francisco.
6)
A Norwegian rock band with screamo elements.
Blah Blah Blah
Cactus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
দেশাত্মবোধ মাইকে বাজে
ছেলেরা কেউ যায়নি কাজে
দাঁড়িয়ে যাও সব দাঁড়িয়ে যাও!
O B Van খোঁজে সব Breaking বার্তা
নিরাপত্তার Z মাত্রা
এসে পড়বে শোভাযাত্রা
বলবে কে উলঙ্গ শিশুর স্পর্ধায়
রাজা তোর কাপড় কোথায়
প্রতিটা মুখ অবুঝ জিজ্ঞাসায়
শুনে মিথ্যে স্তুতি
আর প্রতিশ্রুতি চালাও
আর ব্লাহ ব্লাহ ব্লাহ
ব্লাহ ব্লাহ ব্লাহ!!
আগডুম বাগডুম ঘোড়াডুম সাজছে
Anarchy-র উৎসব রাজ্যে
তোষামদীদের সাহায্যে
রাজার জয় জয় হে
ইস্তেহারের মগজ ধোলাই
কথা না শুনলে পেশী ফোলাই
প্রতিবাদ মশালে দেশলাই
জ্বালবে কে, বল জ্বালবে কে
বলবে কে
The lyrics of Cactus's song "Blah Blah Blah" speak about the need for rebellion and protest against apathy and ignorance. The opening lines, "Agdum bagdum ghodaradum saje/Deshatmabodh mike baje" ("The drums are beating with a boisterous rhythm/The feeling of patriotism is in my heart"), set the tone for the song's call for action against those who do not engage with social and political issues. The chorus, "Blah blah blah blah/ Blah blah blah blah," represents the meaningless chatter of those who do not care about making a change.
The verses continue with calls to action, urging people to stand up and do something, rather than simply talking. The lines "O B Van khoje sob Breaking barta" ("O B Van searches for all the breaking news"), refers to the media's focus on sensationalist stories instead of reporting on important issues. The subsequent lines, "Nirapototar Z matra/Eshe pordbe shobhayatra" ("Only the level of security will visit/The parade will arrive"), suggest that without true protection, protests and demonstrations are not effective.
The song goes on to criticize those who are ignorant and uninvolved, with lines such as "Bolbe ke ulongho shishur spordhay/Raja tor kapod kothay" ("Who will speak out for the oppressed children?/Where are the king's clothes?"), pointing out the hypocrisy and complacency of those in power. Ultimately, the song urges people to take action and stand up for what they believe in.
Line by Line Meaning
আগডুম বাগডুম ঘোড়াডুম সাজে
Drums play loudly and rhythmically
দেশাত্মবোধ মাইকে বাজে
Nationalistic pride stirs within me
ছেলেরা কেউ যায়নি কাজে
Boys are idle, not doing any work
দাঁড়িয়ে যাও সব দাঁড়িয়ে যাও!
Walk with purpose, keep marching forward
O B Van খোঁজে সব Breaking বার্তা
News van searches for breaking news stories
নিরাপত্তার Z মাত্রা
Only the letter Z is safe from danger
এসে পড়বে শোভাযাত্রা
Arriving at a grand procession
নাড়িয়ে যাও, হাত নাড়িয়ে যাও!
Keep playing the drums, keep clapping
বলবে কে উলঙ্গ শিশুর স্পর্ধায়
Who will speak in competition against the talented child?
রাজা তোর কাপড় কোথায়
King, where are your clothes?
প্রতিটা মুখ অবুঝ জিজ্ঞাসায়
Every face has questions, full of confusion
শুনে মিথ্যে স্তুতি
Hearing false praises
আর প্রতিশ্রুতি চালাও
And making empty promises
আর ব্লাহ ব্লাহ ব্লাহ ব্লাহ ব্লাহ ব্লাহ
And saying blah blah blah
বলবে কে
Who will say?
Anarchy-র উৎসব রাজ্যে
Celebration of anarchy in the state
তোষামদীদের সাহায্যে
With the help of the opposition
রাজার জয় জয় হে
Long live the victory of the king
ইস্তেহারের মগজ ধোলাই
Shaking the brain of the listener
কথা না শুনলে পেশী ফোলাই
If you don't listen, your occupation fails
প্রতিবাদ মশালে দেশলাই
Lighting protest torches, the nation burns
জ্বালবে কে, বল জ্বালবে কে
Who will light it? Tell me, who will light it?
Contributed by Blake J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.