One Way...Or Another (featuring Ted Nugent)

The Zoo Crew is spinning the hard-hitting track One Way...Or Another featuring Ted Nugent by Cactus, from their 2024 album Temple of Blues – Influences & Friends, and the Zoo Freaks are surely feeling the raw energy. This song, a reimagined classic from Cactus’s 1971 album, roars with the gritty blues-rock vibe the band is known for, amplified by Nugent’s fiery guitar work and dUg Pinnick’s soulful vocals. A standout piece of trivia is that the track was recorded as part of a star-studded tribute project, with Nugent himself praising Cactus’s original lineup for their “raw Detroit energy” that made “every band in the world practice harder.” The music video, released on June 7, 2024, features both Nugent and Pinnick, showcasing their dynamic performances alongside founding members Carmine Appice and Jim McCarty, giving fans a visual feast of rock royalty. Nugent, in a June 2024 interview with All Music Magazine, called the collaboration a nod to the “American rock founding fathers” like Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley, influences that shaped his and Cactus’s sound.

Another tidbit comes from the album’s production notes: One Way...Or Another was mixed by Pat Regan with Carmine Appice at Realistic Rock Studios in Florida, ensuring the track retained the “good ole Cactus feeling” fans crave. Social media buzz on platforms like Reddit highlighted the song’s release, with fans on the RockTheSub community praising its heavy riffs and nostalgic punch, though some noted slight arrangement tweaks from the original. The song’s inclusion on Temple of Blues, which dropped via Cleopatra Records, was promoted heavily, with a full concept video for another track, Evil, setting the stage for the album’s high-profile guest list, including Joe Bonamassa, Dee Snider, and Pat Travers. This collaborative spirit reflects Cactus’s enduring influence, as Nugent noted their early ’70s work with the “definitive thrust” of Appice and Tim Bogert’s rhythm section shook the rock world.

Cactus was born in 1969, rising from the ashes of Vanilla Fudge when drummer Carmine Appice and bassist Tim Bogert sought a new venture. Originally, they planned to team up with Jeff Beck and Rod Stewart, but Beck’s car accident sidelined those plans. Instead, they recruited blues guitarist Jim McCarty, fresh from Mitch Ryder’s Detroit Wheels, and vocalist Rusty Day from Ted Nugent’s Amboy Dukes. This lineup, cemented in early 1970, delivered a blistering debut with Cactus (1970) on Atco Records, followed by One Way... or Another (1971) and Restrictions (1971). Often dubbed America’s answer to Led Zeppelin, Cactus’s raw, heavy sound built a loyal fanbase, though label support waned, and internal strife led to McCarty’s exit by 1971. The band collapsed by 1973 when Appice and Bogert joined Beck in Beck, Bogert & Appice. Cactus reformed in 2006, with Appice and McCarty joined by new members like vocalist Jimmy Kunes and harmonica player Randy Pratt, releasing Cactus V. Despite challenges, including Bogert’s retirement after a motorcycle accident, the band persists, with current members like Jim Stapley and bassist Jim Caputo carrying the torch.

Fans can dive deeper into Cactus’s world through their official website, where tour dates and merch await. Their Facebook page keeps the community alive with updates on releases like Temple of Blues and tour stops, such as their June 2024 shows with Foghat. On Instagram, the band shares behind-the-scenes glimpses and throwbacks, while their X account engages Zoo Freaks with quick updates and retweets from fans. For those craving more, fan-driven spaces like the Cactus Rocks Fan Group on Facebook offer a spot to swap stories and celebrate the band’s legacy. While no standalone fan websites dominate, communities on Reddit and posts on Music Junkie Press keep the conversation rocking, ensuring Cactus’s influence endures for new and old Zoo Freaks alike.