Led by former CACTUS keyboard player Duane Hitchings as CACTUS dissolved in 1972 and drummer CARMINE APPICE and bassist TIM BOGERT forged a union with British guitarist JEFF BECK in BECK, BOGERT, APPICE. Hitchings decided to keep the CACTUS name alive by pulling in ex IRON BUTTERFLY and BLUES IMAGE frontman MIKE PINERA. Drummer Manuel Bertematti of BLUES IMAGE also had a stint in the group. Promoting the 1973 album Son Of Cactus' the NEW CACTUS BAND toured America alongside BOB SEGER AND THE SILVER BULLET BAND pulling in former GREGG ALLMAN bassist Charlie Souza.

Pinera later joined ALICE COOPER for the 'Special Forces' album. Souza joined WHITE WITCH, TOM PETTY, FORTRESS and GALEFORCE.