Whitesnake lyrics and Whitesnake guitar tabs, Whitesnake pictures and biography

This UK-based heavy rock band was led throughout its career
by David Coverdale
(b. 22 September 1951, Saltburn-By-The
Sea, Cleveland, England). The lead vocalist with Deep Purple
since 1973, Coverdale left the group in 1976 and recorded two
solo albums, Whitesnake and Northwinds. Shortly afterwards,
he formed a touring band from musicians who had played on
those records. Entitled David Coverdale's Whitesnake, the group
included Mick Moody
(b. August 30, 1950; guitar, ex- Juicy Lucy ),
Bernie Marsden
(guitar, ex- Babe Ruth ), Brian Johnston
(keyboards),
Neil Murray
(bass) and David Dowell
(drums). Pete Solley replaced
Johnston shortly before the band recorded their debut EP, Snake
Bite, which reached UK number 61 in June 1978. For much of the
late 70s the group toured in the UK, Europe and Japan
(the first US
tour was in 1980). During this period there were several personnel
changes, with ex-Deep Purple members Jon Lord
(b. 9 June 1941,
Leicester, England) and Ian Paice
(b. 29 June 1948, Nottingham,
Nottinghamshire, England) joining on keyboards and drums.
Whitesnake's first British hit was 'Fool For Your Loving'
(number
13 in May 1980), composed by Coverdale, Marsden and Moody,
and the double album, Live ... In The Heart Of The City
(named after
the Bobby Bland song 'Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City'
featured on stage by Coverdale) reached number 5 the same year.
Come An' Get It climbed to number 2 in the UK album charts in April
1981, with 'Don't Break My Heart Again' reaching number 17 the same
month. At this point, the illness of Coverdale's daughter and tension
among the members caused a hiatus in the group's career. When
Whitesnake re-formed in 1982 only Lord and Moody remained from
the earlier line-up. The new members were Mel Galley
(b. 8 March
1948; guitar), ex- Back Door and Alexis Korner bassist Colin
Hodgkinson
(b. 14 October 1945, Peterborough, England) and Cozy
Powell
(b. Colin Powell, 29 December 1947, England, d. 5 April 1998;
drums). However, this configuration lasted only briefly and by 1984 the l
ong-serving Moody and Lord had left, the latter to join a regenerated
Deep Purple. While Coverdale remained the focus of Whitesnake, there
were numerous personnel changes in the following years, including the
return of Murray. These had little effect on the band's growing reputation
as one of the leading exponents of heavy rock, with unambiguously sexist
record sleeves marking out their lyrical and aesthetic territory. Frequent
tours finally brought a million-selling album in the USA with 1987's
Whitesnake and Coverdale's bluesy ballad style brought transatlantic
Top 10 hits with a re-mixed 'Here I Go Again'
(US number 1, UK
number 9) and 'Is This Love'
(US number 2, UK number 9). They were
co-written with ex- Thin Lizzy guitarist John Sykes, a member of
Whitesnake from 1983-86. His replacement, Dutch-born Adrian
Vandenberg
(b. 31 January 1954, Holland), was co-writer with Coverdale
on the band's 1989 album, co-produced by Keith Olsen and Mike Clink.
Ex- Dio guitarist Vivian Campbell was also a member of the band in the
late 80s. Despite headlining the Donington Festival in August 1990,
Coverdale put the group on ice at the end of the year. He later joined forces
with Jimmy Page for the release of Coverdale/Page in early 1993, but when
Whitesnake's contract with Geffen Records in the USA expired in 1994, it
was not renewed. Coverdale returned with a new album in 1997 with
Vandenberg, Guy 'Starka' Pratt
(bass), Brett Tuggle
(keyboards) and Denny
Carmassi
(drums). Restless Heart was a mellow
(by Whitesnake standards)
recording that emphasized just what a terrific voice and range Coverdale has.