Whitesnake
After recording two solo albums, former Deep Purple
vocalist
David Coverdale formed Whitesnake around 1977. In the glut of hard
rock and heavy metal bands of the late 70s, their first albums got
somewhat lost in the shuffle, although they were quite popular in
Europe and Japan.
During 1982, Coverdale took time off to take care of his sick
daughter. When he re-emerged with a new version of Whitesnake in
1984, the band sounded revitalised and energetic.
Slide It In may have relied heavily on old Led Zeppelin and
Deep Purple tricks but the band had a knack for writing hooks and
the record became their first platinum album.
Three years later, Whitesnake released an eponymous album which
was even better. Portions of the album were blatantly derivative (Still
Of The Night was a dead ringer for early Zeppelin) but the
group could write powerful heavy rockers like Here I Go Again
that were driven as much by melody as riffs, as well as hit power
ballads like Is This Love?.
Whitesnake was an enormous international success, selling over
six million copies in the USA alone. Before they recorded their
1989 follow-up, Slip Of The Tongue, Coverdale again
assembled a completely new version of the band, featuring guitar
virtuosos Steve Vai.
Although the record went platinum it was a
considerable disappointment after the success of Whitesnake.
Coverdale put the band on hiatus after that album. In 1993 he
released a collaboration with Jimmy Page that was surprisingly
lacklustre.
A new incarnation of the band went on a short tour in Europe in
1994 to promote their Greatest Hits album, with former Ratt
guitarist Warren DeMartini playing lead guitar and Denny Carmassi
on drums.
Adrian Vandenberg, one of Whitesnake's earlier
guitarists also returned to the fold. Shortly thereafter (and with
the hits compilation selling poorly) the band lost their recording
contract.
Coverdale has continued to re-form and re-brand the band - with
an ever-changing line-up - for live tours and new studio albums.
TRIVIA NOTE - Whitesnake are the favourite band of Lois Griffin from Family
Guy.
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