Home > Interviews > Whitesnake - David Coverdale, 09/08
Whitesnake - David Coverdale, 09/08 E-mail
Written by Lila Hondrou   
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During a short break from Whitesnake’s 2008 tour, the most passionate voice of hard rock, Mr. David Coverdale, took the time to catch up with Solid Rock on several topics in a brief but pretty enjoyable chat. “In all it’s fun, glory, sexiness & disguise”…


Solid Rock: First of all, congratulations on your latest album “Good To Be Bad” and a rather late Happy Birthday wish from the Solid Rock team! (22/9)

david1.jpgDC: Thank you very much...You’re very kind to say so...

Solid Rock: “Good To Be Bad” has already received great reviews from the media as well as some great chart positions worldwide. It is actually the proof that Whitesnake is a force to be reckoned in 2008. How do you feel about it five months after its official release?

DC: I’m very happy to say that I’m still enjoying the album immensely...But, more importantly, it has energized me all over again as a singer, as a writer & as a performer...The fact that i
t is a commercial success is a blessed bonus...

Solid Rock: Just by glimpsing the song titles of the album, one can sense the emotional “flood” which becomes obvious by reading the entire lyrics and listening to the melodies. After all these years, what is or remains your inspiration?

DC: ’Love’, of course...in all it’s fun, glory, sexiness & disguise...It is an endless supply of inspiration for me...

Solid Rock: The great chemistry of the current line-up is so obvious on stage. Would you like to give us a hint about your relationship with your band mates?

DC: It’s a very positive, mutually supportive friendship that has grown, as we have grown together musically...Doug, Timothy & Reb have been with me longer than anyone else, other than Adrian Vandenberg...so, they must be doing something right!...Our rhythm section, Uriah & Chris is solid & a joy to build from...Yes...I am very happy with this band...collectively & individually...& we also have a ton of fun on stage together...I think the audience can see & feel that...'Fun' is a very necessary element in Whitesnake...

Solid Rock: The co-headlining tour with Def Leppard has been one of the most incredible and exciting events of the last years and the slogan “Lets’ Get Rocked In The Still Of The Night” will take quite some time to fade out. How has it worked for you?
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DC: Even better than we imagined...In fact, we’re getting ready to do a couple more shows together in Japan...Joe & I email each other almost every day...We’re very good friends...very supportive of each other...The only competitiveness between the bands was fun & positive...We feel we all benefitted from the tour...especially the crowds...3 hours of non-stop singalong songs!

Solid Rock: This year, Whitesnake has been nominated for the Classic Rock Roll Of Honour Awards to be held on November 3, in the categories of the album of the year for “Good To Be Bad” and band of the year, while the tour with Def Leppard has been nominated in the category of the event of the year. What does this mean to you in addition to the love, the respect and the recognition you receive from the fans?

DC: It means a lot to me, particularly after so many years in this crazy business...It feels like Whitesnake & I are having an incredible renaissance...more successful than ever...& it feels good!...REALLY good!!!


coverdalelive8.jpgSolid Rock: In terms of promotion, your new label SPV has done a great job. What do you think about that?

DC: I’m thrilled with the work they’ve done...We’ve had a couple of not so clever moments, but, we resolved them easily & quickly before any negative energy could get a foothold...That’s what happens when you have two great teams working together, respecting each other, instead of against each others best interests...Yes...I would recommend those guys to anyone...Well...anyone who wants to work together to achieve mutual success in these uncertain times...

Solid Rock: This year Whitesnake is celebrating 30 years, which more or less means three generations watching the band. How does it feel to see fans of different ages, people in their forties or fifties and teenagers standing side by side among the audience and singing along Whitesnake lyrics?

DC: It is immensely rewarding to see such an incredible cross section of ages...& don’t forget...we have beautiful women & girls who are also coming to play with the Snake...It's a wonderful relationship we share with the audience...& yes...seeing so many young faces out there, singing along to songs that were written before they were born is amazing...

Solid Rock: What was the worst and what was the best moment of Whitesnake throughout these 30 years?

DC: I don’t reflect on such things...The best is yet to come...& the worst is far behind us...

Solid Rock: Do you have any contacts with former Whitesnake members?

DC: Mostly Adrian Vandenberg...we maintain a solid & good friendship...I saw Bernie Marsden earlier this year at Heathrow...That was a delightful encounter, after so many years of silliness...I mostly retain memories of former associates, to be honest...Some good, some not so good...I live a very full life & the present & the possibilities of the future are more relevant to me...I like to learn from the past, rather than live in it...
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Solid Rock: You have worked and toured with some of the greatest musicians in rock scene like Jimmy Page, Ritchie Blackmore, Glenn Hughes, Joe Elliot and the Leppards, etc. Are there any other musicians that you haven’t worked with and you would like to work with in the future?

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DC: …easy...Jeff beck...who I admire immensely...& maybe jam with Edward Van halen, sometime...but, to be honest, I’m very happy & inspired by my current colleagues...They keep me on my toes!

Solid Rock: What do you think of the Greek audience that witnessed the aforementioned co-headlining show of yours with Def Leppard in Athens on July 1st? That was your third appearance in Athens all in all…

DC: It is always a pleasure for me to visit your country & be treated so incredibly generously...I hope it will always be so...I love playing in Greece...

 

 
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