Rock Hard Forever: 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 fairly popular in Europe and Japan. During 1982, Coverdale took some time off, so he could take care of his sick daughter. When he re-emerged with a new version of Whitesnake in 1984, the band sounded revitalized and energetic. Slide It In may have relied on Led Zeppelin's and Deep Purple's old tricks, but the band had a knack for writing hooks; the record became their first platinum album. Three years later, Whitesnake released an eponymous album (titled 1987 in Europe) that 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 U.S. alone.

Before they recorded their follow-up, 1989's Slip of the Tongue, Coverdale again assembled a completely new version of the band, featuring guitar virtuoso Steve Vai. Although the record went platinum, it was a considerable disappointment after the across-the-board success of Whitesnake. Coverdale put Whitesnake on hiatus after that album. In 1993, he released a collaboration with former Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page that was surprisingly lackluster. The following year, Whitesnake issued a greatest-hits album in the U.S. and Canada -- focusing solely on material from their final three albums (as well as containing a few unreleased tracks).

1997 saw Coverdale resurrect Whitesnake (guitarist Adrian Vandenberg was the only remaining member of the group's latter lineup), issuing Restless Heart the same year. Surprisingly, the album wasn't even issued in the United States. On the ensuing tour, Coverdale and Vandenberg performed an "unplugged" show in Japan that was recorded and issued the following year under the title Starkers in Tokyo. By the late '90s, however, Coverdale once again put Whitesnake on hold, as he concentrated on recording his first solo album in nearly 22 years. Coverdale's Into the Light was issued in September 2000, featuring journeyman guitarist Earl Slick.

Current members

David Coverdale - Vocals (1976 - 1982, 1982-1991, 1994, 1997, 1997-1998, 2002-present)
Doug Aldrich - Guitar (2002-present)
Reb Beach - Guitar (2002-present)
Uriah Duffy - Bass (2005-present)
Timothy Drury - Keyboards (2002-present)
Chris Frazier - Drums (2007-present)

Former members

Adrian Vandenberg – Guitar (1987-1991, 1994, 1997, 1997-1998)
Steve Farris - Guitar (1997)
Warren DeMartini - Guitar (1994)
Steve Vai - Guitar (1989-1991)
Vivian Campbell - Guitar (1987-1988)
John Sykes - Guitar (1983-1987)
Mel Galley - Guitar, backing vocals (1982-1984)
Micky Moody - Guitar (1978-1982, 1982-1983)
Bernie Marsden - Guitar (1978-1982)
Marco Mendoza - Bass (2002-2005)
Tony Franklin – Bass (1997)
Guy Pratt – Bass (1997)
Rudy Sarzo - Bass (1987-1991, 1994)
Colin Hodgkinson - Bass (1982-1983)
Neil Murray - Bass (1978-1982, 1983-1987)
Tommy Aldridge - Drums (1987-1991, 2002-2007)
Denny Carmassi - Drums (1987 (sessions), 1994, 1997)
Aynsley Dunbar - Drums (1985-1987)
Cozy Powell - Drums (1982-1985)
Ian Paice - Drums (1979-1982)
Dave Dowle - Drums (1978-1979)
Brett Tuggle – Keyboards (1997)
Paul Mirkovich - Keyboards (1994)
Derek Hilland - Keyboards (1997)
Don Airey - Keyboards (session musician, 1985-1987, 1988-1989)
Bill Cuomo – Keyboards (session musician, 1987)
Richard Bailey - Keyboards (off-stage touring musician, 1984-1985)
Jon Lord - Keyboards (1978-1982, 1982-1984)
Pete Solley - Keyboards (1978)
Brian Johnston - Keyboards (1978)

Discography

Good to be bad 2008
Best Of/20th Century 2007
Live - In The Shadow Of The Blues 2007
Gold 2006
Interview 2006
The Definitive Collection 2006
Here I Go Again: The Best Of Whitesnake 2002
20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection... 2000
Whitesnake's Greatest Hits 1994
Slip Of The Tongue 1989
Whitesnake 1987
Slide It In 1984
Saints & Sinners 1982
Snakebite 1978

Official Website: http://www.whitesnake.com

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Is This Love

The Deeper of Love

Still of the night

Cryin in the rain

Here i go again (Live)