Depending who you ask, Whitesnake singer David Coverdale is either almost single handedly responsible for keeping bluesy hard rock alive in the British charts during the late ‘70s/early ‘80s, or is merely a Robert Plant clone who hit it big in the U.S. later in the ‘80s as an ‘MTV band' - by merging familiar Led Zeppelin sounds with pop metal/power ballads, and sexed-up videos. Born on September 22, 1951, in the British town of Saltburn-on-Sea, Yorkshire, Coverdale was born into a family who were avid music fans, which resulted in an early interest in the guitar, before switching over to vocals. Coverdale soon began fronting local rock outfits, including Denver Mule, The Government, River's Invitation, and The Fabulosa Brothers (from the late ‘60s through the early ‘70s). Looking for a new gig in 1973, Coverdale one day picked up the popular British music mag Melody Maker, and answered an ad for a group looking for a vocalist. Little did he know, that the group in question was Deep Purple.
Purple had become one of the world's top hard rock/heavy metal bands by 1973 (thanks largely to their massive hit single "Smoke on the Water" and such classic albums as Machine Head and Made in Japan), but when singer Ian Gillan was ousted from the group, a vacancy developed. On the strength of his singing and songwriting talents, Coverdale was welcomed into the group immediately, resembling a true life ‘rags to riches' story. The Coverdale-led version of Purple got off to a solid start with another hit album, 1974's Burn, but by the time of its follow-up (and second band release of the year), Stormbringer, cracks began to appear in the Purple armor. Guitarist/bandleader Ritchie Blackmore's interest in the group began to wane around this time -- due to the other member's desire to incorporate funk into their style -- resulting in his exit (Blackmore would go on to form the progressive metal outfit, Rainbow).
Instead of packing it in, Coverdale remembered the name of a guitarist he heard a few years back on Billy Cobham's landmark jazz-fusion release, Spectrum, and figured he'd make a good replacement for Blackmore. The guitarist in question was Tommy Bolin, who accepted the invite to fill Blackmore's large shoes. Despite an underrated album, 1975's Come Taste the Band, this would prove to be Purple's last hurrah, as they split up a year later. It didn't take long before Coverdale re-emerged as a solo artist however, sticking to his blues-rock/R n' B-based roots in the face of the era's burgeoning punk movement, as evidenced by such releases as 1977's Whitesnake and 1978's Northwinds. In the process of recording and touring behind these releases, Coverdale had assembled quite a backing band, especially evident in the twin guitar attack of Bernie Marsden and Micky Moody. As a result, Coverdale opted to issue albums under the name of Whitesnake -- although it gave the public a sense that it was a true band, Coverdale was the undisputed leader, as he'd be the only constant member throughout its many subsequent line-ups.
Whitesnake built a rabid European following on the strength of such albums as 1978's Snakebite and Trouble, 1979's Love Hunter, and also benefited by changing musical tastes, especially the uprising of new UK-based hard rock/heavy metal bands -- a movement dubbed ‘The New Wave of British Heavy Metal.' The ‘80s saw Whitesnake become even bigger in their native land, as they scored a major hit single with "Fool for Your Loving" (which even managed to scrape the middle of the U.S. singles charts), and offered further hard rocking albums as 1980's Ready An' Willing and Live in the Heart of the City, 1981's Come An' Get It, and 1982's Saints and Sinners. But despite their success back home, Coverdale had his sights set on breaking the U.S. market.
Coverdale enlisted former Tygers of Pan Tang/Thin Lizzy guitarist John Sykes into the Whitesnake ranks, a move that paid off immediately, as 1984's Slide It In became the group's biggest success yet in the U.S., just barely missing the Top 40. Although worldwide breakthrough success was just around the corner, Coverdale's singing career was put into jeopardy when he developed a serious sinus illness, which doctors thought may prevent Coverdale from ever singing again. This proved not to be the case, but as a result, not much was heard from the Whitesnake camp for over two years. Some feared that the break in action had killed off any buzz surrounding the band, and it certainly didn't help matters when it became known that Coverdale had dismissed Sykes from the band (even though he had penned and played on the majority of Whitesnake's upcoming album).
1987 finally saw the release of the highly anticipated follow up to Slide It In, simply titled Whitesnake. The album signaled a new path for Whitesnake, as they honed in directly on Led Zeppelin (both musically and in Coverdale's close vocal resemblance to Robert Plant), especially evident in the leadoff single/video, "Still of the Night." The video also starred Coverdale's girlfriend (and soon to be wife), B movie actress Tawny Kitaen, setting a trend in which the group would play second fiddle to Coverdale and Kitaen acting out steamy scenes in Whitesnake's videos. But it did pay off wildly for Coverdale, as Whitesnake finally broke the band big time in the States -- almost topping the album charts and spawning such further hit singles as "Here I Go Again" (a #1) and "Is This Love" - making them a bona fide arena headliner.
Whitesnake's massive commercial success wasn't long lasting, however, as the group basically repeated the same formula (with less than stellar results) on 1989's Slip of the Tongue. By the time the ensuing tour wrapped up in 1990, Coverdale's marriage was over, as was the group, as it appeared as though he'd completely disappeared for the next few years. With all of the Led Zeppelin comparisons still fresh in fans' minds, Coverdale provided more fuel for the fire, as he re-emerged in 1993 alongside guitarist Jimmy Page, as part of the super group Coverdale-Page. Despite a single album, Coverdale-Page and handful of gigs in Japan, the union was incredibly short lived (in fact, many feel that the unsuccessful partnership helped convince Page to hook up once more with Robert Plant a year later).
Coverdale pulled a disappearing act once more, eventually resurfacing with a new Whitesnake line-up in 1998, and a pair of releases, Restless Heart and the ‘unplugged' set, Starkers in Tokyo. With interest in ‘80s hair metal still at a lull, both albums failed to even see a proper release in the States, but an audience still existed for the group in other parts of the world. It was also around this time that a rumor began to circulate that Coverdale was to become Van Halen's next front man, which ultimately proved to be false. By the dawn of the 21st century, nostalgia for ‘80s pop metal bands had emerged, and there was suddenly a demand once more for groups like Whitesnake. Sensing this, Coverdale put together another new Whitesnake line-up, and launched a co-headlining U.S. tour with The Scorpions in early 2003. Later in the year, Coverdale hopes to issue his first true solo album since the late ‘70s. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide
Coverdale, briefly a student at Middlesbrough Art College, was largely unknown until he was selected to replace Deep Purple vocalist Ian Gillan (who had resigned) in September 1973. He was living in Marske-by-the-Sea and working in a trendy clothes shop called Gentry in Redcar, Teesside fronting a local group called Government which had supported Deep Purple.
With Deep Purple advertising for a vocalist, he sent them a demo tape of his vocals. Impressed by his deep blues timbre, Coverdale was recruited to the band, sharing vocal duties with bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes. Coverdale immediately became an international rock superstar with the million selling albums Burn, Stormbringer, and Come Taste the Band. In April 1974, he sang to over 200,000 music fans in his first trip to America at the California Jam. He also sang on Jon Lord's Windows and Roger Glover's Butterfly Ball. His tenure ended in March 1976 when Deep Purple (in that incarnation) finally split up.
Whitesnake
Coverdale soon formed Whitesnake and during the late seventies and early eighties, with ever changing line-ups, recorded a series of well-received blues-rock albums. With ex-Deep Purple founders Jon Lord followed by Ian Paice joining in 1979, Whitesnake worked hard to become international superstars. According to British heavy metal magazine Kerrang!, in 1982, Coverdale was considered for the vocalist position with Black Sabbath following the departure of Ronnie James Dio. Coverdale declined. Whitesnake gained large popularity in the UK, Europe, and Asia but North American success remained elusive. In 1984 the album Slide It In dented the US charts but not enough to be considered a success. In time for the US release of Slide It In David Coverdale made a calculated attempt in updating Whitesnake's sound and look by recruiting guitarist John Sykes. Sykes brought a more contemporary, aggressive guitar sound with him and had stage manners to match. In 1985 Sykes and Coverdale started working on new songs for the next album but Coverdale soon contracted a troublesome sinus infection that made recording close to impossible for the most part of 1986. Coverdale eventually recovered and recordings were continued but before Whitesnake was fully recorded and released, Sykes and the rest of the recording band had parted company with Whitesnake. The split with Sykes was not amicable. In many period interviews David Coverdale openly stated that the next album was a make or break album for Whitesnake and if not successful he would disband the band altogether. During 1987 and 1988 North America was finally won with the multi-platinum self-titled Whitesnake album, co-written for the most part with John Sykes.
The 1987 album has sold 8 times platinum since its release, propelled by hit singles such as "Here I Go Again." Through the late 80's and early 90's, caught in the "hair-band" era, Coverdale kept Whitesnake going with great success and with changing lineups until the end of 1991. It is no secret that Coverdale wanted out of the business at that point. He'd grown uncomfortable with the entity he then felt Whitesnake had become and admits that he got "caught up in it". In a candid period interview, Coverdale sums it up in one sentence:
"It got louder and louder, and so did I, to the point now where I have to get dressed up as a "girly man" and tease ones questionable bangs (or hair) and it's all getting a bit... boring."
On 26 September 1990, after the last show on the Slip of the Tongue tour in Tokyo, Coverdale for all practical purposes disbanded Whitesnake indefinitely. Tired of the business in general, the rigors of the touring life and troubled by the separation and later difficult divorce from Tawny Kitaen, Coverdale wanted to find other values in life and took (in his own words) "private time to reflect" and re-assess his career direction.
The hiatus did not last long. In the early spring of 1991 a collaboration was set up with Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin fame. This collaboration resulted in the Coverdale-Page album released in March 1993. Both parties have said that the collaboration revitalized them both on many levels. Although well received by critics the album soon fell of the charts and a US tour had to be cancelled due to slow ticket sales and after only a limited Japanese tour, ending in Nagoya on the 22 December 1993, Coverdale and Page parted ways.
In 1994 Whitesnake was put on the road again in support of a Greatest Hits compilation. Citing weak sales figures for this compilation, Geffen Records elected not to renew Whitesnake's recording contract, and Whitesnake was again put on ice.
In December 2002, Coverdale re-reformed Whitesnake again for an American and European tour, with Tommy Aldridge on drums, Marco Mendoza (bass), Doug Aldrich (guitar), Reb Beach (guitar) and Timothy Drury (keyboards). In 2004-2005 saw Whitesnake embark on a tour of the U.S., South America and Europe. A live DVD, shot during the 2005 tour at the legendary Carling Apollo (better known as the Hammersmith Odeon) in London, was released in February 2006. In June 2006 David Coverdale signed a new record deal with Steamhammer/SPV. The first release under the new contract was the double live album Live: In the Shadow of the Blues (released 27 November 2006), the album also contained 4 brand new studio tracks written by Coverdale and Aldrich. Coverdale recently (2006) had a song written about him by Australian independent band the Fauves. The song alludes to buying one of his albums at a gas station and driving through the night listening to it.[citation needed]
In 2008, Coverdale with the new Whitesnake line-up embarked on a European Tour as part of a double bill with fellow Yorkshire rockers Def Leppard, featuring a triumphant return to Wembley Arena.
Band history
David Coverdale, singing with Whitesnake in Ljubljana, Slovenia in Summer 2006
David Coverdale has been the lead vocalist for Deep Purple as well as four various stints in Whitesnake.
Mural depicting David Coverdale on the wall of an apartment block in Kavarna, "the rock capital of Bulgaria"
David Coverdale was first married in 1974 to Julia, and their daughter Jessica was born in 1978. Coverdale's second marriage was to actress Tawny Kitaen, from 17 February1989 until their divorce in April 1991. Kitaen was known for her provocative appearances in Whitesnake's music videos for "Here I Go Again", "Is This Love" and "Still Of The Night". Since 1997 he has been married to Cindy, an author with works such as The Food That Rocks. They have a son, Jasper (b. 1996). Coverdale is also a grandfather to his daughter Jessica's two children, Georgina and Mathilda.[citation needed]
On 1 March 2007 David Coverdale became a U.S. citizen, in a ceremony in Reno, and now holds dualUS/UK citizenship. He has lived near Lake Tahoe for more than 20 years.[1]
Guitarists
Over his 30 year career, Coverdale has worked with many of rock music's most accomplished guitar players.
Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple, Rainbow, Blackmore's Night) - in Deep Purple (1973-1975)
Tommy Bolin (Zephyr, The James Gang, Deep Purple) - in Deep Purple (1975-1976)
Micky Moody (Juicy Lucy, Whitesnake, Company of Snakes, M3) - in Whitesnake (1977-1983)
Bernie Marsden (UFO, Whitesnake, Bernie Marsden SOS, Company of Snakes, M3) - in Whitesnake (1977-1982)
Mel Galley (Trapeze, Whitesnake) - in Whitesnake (1982-1984)
John Sykes (Tygers Of Pan Tang, Badlands (UK), Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, Blue Murder, Sykes) - in Whitesnake (1984-1987)
Vivian Campbell (Sweet Savage, Dio, Whitesnake, Riverdogs, Shadow King, Def Leppard) - in Whitesnake (1987-1988)
Steve Vai (Frank Zappa, Alcatrazz, David Lee Roth, Whitesnake) - in Whitesnake (1988-1991)
Adrian Vandenberg (Vandenberg, Whitesnake, Manic Eden) - in Whitesnake (1987-1991, 1994, 1997-1998)
Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin, The Firm, Coverdale/Page, The Yardbirds) - in Coverdale/Page (1992-1993)
