Whitesnake were (and still is) David Coverdale’s main source of musical employment after leaving Deep Purple. Two solo albums (Whitesnake and Northwinds) were the pre-cursors to the emergence of Whitesnake the band in 1978 around the time that the New wave of British heavy Metal was born also.
Probably not a “normal” NWOBHM band, Whitesnake at that time were a rather excellent hard bluesy rock band with half of what was Deep Purple – Jon Lord and Ian Paice – in the line up. The Snakebite EP got them off to a fine start after which the debut full album (Trouble) produced instant success.
The sort of fine vinyl slabs Whitesnake put out back in the good old days included the now classics such as Love Hunter, Saints and Sinners, Ready & Willing and of course the mega-classic Live in the Heart of the City. The dual guitars of Bernie Marsden and Mickey Moody really stood out and could match any other “guitar twins” around then and now in my opinion.
I spent a few happy evenings at the Sheffield City Hall watching the band’s seemingly frequent tours – all of which as I recall were first rate showings from a band who were absolutely world class live and at the top of their game. Might be my iffy memory but didn’t Gillan always follow the Snakes on tour or was it the other way around. I’m probably wrong though have some hazy recollection if one toured the other came through town a few days later.
Anyhoo – who cares because both Gillan and Whitesnake back in the NWOBHM period shone bright and guaranteed a good night for all in concert even if Coverdale’s microphone posturing did become tiresome and predictable. I guess it was “his thing” (no pun intended).
But then it all went wrong when Coverdale discovered MTV, fired everyone and decided that a new line-up of better looking dudes was required in the new video age. This new Whitesnake saw the likes of Jon Sykes arrive for the 1987 album of the same time.
It just wasn’t the same and (to me at least) seemed as though it has become all about style over substance and that showed in the music too. Here I Go Again of course was a massive not not least because of the video and Ms Tawny Kitaen.
The follow-up to 1987 (Slip of the Tongue) saw the revolving door in full swing and more personnel upheaval this time with an influx of Steve Vai, Rudy Sarzo and Tommy Aldridge. I actually bought the album out of curiosity though never thought much of it longing for the classic days of Love Hunter et al. I’ve gone all misty eyed now…..
Coverdale and Whitesnake still plod on though for old gits like me they’ll never match the late ‘70s/early ‘80s output.
And it’s now possible to enjoy that classic period all over again and then some with the release of Box O Snakes: The Sunburst Years 1978-1982 – all the really good stuff plus lots of bonus materials, books, interviews and whatnot.
The box includes a massive nine CDs including the first five albums (yey!) and even the Snakebite EP. Add to that a 90 page book, interviews and Live in the Heart of the City on vinyl and you’ve got the lot…………….or have you because there’s even more in the Box O Snakes……
And that is there is previously unreleased stuff comprising two CDs full of BBC live recordings from the 1979 and 1980 Reading Festivals and even a 45 minute DVD from a 1980 concert in Washington DC.
Really outstanding to be able to get all this in on big box. All that truly classic material from a band which was – at that time – riding high and practically untouchable before MTV moved in. Even if the Box O snakes might not be for you or you’re not familiar with classic Whitesnake I’d encourage you to check out at least a couple of their individual CDs from the late ‘70s and early ‘80s to see just how good that classic period was.
>> PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE WHAT’S IN THE WHITESNAKE BOX O SNAKES <<
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