Whitesnake, a staple of classic rock and hair metal, has carved a unique path in the landscape of rock and roll. Rising from the post-Deep Purple era, this powerhouse band led by David Coverdale has left an indelible impact on the world of music. Let’s delve into the band’s story with 20 intriguing facts.
- Whitesnake was formed in 1978 in Middlesbrough, England by vocalist David Coverdale, who had recently left Deep Purple.
- The band was originally a blues rock band. Over the years, however, their style evolved to include elements of hard rock and hair metal.
- Whitesnake’s 1987 self-titled album was a massive commercial success, reaching number 2 on the Billboard 200, and it contained their two most popular songs: “Is This Love” and “Here I Go Again”.
- “Here I Go Again” reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States in 1987.
- The band’s name was reportedly inspired by a dream David Coverdale had, where he saw himself on stage performing with a band called “Whitesnake”.
- Whitesnake was known for its rotating line-up, with David Coverdale being the only constant member. Some of the musicians who have been part of the band include guitarists Adrian Vandenberg, Steve Vai, and John Sykes.
- David Coverdale, the band’s founder, started his career as a singer in the iconic rock band Deep Purple before forming Whitesnake.
- Their song “Fool for Your Loving”, which was initially written for B.B. King, became a hit for Whitesnake, reaching the top 20 of the UK Singles Chart in 1980.
- The iconic video for “Here I Go Again” is remembered for featuring actress Tawny Kitaen, who was dating Coverdale at the time, dancing on the hoods of two Jaguars.
- In 1990, Whitesnake was nominated for the Brit Award for Best British Group.
- Despite its success in the late 1980s, the band broke up in 1990, with Coverdale forming a new band called Coverdale/Page with Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page.
- Whitesnake was reformed by Coverdale in 1994, and the band has been active, with various lineups, ever since.
- The band released their 13th studio album, “Flesh & Blood”, in 2019.
- “Slide It In”, Whitesnake’s sixth studio album, was their first to achieve significant success in the US, achieving double platinum status.
- Notable former Whitesnake guitarist John Sykes went on to form the band Blue Murder after his departure from Whitesnake.
- In 2020, Whitesnake announced that they would be embarking on their “Farewell Tour” indicating Coverdale’s intention to retire from performing with the band.
- Whitesnake’s song “Love Ain’t No Stranger” is often noted as one of the greatest power ballads of the 80s.
- In 2006, Whitesnake was featured in the popular rhythm video game “Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock” with their song “Still of the Night”.
- Over its career, Whitesnake has sold over 40 million albums worldwide.
- Despite its hard rock image, Whitesnake has often infused elements of soul into its music, reflecting Coverdale’s admiration for artists like Tina Turner and Aretha Franklin.