- David Coverdale
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David Coverdale 
Coverdale singing with Whitesnake, 2006
Photo: Raúl RanzBackground information Born 22 September 1951
Saltburn-by-the-Sea, Redcar and Cleveland, EnglandGenres Hard rock, blues rock, heavy metal Occupations Musician, singer-songwriter Instruments Vocals, guitar, harmonica, keyboards, percussion Years active 1968–present Labels Purple, EMI, United Artists Associated acts Deep Purple, Whitesnake, Coverdale and Page Website Official Whitesnake Website David 'Jack' Coverdale (born 22 September 1951) is an English rock singer, most famous for his work with the English hard rock band Deep Purple, and his later band Whitesnake,[1] of which he is the only original member to remain with the band.
Contents
Biography
Early life
Coverdale was born on 22 September 1951, in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, Redcar and Cleveland, England. His love for music developed early. Around the age of 14, the aspiring singer began performing professionally and developing the voice which made him famous. "I don't think my voice had broken," he explained to Sounds in 1974. "And that's when I first learnt how to sing with my stomach, which sounds silly, but it's totally different from a normal voice."
Deep Purple (1973-1976)
In 1973, Coverdale saw an article in a copy of Melody Maker, which said that Deep Purple was auditioning for singers to replace Ian Gillan. Coverdale had fronted a local group called The Government, which had played with Deep Purple on the same bill in 1969, so both he and the band were familiar with one another, and after sending a tape and later auditioning, Coverdale was admitted into the band, with bassist Glenn Hughes adding his own vocals as well.
In February 1974, Deep Purple released their first album with Coverdale and Hughes titled Burn which was certified Gold in the US on 20 March 1974[2] and in the UK on 1 July. In April 1974, Coverdale and Deep Purple performed to over 200,000 music fans on his first trip to America at the California Jam. Coverdale also sang on keyboardist Jon Lord's album Windows and former Deep Purple-bassist Roger Glover's album Butterfly Ball.
In December 1974 Burn was followed-up by Stormbringer, which also ranked at Gold album status in the US and the UK. The funk and soul influences of the previous record were even more prominent here, and this was one of the reasons why guitarist Ritchie Blackmore left the band in June 1975.[3]
Rather than disbanding, Coverdale was instrumental in persuading the band to continue with American guitarist Tommy Bolin (of Billy Cobham and The James Gang fame). As Jon Lord put it, "David Coverdale came up to me and said, 'Please keep the band together.' David played me the album that Tommy did with Billy Cobham. We liked his playing on it and invited Tommy to audition.'"[4] The band released one studio album with Bolin, Come Taste the Band in 1975. The album was less successful than previous records, and at the end of the tour in March 1976, Coverdale reportedly walked off in tears and handed in his resignation, to which he was told there was no band left to quit. The decision to disband Deep Purple had been made some time before the last show by Lord and Ian Paice (the last remaining original members), who hadn't told anyone else. The break-up was finally made public in July 1976. Said Coverdale in an interview: "I was frightened to leave the band. Purple was my life, Purple gave me my break, but all the same I wanted out."[5]
Solo (1977-1978)
After the demise of Deep Purple, Coverdale embarked on a solo career. He released his first album in February 1977, titled White Snake. The album was produced by former Deep Purple-bassist Roger Glover, who had been fired from Purple, before Coverdale joined. The album was also released on Purple Records formed by the Deep Purple management. As his first solo effort, Coverdale later admitted: "It's very difficult to think back and talk sensibly about the first album. White Snake had been a very inward looking, reflective and low-key affair in many ways, written and recorded as it was in the aftermath of the collapse of Deep Purple." Even though the album wasn't very successful, the album inspired the name of Coverdale's future band.
In 1978 Coverdale released his second solo album Northwinds, which was received much better than the previous album. But before the album's release, he had already formed a new band.
Whitesnake (1978–1991)
Main article: Whitesnake
Coverdale at the Monsters of Rock festival in 1990
After recording Northwinds, Coverdale soon formed the band Whitesnake.This was originally a touring band for Coverdale's first solo album, it soon developed into a full-time band. In early 1978, the band released the Snakebite EP, which was later repackaged as a full album (titled Snakebite, released in June 1978), with the B-side taken from Coverdale's Northwinds album. For the follow-up album, Trouble, Coverdale was joined by his former Deep Purple colleague, keyboardist Jon Lord. For Whitesnake's 1980 album, Ready an' Willing, drummer Ian Paice also joined the group. Ready an' Willing also featured the band's biggest hit up to that point, the song "Fool for Your Loving", which reached #13 on the British charts[6] and #53 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Ready an' Willing was followed up by the even more successful Come an' Get It in 1981. During 1982 Coverdale took some time off to look after his sick daughter and decided to put Whitesnake on hold. When David Coverdale returned to music he reformed the band, which thereafter the recorded the album Saints & Sinners.
In 1982, according to British heavy metal magazine Kerrang!, Coverdale was considered for the vocalist position with Black Sabbath following the departure of Ronnie James Dio. Coverdale declined. Ironically, Sabbath eventually recruited and hired two other ex-Deep Purple vocalists, Ian Gillan and later Glenn Hughes.
Whitesnake gained significant popularity in the UK, Europe, and Asia, but North American success remained elusive. In 1984, the album Slide It In dented the US charts (reaching #40), but not enough to be considered a hit. In time for the US release of Slide It In, Coverdale made a calculated attempt at updating Whitesnake's sound and look by recruiting guitarist John Sykes from the remnants of Thin Lizzy. 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 serious sinus infection that made recording close to impossible for much of 1986 and which had doctors thinking he might never sing again. Coverdale eventually recovered, and recordings were continued. But before their upcoming album was fully recorded and released, Coverdale had dismissed Sykes from the band.[7] The split with Sykes was, reportedly, not amicable.
In many period interviews, Coverdale stated that the next album was a make-or-break album for Whitesnake, and if not successful he would disband Whitesnake altogether. During 1987 and 1988, North America was finally won over, with the multi-platinum self-titled Whitesnake album, co-written for the most part with now-departed Sykes, but including guitar from virtuoso Adrian Vandenberg, as a session musician.
The 1987 album has sold 8 times platinum since its release, propelled by hit singles such as "Here I Go Again" and "Is This Love", and finally made Whitesnake a bona fide concert headliner in North America. Through the late 80s and early 90s, caught in the "hair-band" era, Coverdale kept Whitesnake going with great success despite changing lineups.
In 1989 Coverdale recruited Vandenberg to recorded a new album, Slip of the Tongue. Vandenberg co-wrote the entire album with Coverdale, but a wrist injury sidelined him from contributing the solo guitar work. Fellow virtuoso Steve Vai was recruited, re-recording most of Vandenberg's existing parts and finishing the album. Upon release, it was a great success in Europe and the U.S.
The following tour, for which Vandenberg returned to play along with Vai, cemented Whitesnake's reputation as a giant in the world of hard rock. The album peaked at number 10 in the U.S., and has achieved platinum status. Critical response was mixed.[citation needed] The tour continued until the end of 1990.
It is no secret that Coverdale wanted out of the business at that point. He had 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 like a "girly man" and tease ones questionable bangs or hair and it's all becoming a bit... boring."[8]
In 1990 Coverdale sang and co-wrote (with Hans Zimmer and Billy Idol) the song "The Last Note of Freedom" for the Tony Scott-film Days of Thunder.
On 26 September 1990, after the last show on the Slip of the Tongue tour in Tokyo, Coverdale disbanded Whitesnake indefinitely. Tired of the business in general, the rigors of touring and troubled by his separation and later divorce from Tawny Kitaen, Coverdale wanted to find other values in life and took "private time to reflect" and re-assess his career direction.
Coverdale and Page (1991-1993)
Main article: Coverdale and PageThe hiatus did not last long. In the early spring of 1991, a collaboration was set up with guitarist Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin fame. Both parties have said that the collaboration revitalized them on many levels. This collaboration resulted in the Coverdale-Page album released in March 1993. The album was a hit all over the world reaching number 4 in the UK and number 5 in the US, but the US tour for the album had to be cancelled due to slow ticket sales and after only a limited Japanese tour, Coverdale and Page parted ways. In part, the problem had been the comparison to Robert Plant who had fronted Led Zeppelin, as vocalist, with Jimmy Page. Some of their audience criticized Coverdale, feeling he was merely a Plant clone.[1] Others felt the short-lived collaboration only served to inspire Page to once again hook up with Plant, a year later.[9]
Return of Whitesnake (1994, 1997–1998)
In 1994 Coverdale assembled a new line-up of Whitesnake (with the exception of Coverdale's musical partner, guitarist Adrian Vandenberg and bassist Rudy Sarzo, both of whom had been in Whitesnake since 1987) to tour for the release of Whitesnake's Greatest Hits album. The band again broke-up after the tour. After this Coverdale once again retreated from the music business, for three years. In 1997 Coverdale returned and released Restless Heart (with Vandenberg on guitar). The album was originally supposed to be Coverdale's solo album, but the record company forced it to be released under the moniker "David Coverdale & Whitesnake". The tour was billed as Whitesnake's farewell tour, during which Coverdale and Vandenberg played two unplugged shows (one in Japan and the other for VH1[10][11]). The first of the two shows was released the next year under the title Starkers in Tokyo. After the Restless Heart-tour ended, Coverdale once again folded Whitesnake and took another short break from music.
Back to solo (1999-2002)
In 2000 Coverdale released his first solo album in 22 years, titled Into The Light. Even though the album wasn't a hit, it did return Coverdale to the music business.
Re-formation of Whitesnake (2002-present)
Coverdale, performing with Whitesnake in Istanbul, Turkey (2008)In December 2002, Coverdale re-reformed Whitesnake for an American and European tour, with Tommy Aldridge on drums, Marco Mendoza (bass), Doug Aldrich (guitar), Reb Beach (guitar) and keyboardist Timothy Drury. 2004-2005 saw Whitesnake embark on a tour of the United States, South America and Europe. A live DVD, shot during the 2005 tour at the legendary Hammersmith Apollo was released in February 2006. In June 2006, Coverdale signed a new record deal with Steamhammer Records. 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.
In 2008 the band (with new bassist and drummer) released its first new studio album in over 10 years titled Good to Be Bad. The band toured the album extensively. Also in 2008, Whitesnake embarked on a European Tour as part of a double bill with fellow Yorkshire rockers Def Leppard.
In 2009, Whitesnake toured with Judas Priest on the British Steel Anniversary Tour. On 11 August 2009, Whitesnake was playing a show at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado, when Coverdale suffered a vocal injury. After seeing a specialist, it was announced on 12 August 2009 that Coverdale is suffering from severe vocal fold edema and a left vocal fold vascular lesion. The remainder of their tour with Judas Priest was cancelled.
In early February 2010, David Coverdale has announced his voice seems to have fully recovered from the trauma that sidelined him and the band on the Priest tour. He states he's been recording new demos, aiming for a new Whitesnake album, and on tape his voice is sounding full and strong. The latest Whitesnake studio album "Forevermore" was released on 25 March 2011, with Aldrich and Beach on board.
Personal life
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 February 1989 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 (born 1996).[12][13] Coverdale is also a grandfather to his daughter Jessica's two children, Georgina and Mathilda.[citation needed]
On 1 March 2007, Coverdale became a U.S. citizen, in a ceremony in Reno, and now holds dual US/UK citizenship. He has lived near Lake Tahoe for more than 20 years.[14]
Band membership
Coverdale has been the lead vocalist for Deep Purple as well as four various stints in Whitesnake. In addition, he has been the vocalist for the following bands:
- The Government (1968–1972)
- Fabulosa Brothers (1972–73)
- Deep Purple (1973–1976)
- Solo (1976–77; 1999–2002)
- Whitesnake (1978–1991; 1994; 1997–98; 2002–present)
- Coverdale and Page (1991–93)
Guitarists
Over his 40 plus year career, Coverdale has worked with many of rock music's most accomplished guitarists:
- 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 (1976–1983)
- 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)
- Adrian Vandenberg (Vandenberg, Whitesnake, Manic Eden) - in Whitesnake (1987–1991, 1994, 1997–1998)
- 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)
- Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin, The Firm, The Yardbirds) - in Coverdale and Page (1992–1993)
- Warren DeMartini (Ratt) - in Whitesnake (1994)
- Earl Slick (David Bowie, John Lennon, Phantom, Rocker & Slick, and Slick) - in David Coverdale's solo work (2000)
- Doug Aldrich (Lion, Hurricane, House of Lords, Bad Moon Rising, Burning Rain, Dio, Whitesnake) - in Whitesnake (since 2002)
- Reb Beach (Winger, Dokken, Alice Cooper, The Mob) - in Whitesnake (since 2002)
Discography
Main articles: Deep Purple discography and Whitesnake discographySolo
1977 White Snake
1978 Northwinds- The first two solo albums were also released as one 2-disc album The Early Years in 2003
1990 "The Last Note Of Freedom" - song featured on Days of Thunder soundtrack
1993 Coverdale and Page (with Jimmy Page)
2000 Into the LightGuest appearances & other projects
1974 Roger Glover - The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast ("Behind the Smile")
1974 Jon Lord - Windows - 2nd Movement, Gemini
1976 Eddie Hardin - Wizard's Convention ("Money To Burn")
1978 Barbi Benton - Ain't That Just The Way (co-writer of "Up In The Air")
1989 Steve Vai - Passion and Warfare ("For the Love of God")
2000 Bernie Marsden - And About Time Too ("Who's Fooling Who", live recording from '81, only on reissue of the album)
2003 Tony Franklin - Wonderland ("Sunshine Lady")Quotation
“ All it is is a group playing music. I'm not saying all take your pants off and play a game of brag. None of that shit. It's just get out of it what you can: if it moves your ass then dance; it it inspires you to something else, fine. ” References
- ^ a b Prato, Greg. "David Coverdale: Biography". MSN Music. http://music.msn.com/music/artist-biography/david-coverdale/. Retrieved 5 November 2009.
- ^ "RIAA Gold & Platinum database". http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=deep%20purple&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2009&sort=Artist&perPage=25. Retrieved 17 July 2009.
- ^ "Deep Purple: History and Hits" DVD.
- ^ Jon Lord interview at www.thehighwaystar.com
- ^ David Coverdale bio at deep-purple.net
- ^ "Whitesnake chart stats". http://www.chartstats.com/artistinfo.php?id=3221.
- ^ David Coverdale bio at VH1.com
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zlfy9bhAUqw
- ^ David Coverdale bio at VH1.com, paragraph 7
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8X7-mWSZbno
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjTSCtLC0PQ
- ^ "Here he goes again". Ellesmere Port Pioneer (Cheshire Online). 29 June 2006. http://iccheshireonline.icnetwork.co.uk/entertainment/newsandreviews/tm_objectid=17311308&method=full&siteid=50020&headline=here-he-goes-again--name_page.html. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
- ^ "Whitesnake's Coverdale Is Supportive Of Wife's New Career". Blabbermouth.net. 8 March 2004. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=20129. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
- ^ Report on David Coverdale becoming a US Citizen
- ^ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 390. CN 5585.
External links
Compilations The Early YearsRelated articles David Coverdale · Doug Aldrich · Reb Beach · Brian Tichy · Michael Devin · Brian Ruedy
Micky Moody · Bernie Marsden · Adrian Vandenberg · John Sykes · Mel Galley · Neil Murray · Jon Lord · Ian Paice · Dave Dowle · Steve Vai · Rudy Sarzo · Tommy Aldridge · Cozy Powell · Aynsley Dunbar · Colin Hodgkinson · Uriah Duffy · Denny Carmassi · Chris Frazier · Peter Solley · Paul Mirkovich · Timothy Drury · Vivian Campbell · Warren DeMartini · Steve Farris · Tony Franklin · Marco MendozaStudio albums Trouble · Lovehunter · Ready an' Willing · Come an' Get It · Saints & Sinners · Slide It In · Whitesnake · Slip of the Tongue · Restless Heart · Good to Be Bad · ForevermoreEPs Live albums Live at Hammersmith · Live...in the Heart of the City · Starkers in Tokyo · Live: In the Shadow of the Blues · Live at Donington 1990Compilations Whitesnake's Greatest Hits · Best of Whitesnake · The Silver Anniversary Collection · The Early Years · The Definitive Collection · 30th Anniversary CollectionSingles "Long Way from Home" · "Fool for Your Loving" · "Ready an' Willing" · "Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City" · "Don't Break My Heart Again" · "Would I Lie to You" · "Here I Go Again" · "Bloody Luxury" · "Guilty of Love" · "Standing in the Shadow" · "Give Me More Time" · "Love Ain't No Stranger" · "Slow An' Easy" · "Here I Go Again '87" · "Is This Love" · "Still of the Night" · "Crying in the Rain '87" · "Give Me All Your Love" · "Fool For Your Loving '89" · "The Deeper the Love" · "Now You're Gone" · "Is This Love/Sweet Lady Luck" · "Too Many Tears" · "Don't Fade Away" · "All I Want Is You" · "All For Love" · "Summer Rain" · "Lay Down Your Love" · "Love Will Set You Free"Videos
and DVDsWhitesnake Commandos · Trilogy · Starkers in Tokyo · Live... In the Still of the Night · Live at Donington 1990David Coverdale solo albums Related articles Members · Discography · Deep Purple · Coverdale and Page · Paice, Ashton & Lord · Blue Murder · Manic Eden · The Snakes · The Company of Snakes · Martin Birch · Don Airey · Tawny Kitaen · Forevermore World TourCategories:- 1951 births
- Living people
- English male singers
- English rock singers
- English heavy metal singers
- Deep Purple members
- English emigrants to the United States
- Whitesnake members
- Naturalized citizens of the United States
- People from Saltburn-by-the-Sea
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