Whitesnake - The Most Fascinating Facts Anywhere

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1. Whitesnake grew out of David Coverdale's solo career

After leaving Deep Purple in 1976, David Coverdale released two solo albums, White Snake in 1977 and Northwinds in 1978. Musicians including guitarist Micky Moody and bassist Neil Murray played on this early material. The group that became Whitesnake developed around Coverdale's backing musicians, initially to promote Northwinds, before becoming a band in its own right.

2. The band's first release was called Snakebite

Released in 1978, the Snakebite EP helped introduce Whitesnake to the British rock audience. Its European edition was expanded with tracks from Coverdale's Northwinds album. One of the standout songs was “Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City”, a cover of the Bobby “Blue” Bland soul-blues recording. Whitesnake's version became a live favourite and an important part of their early identity.

3. Two future Deep Purple bandmates were in early Whitesnake

Whitesnake's early lineup included keyboard player Jon Lord, who had been Coverdale's colleague in Deep Purple, and drummer Ian Paice, who joined in 1979. Their presence meant Whitesnake became a new home for three musicians connected with Deep Purple. Despite this shared history, Whitesnake developed its own blues-rock sound rather than simply continuing the earlier band's musical direction.

4. Their debut album was recorded in just a few weeks

Trouble, released in 1978, was recorded soon after the band formed. The album captured a group that was still close to its blues-rock roots, with a strong emphasis on guitar interplay, keyboards and Coverdale's expressive voice. Jon Lord's presence gave the record a distinctive organ sound, while the relatively direct arrangements differed markedly from the elaborate production of Whitesnake's later American breakthrough.

5. The cover of Lovehunter caused controversy

The 1979 album Lovehunter featured a provocative cover illustration by artist Chris Achilleos, depicting a naked woman riding a snake. It became one of the band's most recognisable sleeve designs and was also controversial because of its sexual imagery. The artwork reflected the cheeky, provocative side of Whitesnake's early image, which was quite different from the polished presentation they adopted in the late 1980s.

6. Bernie Marsden helped shape the early guitar sound

Guitarist Bernie Marsden joined Coverdale's developing band and became one of the key songwriters during Whitesnake's early years. His partnership with Micky Moody gave the group a distinctive two-guitar sound grounded in British blues and hard rock. Marsden co-wrote several important songs, including “Here I Go Again”, and remained associated with the band's formative period long after leaving the lineup.

7. “Fool for Your Loving” was originally written for B.B. King

“Fool for Your Loving”, released on the 1980 album Ready an' Willing, was written by David Coverdale, Bernie Marsden and Micky Moody. Coverdale has discussed the song's original connection with the idea of B.B. King recording it, although Whitesnake ultimately kept it for themselves. Its bluesy riff and strong chorus helped establish the band as one of Britain's most successful hard-rock acts of the period.

8. Ready an' Willing brought Whitesnake into the UK Top 10

The 1980 album Ready an' Willing became a major breakthrough in Britain, reaching the UK Top 10. It also featured “Fool for Your Loving”, which became one of the band's best-known early singles. The record captured the classic blues-rock lineup at a productive moment, combining hard-driving tracks with Coverdale's soulful vocal style and the keyboard work of Jon Lord.

9. Their live album captured the atmosphere of London's Hammersmith Odeon

Live... in the Heart of the City was released in 1980 and drew on performances recorded at London's Hammersmith Odeon in 1978 and 1980. It showcased the band as a powerful live act, with extended performances and a set that mixed original material with blues and rock influences. The album remains a useful document of Whitesnake before their sound became more heavily shaped by American arena rock.

10. “Don't Break My Heart Again” became a British hit

Released on the 1981 album Come an' Get It, “Don't Break My Heart Again” reached the UK singles chart and became a regular part of the band's repertoire. The song has the blues-based groove and direct chorus associated with early Whitesnake. Its success showed that the band could produce concise, radio-friendly songs without abandoning the muscular sound that had built their following.

11. The early lineup included musicians from several major British bands

Whitesnake's membership history reads like a map of British hard rock. Alongside Coverdale, the group featured musicians such as Jon Lord and Ian Paice from Deep Purple, Cozy Powell, whose career included Rainbow, and guitarists with backgrounds in other established acts. This constant movement of experienced players helped keep the band musically flexible, although it also meant that the lineup changed substantially over the years.

12. “Here I Go Again” first appeared years before its famous version

The original “Here I Go Again” appeared on Saints & Sinners in 1982. Co-written by Coverdale and Bernie Marsden, it had a bluesier arrangement than the version that became an international hit in 1987. When Whitesnake revisited the song, the lyrics and musical arrangement were revised, creating a more polished recording that introduced the track to a much larger audience.

13. “Crying in the Rain” was also re-recorded for the 1987 album

Another song revived for the self-titled 1987 album was “Crying in the Rain”, originally released on Saints & Sinners. The later recording was heavier and more dramatic, with John Sykes's guitar playing helping transform the track into an extended hard-rock showcase. Reworking earlier material allowed Coverdale to retain links with Whitesnake's blues-rock past while pursuing a more modern production style.

14. Slide It In marked a major change in sound

Released in 1984, Slide It In was a turning point between the band's earlier British blues-rock style and the more polished sound of their later records. The album was remixed and partly re-recorded for the American market, with different versions featuring changes to the guitar, bass and keyboard parts. John Sykes's arrival helped move the band toward a heavier, more aggressive guitar sound.

15. John Sykes helped create the sound of the 1987 breakthrough

Guitarist John Sykes joined Whitesnake during the Slide It In period and became a major creative force on the 1987 album. His powerful, melodic guitar style helped shape tracks such as “Still of the Night” and “Bad Boys”. Although Sykes and Coverdale parted company before the album's release, Sykes's recorded performances remained central to the album's sound.

16. The 1987 album has several different titles

Whitesnake's hugely successful 1987 album is commonly known as 1987, but in the United States it was released under the band's own name, Whitesnake. Some editions also used the Latin phrase Serpens Albus. David Coverdale has explained that the self-titled presentation was intended to signal a fresh start for the band, rather than being a plan to create several different album titles.

17. “Is This Love” began as an idea for another singer

“Is This Love”, one of Whitesnake's biggest power ballads, was written by David Coverdale and John Sykes. Coverdale has said that the song was initially considered for Tina Turner before it became part of Whitesnake's own album. Its slow build, polished production and soaring vocal melody made it a major international hit and a defining example of the band's late-1980s sound.

18. Tawny Kitaen appeared in two of the band's best-known videos

Actress Tawny Kitaen appeared in the music videos for “Here I Go Again” and “Is This Love”. Her performance in the former, dancing across the bonnet of a car, became one of the most memorable images of the MTV era. The videos helped establish Whitesnake's visual identity in America, where music television played a major role in turning rock songs into international hits.

19. Steve Vai joined after the departure of John Sykes

After John Sykes's departure, guitarist Adrian Vandenberg became associated with Whitesnake's next chapter, and Steve Vai joined the band for the recording of Slip of the Tongue, released in 1989. Vandenberg had co-written much of the album but was unable to record its guitar parts because of an arm injury. Vai's highly technical playing gave the album a different character from its predecessor.

20. Whitesnake revisited Coverdale's Deep Purple years decades later

The 2015 album The Purple Album featured Whitesnake's interpretations of songs from David Coverdale's years with Deep Purple, including material from Burn, Stormbringer and Come Taste the Band. Rather than being a straight historical reissue, it allowed Coverdale to revisit the songs with Whitesnake's heavier sound. The project connected the band's later career directly with the period that first brought Coverdale to international attention.