Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake/Burning Rain) – Interview

Doug AldrichDoug Aldrich is best known as part of the twin guitar attack in Whitesnake.  But, before he hooked up with David Coverdale – and, indeed, Ronnie James Dio before him – he played in a number of successful bands, including Lion and Burning Rain.  The latter outfit released two highly under-rated albums, ‘Burning Rain’ and ‘Pleasure To Burn’, in 1999 and 2000:  recently, however, Aldrich found time amid his heavy commitment to Whitesnake to re-unite with vocalist Keith St Clair and record a third BR album, the superb ‘Epic Obsession’.

Doug Aldrich Guitar WorkshopOn the eve of Whitesnake’s latest UK tour, PM caught up with the extremely affable Californian in Belfast (where Aldridge and ‘Snake bassist Michael Devin had arrived early to conduct a guitar workshop), to talk about Burning Rain, the new album and it’s two re-issued predecessors.  Of course, the conversation – conducted in a hotel coffee bar with a gaggle of garrulous grannies on a day trip gabbling away at the next table – also touches on Whitesnake, and particularly Aldrich’s admiration for David Coverdale, and his working relationship with the frontman.  The insightful interview also touches on Aldrich’s period in Dio, his admiration for the NWOBHM – and reveals how Gene Simmons played a role in the guitarist’s late-blooming career.

Doug Aldrich Interview – 15 May 2013

‘Epic Obsession’ by Burning Rain is released via Frontiers Records on Friday (May 17th), as are the remastered versions of ‘Burning Rain’ and ‘Pleasure To Burn’.

Read our review of the three albums here:  http://planetmosh.com/album/burning-rain-burning-rain-pleasure-to-burn-epic-obsession/

Check out Burning Rain’s official Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/BurningRain

Doug Aldrich conducting a guitar workshop in BelfastWhitesnake’s UK tour, with Journey and Thunder, starts at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast tomorrow (Thursday May 16th) and continues as follows:

Saturday 18th – SECC, Glasgow

Monday 20th – Metropoint Arena, Sheffield

Wednesday 22nd – Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle

Thursday 23rd – Arena, Manchester

Saturday 25th – Capital FM Arena, Nottingham

Sunday 26th – Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff Tuesday

28th – LG Arena, Birmingham

Wednesday 29th – Wembley Arena, London

Photos of Doug Aldrich by Paul Verner – www.livei.co.uk

About Mark Ashby

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