PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal
It’s a busy time for David Coverdale and the rest of Whitesnake right now. They have a new live album coming out in April, and a UK tour with Journey and Thunder in May. Whitesnake founder and frontman David Coverdale kindly took some time to answer some questions for Planetmosh
First of all thank you for taking the time to answer some questions for us.
DC…My pleasure…
You have a new Live album – ‘Made in Japan’ due out in April, which was recorded at the Live Park festival in 2011. How do you find Japanese audiences, as in my experience they do tend to be more reserved than audiences in many countries?
DC…It used to be that way…but, I’m delighted to say they go as crazy as the rest of the world now if they are enjoying the performance…I’ve personally loved playing for them for almost 40 years…
Was the name for the album your choice? It’s a nice reminder that you were in Deep Purple (although not on their ‘Made in Japan’ album).
DC…Ha Ha…I keep saying that if anyone is confused by the title they need to change their meds…It’s all done in Japan…like my car & a lot of my audio & video equipment at home it’s Made In Japan…I don’t think anyone is going to be confused…It’s Whitesnake ‘Made In Japan’…an entirely different beast…We have ‘Made In Britain’ coming out this year, too…cos’ it was all made in Britain…Duh…
The album is being released on CD as well as on Blu-Ray and DVD. The Blu-Ray and DVD have 5.1 stereo sound. How much difference do you feel the 5.1 sound makes compared to a traditional CD or vinyl release?
DC…Well, the way we mixed it it feels like you’re in the middle of the arena, between the mixing board that everyone sees in the middle of the floor, & of course, the band…It’s a very compelling experience…More embracing than stereo in this circumstance…
It’s the first time we’ve been able to indulge in Blu Ray…It’s bloody amazing quality…sound & vision…a whole different world…
We worked hard on getting the absolute best out of the recordings…& I feel we succeeded…I have the audio CD in the car & I’ve already been ticketed for speeding…
The album has a great mix of old and new material with songs from ‘Forevermore’ and ‘Good To Be Bad’ sitting alongside older material. Can we expect a similar set-list on your tour with Journey and Thunder in May?
DC…It feels like we’ve just come off the road from the 2011 ‘Forevermore World Tour’ to be honest…so, a lot of the elements will be similar, but, Doug & I are going to sit down together soon to map out how we can get as much ‘new’ or ‘older’ material into the set…certainly for the initial part of the tour…
Your May tour with Journey and Thunder is a superb lineup. Co-headlining tours like this seem to be getting more common – why do you think this is?
DC…Simply put, I feel people understandably want more bang for their buck in these challenging economic times…We saw how incredible the crowds were on the tour we did with the Leppards…Over 3 hours of solid, well known songs…The crowd was as knackered as we were when they left…
We’ve been looking for another partner band for similar reasons & Journey & Thunder are amazing bands to tour with…Super players & songs…A guaranteed good night out…
It’s the first time all three bands have shared a stage, but you have played with Thunder before, as they opened some of the UK dates you did with Def Leppard in 2008. How did you enjoy touring with the guys from Thunder?
DC…They’re great…I’m a fan…I’ve known the guys for years…I invited them on the Monsters bill back in 1990…Solid band…Luke thinks he’s my illegitimate child…
You’ve also played with Journey (supporting Def Leppard in Dublin in 2009 just before Download). Have you toured with them as well or is this your first time touring with them?
DC…This is the first time as Journey…When Neal & Jonathan had the ‘Bad English’ band we toured together on our ‘Slip Of The Tongue’ US tour…Great players & people…
Do you take any special precautions on tour to protect your voice?
DC…Yes…much more than ever, with me getting ‘up there’…Warm up exercises, back off on the booze…( Grrrr )…Hydrate with room temperature water & hope for the fucking best…
What would you say are the best and worst parts of touring?
DC…Simple…for me the worst is the traveling…The best, of course, is playing for appreciative crowds…Nothing like it, when everything is working & there’s no unnecessary distractions…
When can fans expect to see a new Whitesnake studio album?
DC…We’ve been asked, but, we have quite an agenda for the next 2-3 years…It’s a huge commitment for me at this time in my life, to be honest…to write & record a new album I will set aside a full year to avoid stress or corporate deadlines…That said, if someone steps up to the plate, then I would willingly accept the challenge…I love ‘Forevermore’…I would truly love to go one further, as I think it’s a cracking album…
When you buy music, which do you prefer and why – Vinyl, CD or legal mp3 downloads ?
DC…The global convenience of iTunes works for me…I adore my iPod collections…I travel with at least 6 160 gig iPods…I send the signal thro’ lots of interesting devices to ‘warm up’ the digital sound…Of course, my hearing ain’t what it used to be, so, I don’t argue with purists…I love choice & the amazing iPod affords me so much, it’s breathtaking…Quantity wins this round for me…
What was the last album you bought?
DC…Or downloaded?…Let me see…I buy a ton of music…I think it was ‘Five Horse Jordan’s ‘The Taking Of Black Heart’…& a bunch of classical…I def need me classical to calm the beast in me…
Thank you very much for your time
DC…My pleasure…again…:)
Frontiers Records releases “Whitesnake: Made In Japan” on Deluxe 2CD/DVD, Blu-ray and DVD on Monday April 22.
Don’t miss “Journey” and “Whitesnake” with very special guests “Thunder” on tour in the UK during May 2013.
Order tickets online from www.ticketmaster.co.uk and www.livenation.co.uk
Glasgow SECC (May 18)
Sheffield Motorpoint Arena (May 20)
Newcastle Metro Radio Arena (May 22)
Manchester Arena (May 23)
Nottingham Capital FM Arena (May 25)
Cardiff Motorpoint Arena (May 26)
Birmingham LG Arena (May 28)
London Wembley Arena (May 29)
