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THE ARCHIVES
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Morrigan's Pit has closed down as of November 2006. The site and its articles will stay online as an archive until September at least, but probably longer.
The Archives
2002-2006
» CD REVIEWS
» INTERVIEWS
» LIVE REVIEWS
» SPECIALS
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WHITESNAKE
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David Coverdale
2005
http://www.whitesnake.com
For a change this is not an interview I conducted myself, but a recorded interview that came with the promo I got from Theo (Rock Inc) of the great live DVD that Whitesnake recently released, "Live... In The Still Of The Night". I don't know who interviewed David here, but since every extra attention for this product is a good thing, I'm happy to present you this little interview, even though it's quite general, the interviewer doesn't react to David's sense of humor at all and it doesn't go into much detail about the DVD recording itself. But, still a fun read :)
"Live... In The Still Of The Night" is the first official DVD release from Whitesnake here in Europe. A lot of people have been waiting for it, what made you decide finally to do it?
I bowed to pressure from my website, whitesnake.com, pretty much two out of three postings were asking me to make a DVD. I have been thrilled with the way the band, what I would call the "new" Whitesnake, has developed over the last 3 years. It just felt appropriate. I got myself a new manager who is very gung-ho and forward-looking and he made a DVD deal that was attractive. And the other opportunity was to document this for my young son, who will be able to see what his old dad did for a living.
It was recorded at London's Hammersmith Apollo, a venue that you especially like or was it chosen by coincidence?
Well, it was remarkably fortuitous... a coincidence. We actually were looking at recording it in the exotic city of Helsinki where we sold 6 or 7 or 8.000 tickets in 3 hours. To have some mad Vikings there might've been an interesting proposition, but once we got Hamish Hamilton, the esteemed red-headed gorgeous director (U2, The Rolling Stones, Brit Awards)... once he came on board it just made more sense to look in the UK. And then of course London, the scene of many many Whitesnake experiences, one very positive experience is the Odeon. We actually recorded a live album there back in the early eighties and always had a great time there, it's a great crowd. What happened this time out, it became an extraordinary international crowd, there were people coming in from Japan, the States. It was extraordinary, it was a great memorable night and everything came together, so obviously it was meant to be. Everything came together in the most positive way and I am very glad we have that documented now.
Do you watch the DVD yourself? A lot of musicians don't like to see themselves on DVDs or videos…
Well, I have been documented quite some time now in over 30 years , I remember the first time I saw myself on film was when I was working with Deep Purple. I could not believe the size of my nose, it looked like the Rod Stewart signature collection, and so I was never really keen to make film. Video during the eighties was like a necessary evil that I didn't particularly enjoy, but it was extraordinary successful and promoted Whitesnake beyond any dreams one had of potential success, once I started as a player. It's a new generation of people, being entertained at home. Surround systems are more affordable now and I just hope that this does not stop people from being motivated or inspired to go to see bands in concert, because I think that is going to be the only lifeline in the way the industry is going, in order to keep the bands alive. So enjoy the DVD but please, come and see the band. It so much better in the flesh.
And are you into DVDs in general?
I am a huge music and film fan, I watch more film to be entertained and I am a member of BAFTA, which is like the American Oscars. I get to vote on movies. In terms of sitting at home and watch music DVDs, that's rare for me, because I'd rather see the band live to go for that experience. However, I have a very substantial collection of music DVD's that I work out to, when I am treadmilling or cross training. That helps to pass the time and it's always fun.
David Coverdale is very well known as the gentleman in the rock scene…
You fucking got it baby!!! Hahaha, I did not know you cared or even noticed after all this time...
…something coming from your British roots?
I think it probably came from my mother's upbringing, insisting that I open doors for ladies or stood up when ladies came or left or joined the dinner table. I still do it now, it is part of me, it's inherent in me. I enjoy that it's nice to be acknowledged to have gentlemanly manners. Perhaps it would belong to a different time but I'd rather maintain that as something that is a very pleasant experience for all concerned. But I swear like a sailor, I curse like a gentleman, hahaha…
Would you consider yourself as British? Or do you feel more American or even more as someone with a very international personality?
Oh, completely citizen of the world. I love my British roots, my family is American. My primary home is in America; I absolutely love where I live and the people who surround me. But I've always felt like an international man of mystery you know. Oh, and by the way I also loved living on the continent. I lived in Germany for some time, and thoroughly enjoyed that lifestyle. It was an extraordinary cultural eye opener for me, which I still to this day treasure.
How would you describe the feeling when you go on stage? Did that change over the years?
Is that like having bluebirds fly out your ass? ;) Hmm, it is always a magical experience, particularly when you are blessed with such an appreciative audience that Whitesnake has. It is impossible not the feel welcome, when you hear the incredible noise the Whitesnake audience makes as we walk on stage. It is extraordinarily inspiring, motivating and energizing. It is actually indescribable for someone who is supposed to be some kind of lyricist/poet. It is just hugely rewarding to do this. And to be appreciated for it.
You are very well known as a frontman who plays and even "talks" to his audience while singing...
Don't tell the police I'm playing with them while I'm... hehe, don't forget fondling!
...something a lot of other singers envy you for. Is that something natural for you or more a question of practising a lot?
No, there is no practicing involved. When I rehearse it is just rehearsing songs and getting my voice greased, or running, like you would with a new car. It takes a great deal for me to dig my voice out, 
there is no kind of choreography or set stuff. I just feel like I am in a room full of friends, in a hall or a stadium. I always had that feeling to be more friendly with an audience. I remember when I worked with Purple, it was uncomfortable for me. Those were the times when it was un-cool to be particularly chatting with an audience or crack a joke or something like that. So it was never natural for me to be so practised in "cool".
What would you describe as the biggest magic while being on stage and playing a show?
Just hearing an audience sing the words, that you have written, with passion and fun. It is indescribable. There isn't anything quite like being a musician in a successful, well liked and appreciated band, it is the stuff of dreams. I recommend it to all of you.
submitted by Marlies 17.02.2006
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