Review by The Bailey Brothers
It’s a good read and follows Coverdale from
his days fronting Deep Purple right through to the modern day 2014. It was Geffen
Records AOR genius John Kalodner that masterminded the epic Whitesnake 87 album
and was very instrumental in pulling off one of the best selling rock albums at
the time. Finally John Sykes gets the recognition he deserves with Kalodner
very much an admirer at the time: “Nobody is as good looking as John Sykes
except maybe Jon Bon Jovi and the guy was a big manly guy, not some kind of
pussy looking guy”.
It may have become the clash of the ego titans but nobody
can deny the fact that Coverdale and Sykes wrote some major rock songs together
but like many snake fans the Bailey’s were disappointed Sykes didn’t make the
videos or the live line up. We asked Coverdale back in the day why? ” Well I
don’t know what he’s bleating on about. I made him a millionaire I don’t know
why he just doesn’t get on with Blue Carmine or whatever it’s called”. He was talking
about Blue Murder, the band Sykes
assembled after Whitesnake with Tony Franklin on bass, Carmine Appice on drums
and Sykes on guitar and lead vocals.
In the end Coverdale dumped Sykes and
brought in a new line up supposedly handpicked by Kalodner and the new look
Whitesnake were a completely different look and style from the earlier blues
rock trio of Marsden/Murray and Moody. Make no mistake though these guys laid
the foundation for Coverdale to establish a major foot hold in Europe but the
87 album made Whitesnake global. It’s all in this book and a fitting account
and portrayal of a major British vocalist/songwriter and performer, David
Coverdale who has always employed some of the finest musicians to his band
Whitesnake and for me doesn’t get the credit he deserves for all those decades
of great songs and great live shows. Whitesnake fans should enjoy this book
from cover to cover. It’s a journey many will remember with a sense of pride.
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