Whitesnake, Newcastle City Hall, 13th June 2011

The Union Setlist:

Easy Street | Sirens’ Song | Black Monday | Saviour | Step Up To The Plate | Watch The River Flow

 

Whitesnake Setlist:

Best Years | Give Me All Your Love | Love Ain’t No Stranger | Is This Love | Steal Your Heart Away | Forevermore | Love Will Set You Free | Guitar Duel | My Evil Ways | Drum Solo | Fare Thee Well | Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City | Fool For Your Lovin’ | Here I Go Again

Encore:

Still Of The Night

David Coverdale founded Whitesnake in 1978. The core line-up had been working as his backing band The White Snake Band on the White Snake album tour and they retained the title before officially being known as Whitesnake. At this time, the band was made up of Coverdale, Bernie Marsden, Micky Moody, Neil Murray and drummer David “Duck” Dowle with keyboardist Brian Johnston. Johnston would soon be replaced by Procol Harum organ player and keyboardist Pete Solley, but because of Solley’s producing commitments he was soon replaced by former Deep Purple keyboard player Jon Lord during sessions for the first LP. Although this was the first incarnation of the band, the one thing you can say for certain, it wasn’t the last. All in all there have been upwards of 30+ members of the band since 1978.

The band hit its main commercial success in the mid to late 80’s firstly with the #1 album ‘Slide It In’ which spawned the album-oriented rock hits ‘Slow An’ Easy’ and ‘Love Ain’t No Stranger’, as well as the album’s title track. ‘Slip of the Tongue’ followed which sold three million copies and hit #10 in both the US and UK album charts.

Between 1990 and 2002 there were intermittent recordings and tours, but it wasn’t until December 2002 that Coverdale officially reformed the band for Whitesnake’s 25th anniversary the upcoming year. Joining Coverdale for a 2003 tour were guitarists Doug Aldrich of Dio and Reb Beach of Winger, bass player Marco Mendoza, drummer Tommy Aldridge and keyboard player Timothy Drury. During 2003 they headlined the Rock Never Stops Tour with other popular rock bands.

So to 2011, and yet another line-up of  Aldrich, Beach, Brian Tichy (drums), Michael Devin (bass) and Brian Ruedy (keyboards) are out on a world tour promoting the highly acclaimed new album ‘Forevermore’.

First up on stage however, were The Union. I’d seen the band in February when they opened for Thin Lizzy at the same venue. The four piece are fronted by vocalist/guitarist Peter Shoulder, Chris Childs on bass, Phil Martin on drums and formed by ex-Thunder guitarist Luke Morley. They did a short set, just around 30 minutes, but highlighted what a good band they are with the ballad ‘Saviour’ and the final song ‘Watch The River Flow’. Once again I would recommend seeing this band live. Keep an eye on your local listings for them, you won’t be disappointed.

The last time I’d seen Whitesnake was 2 years ago on a very cold and damp night in July at the Moondance Jam rock festival. It was evident that night that there was something awry with Coverdale’s voice. Initially I had put it down to the cold, damp air. Initially diagnosed as laryngitis, it was much worse and the band had to cancel the rest of its tour with Judas Priest. It was going to be interesting to see how the recuperation had gone.

The main event started with the band coming on stage to the Who’s ‘My Generation’, and then blasting into ‘Best Years’ from the 2008 album ‘Good to Be Bad’. It was obvious from the outset, the voice recuperation had gone very well. The set continues with ‘Give Me All Your Love’, ‘Love Ain’t No Stranger’ and ‘Is This Love’, interspersed with the usual banter with the audience. Coverdale is as always the ultimate frontman, and his rapport with his audience is second to none, especially the female members! He is the ‘Prince of the Double Entendre’. Perhaps like me it’s because he grew up with the likes of Benny Hill and Carry On films, but the quick witted quips are always fun and very amusing.

The middle of the set is all about the new album. First up is ‘Steal Your Heart Away’, followed by the title track of the album ‘Forevermore’ and then ‘Love Will Set You Free’. Other members of the band then leave to stage to allow Messrs Adrich and Beach to battle it out in the great Whitesnake ‘Guitar Duel’. Their playing different styles different, but both brilliant. ‘My Evil Ways’ includes a Brian Tichy drum solo which can be best described as ‘Tommy Aldridge-esque’, before the band bring things down a notch with the ballad ‘Fare Thee Well’, again from the new album.

Closing the set are crowd pleasers ‘Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City’, ‘Fool For Your Lovin’ and ‘Here I Go Again’, with the band returning to do the ever present encore of  ‘Still Of The Night’. If  there had been any doubts about Coverdale’s voice, they could be totally discounted after this rendition. Totally brilliant!

This was probably one of the best Whitesnake performances I’d seen for some years. The new members, as always, seem to fit in seamlessly to the line-up. Coverdale seems to have the knack of finding superb musicians to back him. One small quibble, and I always try not to be over critical in my reviews, was the length of time taken up by the guitar duel and drum solo. Whilst it’s great that others in the band are allowed showcase their talents, the guitar and drum solos took up something like 20 minutes of the set, which is just a tad too long in my opinion.