Whitesnake's record label hoped for a top forty UK placing for 'Good To Be Bad', but the album quickly went to number 6 and was selling so well at one point that they thought it could be a number one album. You have to hand it to DC for sticking with it. Sadly for Whitesnake, Mariah Carey kept David Coverdale from getting any further up. The album charts that is, you smutty minded people! So it peaked at Number 5.

Thanks to Martin Tait for chart watching this for us. Martin has also kept an an eye on other worldwide charts: • Japan: #3 on the international artists charts and #12 on full chart which includes Japanese artists – 15,000 sales • Norway: #5 • Finland: #5 • Germany: #6• Sweden: #10 • Austria: #11 • Switzerland: #15 • Denmark: #18 • Canada: #23 • Czech Republic: #27 • Holland: #33 • Italy: #57 • France: #69 • USA: #70 – 8,000 sales (SPV's US TV ad for the album can be seen here. The full promo for 'Lay Down Your Love' is available to view here.

The vinyl edition is close to selling out. All DPAS vinyl pre-orders have been guaranteed a copy and dpas mailorder are due another shipment next week. Pre-orders for ALL formats will ship Monday.

SR#2002463 (with thanks to Martin Tait, Hans Peter Jenssen and Nigel Young)

Whitesnake are marking their thirtieth anniversary with a triple CD compilation set on EMI, scheduled for June 2008. This turns out to be a repackage of the Early Years and  Silver Anniversary CD sets with one or two updates.

EMI have announced that the triple CD 30 Anniversary Whitesnake release is due out on June 9th 2008. 52 tracks in all but no rarities announced.

MR#2002402
(Thanks to Jim Henderson for the news)

David Coverdale appeared on ITV's 'Loose Women' lunchtime magazine show on Wednesday, April 16th. " I thought Dolly acquitted himself quite well - he managed to charm the assembled nest of vipers (who admittedly gave him quite an easy ride after he expressed the fear that they would eat him alive). Deep Purple got a mention too, plus there was a video clip of (quite newie) 'Ready To Rock'....I thought he'd only agreed to appear after getting confused by the show's title, but he did ok." Tim Summers

"David looked fit and well and came across OK, with some charm and wit. He discussed his life in Lake Tahoe, his dislike of the 'cult of celebrity', touring after a spell of retirement and his good relationship with Def Leppard amongst other stuff. To be honest he was given a pretty easy ride by the 'Women'; I'm not sure most knew much of his err 'free-wheeling background' shall we say. Interesting to see that Jackie Brambles (ex Radio 1) was leader of the team. DC played it cool and escaped lightly." Bill Bass

In another UK TV appearance Dave was also on Sky News, Sunday, April 13th.

TS#2002451 (with thanks to Nigel Young, Arthur Smith & Dave Rawlings)

WHITESNAKE's new studio album, "Good to be Bad", will be shipping from dpas mailorder on April 21st. The group's first studio album in a decade features "11 new, slamming WHITESNAKE songs which are guaranteed to take their place alongside their multi-million selling catalogue," according to a press release.

The new songs, written by Coverdale and guitarist Doug Aldrich (who also co-produced the album with Coverdale and Michael McIntyre) "provide a good balance of eight rocking tracks and three ballads". Coverdale feels it's the first "real" WHITESNAKE album in almost 20 years.

The track listing is: Call On Me / Can You Hear The Wind Blow? / Best Years / All I Want All I Need / Good To Be Bad / All For Love / Summer Rain / Lay Down Your Love / A Fool In Love / Got What You Need / 'Till The End Of Time.

DPAS Album Review: Good To Be Bad

DB#2002373

The North American edition of Good To Be Bad (due for release on Arpril 22nd) will have the regular album plus a bonus CD with seven live tracks and a video. The track list for CD1 is : Best Years / Can You Hear The Wind Blow / Call On Me / All I Want All I Need / Good To Be Bad / All For Love / Summer Rain / Lay Down Your Love / A Fool In Love / Got What You Need / `Til The End Of Time. Bonus CD: Burn-Stormbringer / Give Me all Your Love / Walking In The Shadow./ The Deeper The Love / Ready & Willing / Don`t Break My Heart Again / Ready To Rock (enhanced video). As we thought, the tracks on the bonus CD tracks are all taken from 'Live In The Shadow Of The Blues', which as yet has not had a US release.

The double gatefold vinyl contains the tracks from CD1, plus a live take of 'Take Me with You'.

TS#2002441 (with thanks to Joerg Planer) (the scan shows the European Ltd Edition)

David Coverdale will appear on the long-running US syndicated radio show Rockline on Wednesday, May 21 at 11:30 p.m. EST / 8:30 p.m. PST. You can talk live to the man - or at least ask a question - by calling 800-344-ROCK (7625) ("Hi, my name is Bernie, are you up for writing any hit songs?"). Outside the US you can hear the show on the internet at www.rocklineradio.com

MR#200243 Photo: Alexei Zaikin

An archive interview with David Coverdale was broadcast in the net by Planet Rock Radio on Sunday April 6th at 6pm (yes, we missed it. Sorry!). Fortunately it is due for another repeat on Friday, April 11th, at 6pm (GMT). As Planet's blurb goes: "The Whitesnake / Deep Purple frontman, David Coverdale, takes the hotseat and chooses the tracks in this archive interview."

As for this month, apparently April is Whitesnake and Def Leppard Month on Planet Rock, with "on-air and online specials, features and prizes." Spiffing.

DB#200242 (Thanks to Joerg Planer)

Whitesnake's 2008 World Tour kicked off in New Zealand on March 23rd, featuring a mix of old and new material (including selections from the upcoming 'Good To Be Bad' studio album) This included a show in Adelaide two nights after Jon Lord's series of concerts with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.

DPAS Live Reviews: Whitesnake: Adelaide, March 31st 2008

DB#200241 (Send your 'Snake reviews to the deep-purple.net mailbox). Photo: Alexei Zaikin

Whitesnake have announced a limited edition of their new album Good To Be Bad, due out on April 18. This will feature the regular CD, a bonus CD in card sleeve, poster, photocard and sticker, all in a flashy box. The bonus disc has four tracks: Summer Rain (acoustic version), All I Want All I Need (radio edit), Take Me With You (live version - origin unknown), Ready To Rock (video). Thanks to Tim Summers.

The album is also now due as a very limited double vinyl release in a  gatefold sleeve. dpas mailorder are stocking this. Pre-ordering is advisable on this format. SPV have also announced that Whitesnake's new album is to be heavily  advertised across the UK, including TV and radio commercials and the  national press, as well as the usual music outlets.

They also reckon  that the upcoming tour is close to selling out; a total of over  80,000 ticket sales. dpas mailorder tell us they've been able to get a pre-order discount  on the Ltd Ed of the CD so this will now sell for the same price as  the regular version. Anyone who has pre-ordered already will get the  discount.

MK#2002401

Whitesnake are marking their thirtieth anniversary with a triple CD compilation set on EMI, scheduled for June 2008. Update : this turns out to be a repackage of the Early Years and  Silver Anniversary CD sets with one or two updates. .

MR#2002401 (Thanks to Jim Henderson for the news)

Whitesnake have announced dates in Australia for March, and slapped an 18+ minimum age limit on some (whether this means an x-rated stage show or not we can't say!).

March 26 - The Tivoli, Brisbane (18+) March 28 - Enmore Theatre, Sydney March 30 - Palace Theatre, Melbourne (18+) March 31 - Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide

Tickets go on sale Friday, February 15th.    NY#200238 (photo: Dr Pierre H Schulze)

Whitesnake and Def Leppard are due to play a series of "co- headlining" shows across the UK this summer. Whitesnake will be on the road both to celebrate their 30th anniversary, and to promote new album "Good To Be Bad". To see the list (as it stands), check out our tour dates page. Tickets go on general sale on Friday, January 18th.

A new date has been added, for Belfast Odyssey Arena on June 21st 2008. For those of you who like to gamble with the weather there is also a rumour that  the band will play at the Monsters Of Rock but at the moment we cannot confirm.

DB#2002361 (with thanks to Tom Dixon & Paul Harrison)

Whitesnake have announced a new drummer; with Chris Frazier brought in to replace Tommy Aldridge (who has been touring the UK recently in John Sykes' Thin Lizzy). Frazier has previously worked extensively with ex-Whitesnake guitarist Steve Vai. SInce his arrival he has recorded drum parts for Whitesnake's new studio album "Good To Be Bad", which is now apparently scheduled for release in the spring of 2008.

In the words of DC "Chris takes over the drum chair from the ambidextrous Mr Tommy Aldridge, drummer par excellence, who earlier in the year left to pursue alternate musical adventures... We all wish TA well on his journey and take great delight in introducing to you a new, and remarkable talent... so, without further ado... please say hello to Chris Frazier... (Cue The Music!!!"    

SH#200235 (see www.whitesnake.com for more details)

First issued back in 2000 but of print for some time, the Purple Records release of Whitesnake and Northwinds (PUR 340D) should be back on catalogue in a couple of weeks. This is a double CD with both original albums, plus four rare bonus tracks. The 12 page booklet has the original sleeves, plus a withdrawn cover for Northwinds, and detailed notes, with rare photographs.It can be ordered from dpas online.

For more details, see the Purple Records Website.

DB#200234

There will be a special twentieth anniversary release to mark the mega-selling album '1987'. This will be a dual CD / DVD release. The album, which finally broke Whitesnake big-time in America is remastered along with a host of 'bonus' material which turn out to be four live tracks from the recent Shadow Of The Blues Live set (on the CD and DVD) but you do get the four promo videos for the album on the DVD. The reissue is due in the second week of June 2007, and can be ordered from the dpas online store.

DPAS First Impressions: Whitesnake / 1987 Special Edition 

TS#2002315 (with thanks to Jon Kirkman)

In answer to several enquiries, EMI have looked at the possibility of doing both Slide It In and Slip Of The Tongue as the next two UK remasters, although if it happens it won't be for some time yet with 1987 as the next rerelease to savour.

SR#200233

David Coverdale has become an American. In a private ceremony at the Department of Homeland Security in Reno, Coverdale raised his right hand and swore to defend the Constitution and U.S. laws. He has lived on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe for 22 years.

"Of course he was obviously very pleased," said his assistant, Michael McIntyre. "It's been a long, drawn out process, especially the way things are today. He was thrilled to become a citizen after all of this time."

MK#200232 (photo: Dr Pierre H Schulze)

The next three Whitesnake remasters have finally been scheduled for March 12 release in the UK. All pre-orders with DPAS Mailorder will go on that date. There are three titles. "Come An' Get It" from 1981 with Lord and Paice; "Live In The Heart Of The City", which comprises material from two London show in 1978 and 1980 (the former was before Paice joined); and the "Saints An' Sinners" album, recorded during the break up of the group in 1982, and the final album to include Bernie Marsden and Ian Paice. As before all three have bonus tracks.

The bonus material for the next three Whitesnake remasters has been announced, and include mostly monitor mixes and early vocal takes from Bernie Marsden's large tape archive. Saints & Sinners Young Blood (Monitor Mix/Early Vocal) Saints And Sinners (Monitor Mix/ Early Vocal) Soul Survivor (Unfinished, Unreleased Song) Come An Get It Child Of Babylon (Alternate Rough Mix) Girl (Alternate Version/Rough Mix) Come An' Get It (Rough Mix) Lonely Days Lonely Nights (Alternate Version/Rough Mix) Till The Day I Die (Rough Mix) Hit An' Run (Backing Track) Sadly Live Heart Of The City has been left as per the UK vinyl, with no attempt to restore the two full shows. The 1980 version of Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City which was issued as a single a-side has been added and that's your lot. As this has been on CD collections already (The Early Years in 2004), most fans will already have it.

MK#dc2002264  (Thanks to Jon Kirkman and Nicolas Houle)

www.deep-purple.net are pleased to present an exclusive audio interview with David Coverdale, chatting with Jon Kirkman of Rockahead. To listen, just click the line below.

DPAS Audio Interview: David Coverdale, December 2006 (12 minutes, mp3)

MK#200232 (with thanks to Jon Kirkman at Rockahead, photo: Peter Rossen)

David Coverdale - on his promo tour in November - performed a few songs with the help of Doug Aldrich in Stockholm along with other artists booked for the Sweden Rock Festival in 2007 (Heaven And Hell will be there). David was in town for a couple of days meeting the press and one of the interviews was with Doug in a room full of journalists. Doug got asked the question about what is the difference between working with David and Ronnie James Dio. Before he had a chance to answer the question David stood up, and then sat down again!

SR#200232 (with thanks to Michael Eriksson. photo: Niklas Nilsson)

There are some Whitesnake tracks on a new Bernie Marsden retrospective, see friends & relatives news for details..         TS#200229

Geffen / Universal Music are issuing another WHITESNAKE collection called "Gold" on June 27th in America. The 2xCD set has 33 tracks, with disc one majoring on the earlier material, and disc two the later era. What marks this umpteenth collection out from all the others lately is that they are promising ONE unissued track, 'As Long As I Have You', which Fritz Geller tells us is an out-take from INTO THE LIGHT. THE LAST NOTE OF FREEDOM is quite rare too, being issued as a single (it was done for the soundtrack to a film). No details yet as to whether this will happen in Europe or Japan.

MR#dc2002251 (Thanks to Paul Harrison)

The Whitesnake Live DVD (now retitled 'In the Still of the Night') is now available to order from dpas online. Filmed at the Hammersmith in 2004, there is a single DVD edition, and a Limited Edition DVD plus audio CD. The CD has ten tracks from the gig. The CD will not be sold separately. David Coverdale is doing interviews to promote the release; more details soon.

"Having had time to view the first few numbers, it does look like a real high-production film. The camera angles are exciting, the editing is very slick and the whole look is totally up to the minute. Musically it comes across well too, though clearly it's very much the band of the moment and stick in the muds like me who prefer the pre 85 era won't find much to change their mind. If you enjoyed the 2004 tour then you won't be disappointed." SR

More news on the DVD, which includes a behind-the-scenes documentary and photo gallery. The film was produced by Coming Home Studios, in association with Done & Dusted, and shot in 1080/24PfS High Definition. The DVD features four different audio soundtracks - stereo, 5.1 SRS Circle Surround, 5.1 Multi-channel, and 5.1 DTS. The DVD was directed by live concert director Hamish Hamilton (credits include U2, Madonna, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Westlife).

DPAS Reviews: Whitesnake / Live In The Still Of The Night.      SR#2002123