DPAS LIVE REVIEW

WHITESNAKE
Manchester Arena
May 15th 2003

Just got back from Manchester and, well, it wasn't for me I think. I don't think I ever appreciated way back in the '79 to '81 era what a brilliant band Whitesnake really were. We were very lucky to have the combination of players and a highly determined Coverdale at the time. I would be better off seeing the new M3 with Marsden/Moody than this lot.

I can't stand the '87 heavy gushy numbers that are so popular with the crowd (Is This Love, and all that) and the old songs just don't sound the same. I mean, during the chucking intro to "Walking in The Shadow of the Blues" where was the Hammond picking out the tune? It didn't exist. And six audience choruses of "Aint No Love.." goes a bit far David! The best parts of the night were when David sang alone, Only My Soul, Lovehunter, Soldier of Fortune, Lie Down, etc. He can still sing very well indeed, however can't talk without using the F word, which lets himself down a bit I think in my opinion.

The band? Well the drummer and bass player are jolly good and entertaining, but the two guitarists were straight out of Spinal Tap and didn't really play a note of interest to me. How I wished for Marsden and Moody. OK so they don't have fake tans and long hair and look beautiful, but at least they have SOUL!

As for the backing bands, well Y&T were new to me to be honest and were very good (if you like that kind of music), and Gary Moore, well I just can't write anything printable about the performance, but I stood there wishing I was somewhere, anywhere, else.

Roll on the M3 tour! I'll be there lads. As for DC, please do an acoustic tour which properly shows off the voice.

review: John Blackburn

whitesnake uk tour