DPAS LIVE REVIEWS

WHITESNAKE
Sweden Rock Festival, Solvesborg
June 7th 2003

"Help me!!!!! Somebody has stolen Whitesnake – or was it just a 3rd rate cover band. A group of "only in it for the money” US “stars” with a “look how good I’m looking” attitude, but with a great looking David Coverdale sadly screaming 75% of the time and only singing 25% of the time.

I have been a HUGE fan of David Coverdale since Deep Purple and all the way with Whitesnake in the days of blues/rock, so I know my Coverdale history very well – and this was NOT the Coverdale as in the old days. The best Coverdale singing and by far the best playing of the night was Deep Purple's 'Burn' (played through the PA) just before the show. I’m sad to say, but the only hope for the real Whitesnake feeling is for David to leave the US for the UK for at least 5 years. Get this crap out of your system and get the 'Snake back to the roots, and at least get this drum machine out and a real drummer in. Good grief... he is still doing the 2595 years old drumsolo with his hands. Get a life!

I will try my best to forget this show – and to bring back the sound of Whitesnake as it should be. Plenty of CDs and videos will help me. I hope next time will be better – if not – then rest in peace Whitesnake. I know that a lot of old fans think the same – many left after a few songs."
review: Bo Poulsen, Denmark

What really happened

I am also a HUGE Coverdale fan and I was also at the concert in Sweden Rock. I was even in the front row. I went to the front row an hour before it started and it was already crowded with about 300 more Whitesnake fans. While waiting for them we sang Whitesnake songs and sometimes shouted 'Snake, Snake...' Finally we could hear 'Burn' from the PA and we all sang it together. By that time there were 15,000 of us. Right after 'Burn' the stage was filled with bluish lights and smoke. The lights on the festival area went off and the spotlight was on Coverdale in a typical position with the mike stand screaming 'Are you ready??, Here's a song for you Sweden!' (Bad Boys).

The press was in the front row during the first two songs taking photos and left with Coverdale's words 'See you in the bar'. Coverdale was accompanied by the Whitesnake choir and we sure sang our voices to the utmost. Whitesnake played a tight set, 11 songs as well DC and the choir singing 'Soldier of Fortune'. Coverdale's voice was excellent during the whole gig and one of the top issues was Marco's unbeliveable bass playing.

All in all a great rock'an'roll night! DC still knows how to rock. A few words to Bo Poulsen: DC wasn't rocking as good as in the 80's, he is 52 years old. I think you are right about Tommy but anyway it's the 21st Century and Bernie and Micky are really out of the band (which is a shame...).

review: Janne Kukkonen, photo: Niklas Nilsson

The band casually strolled out on stage, and ripped into Bad Boys. Dave gave such an impressive array of old school Coverdale poses that I found myself bursting out laughing. It was all in there, except for one crucial thing. The voice! Where was it?

The layers of delay made it hard to decipher, and when he came through, he seemed worryingly out of breath and out of tune. All the reviews on Coverdale's website had been glowing with praise of his new-found strength, but I had my doubts. Rightfully so. The parade of well-wishers apparently have no recollection whatsoever of DC's past as one of rock's finest vocalists, or perhaps they simply could not tell the difference between a delayed scream and a controlled voice. Even in the lower registers I sometimes felt he failed to deliver, and the thin and frail sound to his voice even reminded me how he used to deliver a 'safe' tune such as Solider of Fortune back in the days.

I found it hard to ignore the vocal flaws, but during the first two songs it didn't matter too much as I was busy listening to the rest of the band. Timothy Drury produced layer after layer of keyboard sounds, but failed to deliver the crunch a song like Walking in the Shadow of the Blues desperately calls out for. Aldrich played immaculately, but lacked the spark I thought he'd have onstage. Mendoza on the other hand could hardly keep still, difficult not to enjoy and laugh at. The competition from the latin lounge lizard was stiff, but Reb Beach turned in a great visual performance nevertheless. Musically speaking I had few complaints about him.

In a way, they all were perfect musically, but there was something vital missing. I would probably refer to it as the feeling of a band in for it together. The music seemed to lack emotion, and I got the worrying impression that they were rushing through the songs just to get it all over and done with.

review: Daniel Bengtsson, photo: Niklas Nilsson