In their early years, Whitesnake played in a hard-edged blues rock and heavy metal influenced style. By the mid-80s, the band had moved towards a more commercially friendly arena rock and pop metal ethos, garnering them major hits such as "Love Ain't No Stranger", "Now You're Gone", "Slide It In", "Still of the Night", and the iconic tune "Here I Go Again" (arguably their 'signature song'). They were named the 85th greatest hard rock band of all time by VH1.
Whitesnake were active primarily in the 80s, but they still tour, albeit with an entirely new line-up (bar Coverdale), to this day. Some of the most famous musicians who have joined the band for a time include Jon Lord, Ian Paice, Cozy Powell, Neil Murray, Bernie Marsden, Micky Moody, Rudy Sarzo, John Sykes, Adrian Vandenberg, Vivian Campbell, Tommy Aldridge, and Steve Vai.
The band's early material has been compared by critics to Deep Purple. This is not only because three past members of the band were once in Deep Purple but also because of their sound and influences. Later, the band took on a sound more in line with the hair metal style popular in the mid to late 80s, but they never truly left their heavy, blues rock roots behind
Formed in 1978 by David Coverdale after leaving Deep Purple, Whitesnake were originally a straightforwards heavy rock group with Jon Lord and Ian Paice from Deep Purple in the band. Despite a few album releases and constant touring, Whitesnake was unable to attain any significant commercial success in America, though becoming popular in the U.K., Europe, and Japan. Their critical reviews as well for their albums were somewhat mixed.
After acquaintance with Chris Cuttler, Fred Frith and most importantly, young guitarist John Sykes, David Coverdale decided to turn to a slicker, more commercially viable sound. Whitesnake made their first major splash in the States in 1984 with the album 'Slide It In', featuring the self-titled single as well as rock tracks "Slow An' Easy" and "Love Ain't No Stranger". All three of them gained major airplay and were eaten up by fans. Sykes was not involved in any of the song writing for 'Slide It In', though re-did some of Micky Moody's guitar work in the American remastering of the U.K. version of the album.
Three years later, thanks to radio-friendly, Zeppelin-ish songwriting and MTV friendly Tawny Kitaen's automobile acrobatics, Whitesnake became superstars with the album 'Whitesnake' (titled '1987' in Europe, and 'Serpens Albus' in Japan). Containing the U.S. smash hits "Here I Go Again", "Is This Love", "Still of the Night" and others, the album eventually sold over 10 million copies. Coverdale replaced the entire band for the subsequent tour, ditching Sykes for guitarists Adrian Vandenberg and Vivian Campbell. Also joining the band at this point were bassist Rudy Sarzo and drummer Tommy Aldridge.
Campbell left shortly after the tour (going on to replace Steve Clark in Def Leppard. Vandenberg, despite penning most of the material on the follow-up album, was unable to record due to a freak wrist injury. Guitar virtuoso Steve Vai was brought in to record all of the guitar parts for Slip of the Tongue, which was released in the spring of 1989. Despite going platinum, the album did not reach the stratospheric heights of Whitesnake (entitled 1987 in Europe, and Serpens Albus in Japan). With a divorce looming, and the alternative 'grunge' movement threatening to destroy the melodic rock movement, Coverdale dissolved Whitesnake.
In the late 90s, David Coverdale and Adrian Vandenberg finally recorded together again. Initially intended to be a Coverdale solo effort, the Whitesnake name was eventually attached (much like the Tony Iommi/Black Sabbath projects of the late 80s). The resulting products were a new studio album entitled Restless Heart, and the live acoustic set, Starkers In Tokyo.
In the early 2000's Coverdale relaunched Whitesnake fully with an entirely new lineup centred around guitarists Reb Beach and Doug Aldrich (previously of Winger and Lion/Dio). This Whitesnake embarked on tours across the globe, releasing the "Live In the Still of the Night" DVD and "Live... In the Shadow of the Blues" on CD in 2006. A new studio album, "Good to be Bad", was released in 2008 reaching the top 10 in the UK album charts.
Over the last few years Coverdale has been involved in a remastering project which has seen all albums from 1978's Trouble, to 1989's Slip of the Tongue reissued with bonus material.
Whitesnake released Forevermore, on March 25, 2011 in Europe, and on the 29th in North America. They have released a number of scheduled 2011 tour dates on their website, with six scheduled UK tour dates and other European dates. In February 2011, Whitesnake was announced as one of the headliners to play the annual Rocklahoma festival in Pryor, Oklahoma, on Memorial Day weekend. A digital single for the song 'Love Will Set You Free' was released, along with a video for the song, on February 21.
The album Forevermore was released as a special edition 'Snakepack' through Classic Rock magazine on 25 March, a full 3 weeks before its commercial release. The fan pack includes the full, official new album Forevermore, a 132-page magazine, poster and pin badge. On 20 March 2011, Whitesnake announced that Brian Ruedy would play keyboards on the Forevermore World Tour.
The album did not chart highly upon its official release in the UK (number 33, possibly due to the copies released as part of the aforementioned Classic Rock Snakepack, which are not eligible for the charts). It did, however, show signs of Whitesnake's slow rebuild of support in the US with the album charting at number 49 - the band's highest charting album since the 80s.
Doug Aldrich and Reb Beach are Whitesnake longest standing guitar players, both being in the band 10 years by 2012.
Whitesnake are set to embark on their farewell tour in May 2022, beginning in the UK and Ireland with Foreigner and Europe. In July 2021, the group announced the addition of multi-instrumentalist Dino Jelusick to their ranks, turning Whitesnake into a septet for the first time. Later that November, Michael Devin parted ways with the band. He was replaced by Tanya O'Callaghan, marking the first female musician to join the band.
Website: http://www.whitesnake.com/
All Or Nothing
Whitesnake Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To come in out of the cold
I've waited such a long, long time
I'm getting out of control
All or nothing
That's what I want from you
I'm gonna give you everything I got
Now what are you gonna do
Don't try running away
You know you get nothing that way
'Cause it's too late
I'm gonna prove it to you
Too late
I'll do what you want me to do
Too late
You can't run anymore
'Cause it's too late for you now
My heart is burning
An' the fire is hot
My temperature is rising, rising, rising
I'm ready to rock
All or nothing
I'm gonna make you see
I've made up my mind, for sure this time
You're gonna spend the night with me
So don't try running away
You know you get nothing that way
'Cause it's too late
I'm gonna prove it to you
Too late
I'll do what you want me to do
Too late
You can't run anymore
'Cause it's too late for you now
An' you're gonna burn
Baby, baby, baby
So don't try running away
You know you get nothing that way
'Cause it's too late
I'm gonna prove it to you
Too late
I'll do what you want me to do
Too late
You can't run anymore
'Cause it's too late for you now
Too late
I'm gonna prove it to you
Too late
I'll do what you want me to do
Too late
You can't run anymore
'Cause it's too late for you now
The opening lines of "All or Nothing" by Whitesnake introduce a sense of desperation and longing, as the singer declares that "tonight's the night" they've been waiting for, after "such a long, long time" of anticipation. The urgency in the singer's tone is heightened by the repetition of "too late," suggesting that time is running out on this opportunity. The song's titular phrase, "All or nothing," puts forth a clear demand for the object of the singer's desire to reciprocate with equal intensity: "I'm gonna give you everything I got / Now what are you gonna do."
Throughout the song, the singer alternates between expressions of desire and, notably, warnings against trying to escape or evade their advances. The lines "Don't try running away / You know you get nothing that way" are repeated several times, highlighting the power imbalance in the situation. The singer is insistent that their love interest will ultimately be won over, claiming "I'm gonna make you see" and "I'm gonna prove it to you."
Despite some potentially concerning elements in the power dynamic between the two characters, "All or Nothing" can also be read as a declaration of unbridled passion and a refusal to settle for less than total commitment. The repeated use of "all or nothing" suggests a kind of bold, uncompromising romantic worldview, as well as a determination to risk everything in pursuit of love. Ultimately, whether interpreted as a positive or negative portrayal of romantic pursuit, "All or Nothing" is a compelling snapshot of Whitesnake's hard-edged rock sound and lyrical intensity.
Line by Line Meaning
Tonight's the night
The singer is expressing that the current moment is the time to act.
To come in out of the cold,
The singer wants the other person to come closer and be warm with them, to be closer.
I've waited such a long, long time
The singer has had a lot of anticipation leading up to this moment.
I'm getting out of control
The artist is feeling overwhelmed with emotions and desires.
All or nothing
The artist wants complete commitment from the other person.
That's what I want from you,
The singer is clear about their expectations and needs from the other person.
I'm gonna give you everything I got
The singer is going to put all their effort into making this work.
Now what are you gonna do
The artist is challenging the other person to respond with their own commitment or answer.
Don't try running away,
The artist is warning the other person not to back out or flee from the situation.
You know you get nothing that way
The artist is letting the other person know that they will lose all opportunities for intimacy and happiness by avoiding the moment.
'Cause it's too late,
The singer is implying that there is no turning back from what has begun.
I'm gonna prove it to you
The artist is confident that they can show the other person the validity and worth of their emotions.
You can't run anymore
The singer is reinforcing that escape is not possible at this point.
My heart is burning
The singer is feeling deep passion and desire at the moment.
An' the fire is hot,
The emotion the singer feels is intense and powerful.
My temperature is rising, rising, rising
The artist is feeling more and more sexual arousal as the situation unfolds.
I'm ready to rock
The artist is fully prepared to engage in intimate activity.
I'm gonna make you see,
The singer is confident in their ability to convince the other person of their position and intentions.
I've made up my mind, for sure, this time
The singer is resolute in their intentions, and not likely to change them.
You're gonna spend the night with me
The artist is inviting the other person to be intimately involved with them for a length of time.
Too late,
The artist is reiterating that there is no avoiding the situation any longer.
I'll do what you want me to do
The artist is open to the other person's desires and needs.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: David Coverdale, Mel Galley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
vince
on Slide It In
You talk too much
Never saying what's on your mind
It's written on your face
And in the words you hide behind
I know what you want
I can see what you're looking for
I know what you want from me
And I'm gonna give you more
I'm gonna slide it in, right to the top
Slide it in, I ain't never gonna stop
Slide it in, right to the top
I'm gonna slide it in, slide it in, slide it in, in baby
Sometimes you seem
Just like a stranger to me
But all the games you play
Make it so easy to see
You're looking for love
Though you try to deny
The things you put me through
Tell me what I've got to do to you
I'm gonna slide it in right to the top
Slide it in, I ain't never gonna stop
Slide it in, right to the top
I'm gonna slide it in, slide it in
You talk too much
Always treating me so unkind
I know what I've got to do
To get me some peace of mind
I'm gonna slide it in, right to the top
Slide it in, I ain't never gonna stop
Slide it in, right to the top
I'm gonna slide it in, slide it in
Slide it in, right to the top
Slide it in, I ain't never gonna stop
Slide it in, right to the top
I'm gonna slide it in, slide it in, slide it
Slide it in, slide it in
Right to the top, baby