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/
Rock An' Roll Angels
Whitesnake Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With the night in her eyes,
Someone to take all the small talk
And laugh at the lies
A high heeled double trouble backstage queen,
Who gets what she wants
And knows where she's been
I'm looking for the promise of a one night stand
So I'm going looking for those rock 'n' roll women tonight
You can see in my face
Just what I'm hoping to find,
I want a twelve bar beauty
With a one track mind
I don't drive babe, but, I can steer,
We got the green light let's get out of here
Alright show your hand,
I'm looking for the promise of a one night stand
So I'm going looking for those rock 'n' roll women tonight,
I said I'm going looking for those rock 'n' roll women tonight
When I saw you across the floor,
I could feel I wanted more
I get lonely in the night,
I would do anything, anything you say,
Do anything to take the pain away
So those lonely nights will be alright,
Don't worry honey, we can put out the light
I'm going looking for those rock 'n' roll women tonight,
I said I'm going looking for those rock 'n' roll women tonight
So I'm looking for a woman who got no shame,
'Cause in the morning there'll be no one to blame.
A high heeled double trouble backstage queen,
Who gets what she wants and knows where she's been.
Alright show your hand,
I'm looking for the promise of a one night stand
So I'm going looking for those rock 'n' roll women tonight,
I said I'm going looking for those rock 'n' roll women tonight
Rock 'n' roll women, rock 'n' roll women,
Rock 'n' roll women gonna steal my heart away
Rock 'n' roll women, I said rock 'n' roll women,
I said rock 'n' roll women gonna steal my heart away
Rock 'n' roll women
Talkin' 'bout rock 'n' roll women, rock 'n' roll women,
Rock 'n' roll women gonna steal my heart away
Rock 'n' roll women, rock 'n' roll women,
I said rock 'n' roll women gonna steal my heart away
The lyrics to Whitesnake's "Rock An' Roll Angels" tell the story of a man who's looking for a woman with the rock and roll spirit. He wants someone who's not afraid to get wild and is not interested in small talk. The singer seeks a high heeled backstage queen with a one-track mind who will laugh at the lies and get what she wants. He longs to find a woman who will keep up with his rock and roll lifestyle and help him "put out the light" on lonely nights. The chorus reinforces this, with the singer seeking a "promise of a one night stand" and going out to find these "rock 'n' roll women tonight."
The singer provides a clear picture of what he's looking for in the woman he seeks. He wants a woman who is passionate and unafraid to be herself. The lyrics also reveal the singer's loneliness and his desire to find someone to take away the pain of those lonely nights. The song captures the essence of rock and roll culture and how it can bring people together.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm goin' looking for a woman
I am searching for a woman tonight
With the night in her eyes,
I'm looking for a woman who knows how to have a good time
Someone to take all the small talk
I want a woman who skips the small talk and gets straight to having fun
And laugh at the lies
Someone who is not serious and can help me forget about my problems
A high heeled double trouble backstage queen,
I'm searching for a confident and sexy woman
Who gets what she wants
I want a woman who knows what she wants and goes for it
And knows where she's been
I want a woman who has experience
Alright show your hand,
Let me know if you're interested
I'm looking for the promise of a one night stand
I'm searching for a casual hookup
So I'm going looking for those rock 'n' roll women tonight
I am seeking women who are ready to party and have a good time
You can see in my face
It's clear what I'm looking for by the look on my face
Just what I'm hoping to find,
I'm hoping to find a woman who fits my criteria listed above
I want a twelve bar beauty
I want a woman who is good at dancing
With a one track mind
I want a woman who is focused on having fun
I don't drive babe, but, I can steer,
I may not have a car, but I can guide us to where we need to go
We got the green light let's get out of here
We are ready to leave and start having fun
When I saw you across the floor,
When I saw you, I knew you had potential
I could feel I wanted more
I was attracted to you instantly
I get lonely in the night,
I am looking for companionship
I would do anything, anything you say,
I am willing to do whatever it takes to please you
Do anything to take the pain away
I am hoping this experience will allow me to forget about my problems
So those lonely nights will be alright,
I am hoping this one night stand will help me feel less lonely
Don't worry honey, we can put out the light
I want to assure you that everything will be okay
So I'm looking for a woman who got no shame,
I am searching for a woman who is not shy and willing to be adventurous
'Cause in the morning there'll be no one to blame.
I am seeking a woman who is understanding of the situation and will not regret it in the morning
Rock 'n' roll women, rock 'n' roll women,
I keep thinking about the type of women I am looking for
Rock 'n' roll women gonna steal my heart away
These women have the potential to make me feel alive again
Talkin' 'bout rock 'n' roll women, rock 'n' roll women,
I can't stop thinking about the type of women I am searching for
I said rock 'n' roll women gonna steal my heart away
These women are exciting to me and I can't wait to meet them
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID COVERDALE, MICKY MOODY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Guillermo
This album was the end of an era for Whitesnake. With the release of 'Trouble' in '78, the blues based music that was the next 4 years will stand alone as the best that this band has to offer. Nothing they've done beginning in 1984 to the present can compare to this record or 'Ready and Willing'. You can take Sykes, Campbell, Vandenberg, Vai and everyone else on guitar (except Doug Aldrich, B.M.F.) and collectively they are just left way behind by the writing and playing of Mickey Moody and especially Bernie Marsden.
Maxi Maxi
EXCELENTE ALBUM, ME TRAE MUY GRATOS RECUERDOS Y COMO SONABA EL VINILO ESE POR DIO... GRACIAS!