WHITESNAKE Planning 'All-Out U.S. Assault' In 2009

WHITESNAKE's official web site has been updated with a brand new interview with the band's frontman David Coverdale. A couple of excerpts from the question-and-answer session follow below.

Q: A "stage extension" was used for the [European] co-headlining shows with DEF LEPPARD. Are there any particular positives and negatives from this stage configuration and is this something that you would consider using again?

Coverdale: I loved it, to be honest... vive le difference. I prefer to call it "the thrust" (ahem). It was a fresh challenge for me. As you know, that style of production has never been part of our live shows, other than at some festivals. It is actually the LEPPARDs U.S. production set so I had to learn to use it pretty quick. I loved being able to get into the middle of the crowd like that. It was new and fun and exciting, and there's nothing wrong with that. Most of the people I spoke to enjoyed the change, tho' of course there were some who weren't too thrilled. But, as always, you can't please them all. Personally, I had a ball, and a bloody good workout! I loved having the video screens too, so everyone could see the band, in close-up while we're jamming up there. Seeing the soloists in all their sweaty glory! We'll be using the same production setup when we visit Japan in October. We're doing the same co-headline bill with the LEPPARDs at four big arena shows there, then they go off to Australia, I believe, and we move into Asia for the first time... tho, as I speak, we are still putting that part together, I believe...so, don't quote me just yet.

Q: I was in the USA recently and was talking with a large group of "classic" rock fans. Naturally, within a split-second, I moved the conversation on to WHITESNAKE. They spoke, with great affection about their past live experiences and the "1987" album, but had little awareness of WHITESNAKE 2008. I played "Good To Be Bad" for them and they were truly OVERWHELMED ....and all "off to FYE", to buy copies. In a modest way, this supports my point of view that WHITESNAKE could (and should) be doing HUGE business in your adopted homeland right now. Do you expect that an appropriate platform to deliver against this potential will be available anytime soon? Is a co-headlining approach a possible route?

Coverdale: The lack of success in the U.S. has been a repeated disappointment, to be honest, and we are still determined to change this. As I have told you all before, the tours we've been offered so far simply don't cut it, unfortunately, on most levels, tho' we are trying to change that and we will. Since we reformed, we've never really had all the elements necessary to properly take on this amazing country — no record company, no support system, nobody fighting for us — just, as you say, so many with great memories from the '80s. I'm recognized everywhere I go over here to the point of embarrassment and I am consistently having to explain, as you did, that WHITESNAKE is alive and well and kicking like a proverbial bitch in heat. However, this still has to be proved in this neck of the woods. But, if anyone can, we can. At this time, we are planning an all-out U.S. assault in 2009 to change the dynamic, as it is simply unacceptable to us how it currently is. So there!

Q: Is traveling still the major drawback of a world tour? Does it get easier, or more difficult to live with, as a tour progresses?

Coverdale: It has never been easy for me, tho' recently I realised that by repeatedly saying that the traveling was hard on me I maintained the energy so that it stayed hard! So, I have changed my mindset to a more positive approach. YES! The traveling's one of my favorite parts of touring... Ha, ha!!! You know, whenever you see a day off on the itinerary, I can pretty much guarantee it's a travel day. There are no days off when you're on tour. I'm very fortunate in that I have a fabulous new assistant, Erika, a wonderful, nurturing human being, who cares for me and my well-being and is tireless in making sure I get as much rest as humanly possible and that I'm not subjected to unnecessary distractions. Quite the dominatrix! We also have a terrific new wardrobe girl, called Lauren. She came to us from VAN HALEN. A truly exceptional young lady and a most welcome addition to the WHITESNAKE family. She decorates my dressing room so beautifully, like a sheik's desert tent, that whenever we have guests, they inevitably want to stay in there. Pagey [Jimmy Page] told me he wanted one! The only time I fought illness this year was immediately after the South American tour when I got home for 6 days. I was very sick for four of them. Mercifully, I recovered in time to get my arse over for Sweden Rock, and then later in the tour, on my few days off in Athens, I was smitten with some intestinal horror for two or three days. Thank God the local doctor had me up and running in time for the show... no pun intended. With me, it's usually stomach-related with being in different places almost every day. Almost inevitable.

Q: Any of the shows filmed or recorded for potential future release?

Coverdale: But of course.. But I know if I go into detail I'll be hammered by you guys into making promises I may be unable to keep as quickly as you would like. After considerable thought, I passed on making a new DVD this year because we've committed to more touring than I normally agree too because the momentum has been too good to ignore. I'm not burning my candle at both ends anymore or I know something will very likely suffer, and we don't want that now, boys and girls, do we? I was supposed to be starting work on a project after catching my breath from the tour, but I'm going to enjoy my family and my home instead. I've missed them very much this year. And Jaz [David's son Jasper] starts school again soon. Time is so precious.

Read the entire interview at Whitesnake.com.

WHITESNAKE performing live in Stockholm, Sweden on December 16, 2008: