I’m going to take you back 35 years. Right near the end of my teen years and finding out about a new rock group. One of my favorite rock bands had disintegrated, and digressed from where they had once been known as one of the forefathers of hard rock and heavy metal. They had turned into more of a funk and rhythm and blues rock band that was not the band I fell in love with. Deep Purple, a band that is responsible for one of the most played and recognizable riff in the history of rock, was now gone and was no longer making the kind of music I was use to.
Not only that, but my favorite guitarist (at the time) had left a year earlier,( that alone should have made me second guess the direction of the band). Ritchie Blackmore left and formed a new band he christened Rainbow. It was an extension of Deep Purple, so my love of the heavy style of Deep Purple was replaced by this new band.
Blackmore left in June 1975 and Deep Purple was torn apart by drugs and called it quits in 1976. Jump a couple of years to 1978. I am reading Circus Magazine (a rock periodical) which was my monthly fix to the rock music scene. Flipping through the pages I came across an advertisement for a new album from David Coverdale. Coverdale was the lead singer for Purple when they called it quits in 1976. He had a solo album out and it was one that I needed to have. Even though the style of Deep Purple had changed, the vocal ability of Mr. Coverdale always impressed me, and made me want to explore his solo project. Let’s face it, I followed Blackmore, why not Coverdale? He gave his band the name Whitesnake and another remnant of Deep Purple was born.
I was even more impressed and entertained by Whitesnake then with Rainbow. What is funny, is Rainbow sounded like Deep Purple when Blackmore was with the band, and Whitesnake sounded more like the final incarnation of Deep Purple, the band that I came to loath because of the style it had evolved into.
Just like other areas in a person’s journey, there is a maturing process. My musical taste changed. It’s not that I didn’t like the style of Deep Purple of the past or the recent Rainbow offering. I came to appreciate the music of some good rock and r&b, along with the heavy riffs. Whitesnake has always been one of those bands that never made it onto the popular rock radar – that is until 1987. 9 years after its first release, Whitesnake had a hit record.
The self titled album, (also known as 1987 and Serpens Albus in Europe) sold over 8 million copies and put them on the rock map. Several labeled them a new band. When I would share that I had listen to the band since 1978, people were shocked. I had their entire catalogue and had always wanted to see them live.
Finally this past July I had the chance to experience one of the best bands, live. Not only that, but saw them in a small and preferred venue. A large stadium with 15,000 people and seats so far away that you cannot enjoy seeing up close and personal was and is not the best way to see a band live. (My opinion) I always wanted to see this band in a small auditorium instead of a large stadium. Star Plaza in Merrillville, Indiana was the perfect setting to see Whitesnake.
When I learned back in February they were schedule to play, I drove there to purchase tickets instead of doing it on line. I was rewarded with second row balcony, center stage right off the isle. I was going to be up close and personal with Whitesnake and Mr. Coverdale. I was not disappointed! I love the way he and the band draw you into the show and made you feel the excitement coming from the stage. I could not get that at a larger arena. I also feel that a band performs differently with a small and intimate crowd than with huge throng or legion of fans.
All the songs I am used to hearing and seeing (live dvd’s are the best) were played and done to perfection. I have written about the many acts I have seen live, (go back and check out my Top Live 5 blog) and this is one of the best. Probably because it was one of my favorites. It was a small venue and it felt so up close and personal. It’s funny how it can come full circle. A style of music I loathed in the infancy of my musical, learning, exploration, discovery, has turned into one of the styles I enjoy most. Does that mean I matured? Ha!
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