The Coverdale Sykes story --once again.
- Dinosaur David B
- Posts: 19020
- Joined: Tue Nov 16, 2004 5:21 pm
The Coverdale Sykes story --once again.
There seems to be more details here -- particularly from the Sykes side -- than I've heard before. Plus the Keith Olson stuff from Sail Away. Sykes does so few interviews I don't know when and where his more recent quotes were pulled from.
Not that he needs a singer (or ever wants to work again for that matter), but I wouldn't mind hearing Sykes playing WS songs with Dino.
Not that he needs a singer (or ever wants to work again for that matter), but I wouldn't mind hearing Sykes playing WS songs with Dino.
Go big, or go home!
- merlo_zeppelin
- Posts: 1868
- Joined: Mon Aug 18, 2008 6:52 pm
Re: The Coverdale Sykes story --once again.
Of all the accounts, I believe Neil Murray the most. He says Sykes wanted to be co-leader of the band and Coverdale would have none of that.
All that stuff about Sykes guitars being out of tune is bullshit. Keith Olsen was an amazing producer but here I think he was just feeding a story to help Coverdale. In the book Sail Away, he also goes on to doubt Adrian Vandenberg's injury, discredit his abilities as a guitar player, and mocks the fact that he wrote all his songs in the key of A.
The other story I think is bullshit is Sykes wanting to replace Coverdale. Makes no sense
All that stuff about Sykes guitars being out of tune is bullshit. Keith Olsen was an amazing producer but here I think he was just feeding a story to help Coverdale. In the book Sail Away, he also goes on to doubt Adrian Vandenberg's injury, discredit his abilities as a guitar player, and mocks the fact that he wrote all his songs in the key of A.
The other story I think is bullshit is Sykes wanting to replace Coverdale. Makes no sense
Re: The Coverdale Sykes story --once again.
Neil Murray rules!merlo_zeppelin wrote: ↑Fri Feb 04, 2022 5:42 pm Of all the accounts, I believe Neil Murray the most. He says Sykes wanted to be co-leader of the band and Coverdale would have none of that.
All that stuff about Sykes guitars being out of tune is bullshit. Keith Olsen was an amazing producer but here I think he was just feeding a story to help Coverdale. In the book Sail Away, he also goes on to doubt Adrian Vandenberg's injury, discredit his abilities as a guitar player, and mocks the fact that he wrote all his songs in the key of A.
The other story I think is bullshit is Sykes wanting to replace Coverdale. Makes no sense
To me this is one of Rock's greatest tragedies. I never really cared much for Whitesnake after John left/was booted/whatever (but then, I'm one of those weirdos who thought the band peaked with the 1980 live album).
Sykes and Coverdale had something great going on there, and it was a terrible shame the collaboration didn't last longer.
- merlo_zeppelin
- Posts: 1868
- Joined: Mon Aug 18, 2008 6:52 pm
Re: The Coverdale Sykes story --once again.
John Kalodner, who, like it or not, must be one of the guys who best understands the rock music industry, said Coverdale and Sykes were poised to be the Page/Plant or Jagger/Richards of the 80s. The perfect combination of frontman, guitar hero and songwriting partners.
- Dinosaur David B
- Posts: 19020
- Joined: Tue Nov 16, 2004 5:21 pm
Re: The Coverdale Sykes story --once again.
There's some truth to that, but GnR would have killed it in the backlash against the hair bands -- which Whitesnake got lumped in with once JS joined. And weren't Kalodner/Geffen were behind them, too?merlo_zeppelin wrote: ↑Sat Feb 05, 2022 12:02 am John Kalodner, who, like it or not, must be one of the guys who best understands the rock music industry, said Coverdale and Sykes were poised to be the Page/Plant or Jagger/Richards of the 80s. The perfect combination of frontman, guitar hero and songwriting partners.
FWIW, I still feel Blue Murder might have become huge and made Sykes a superstar if he'd signed them to ANY OTHER label.

Go big, or go home!
Re: The Coverdale Sykes story --once again.
I think if Whitesnake had followed the path that 1987 started, they might've retained a grittier edge than the image they adopted via the MTV band, and then into Slip of the Tongue, which regardless of the music, was pretty ridiculous.
But who knows.
But who knows.