ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 14, 2005
By Steve Newton
Unless you’re the type of rabid music fan who scours the Straight‘s out-of-town concert listings, itching for stateside road trips, you probably didn’t notice that Whitesnake played the Paramount Theatre in Seattle a couple of weeks back. Strangely enough, I wouldn’t be surprised if Audioslave’s Chris Cornell scooped himself front-row tix and backstage passes to the show.
Now, you may well ask, why would anyone in their right mind–or even the old singer from Soundgarden–want to go see Whitesnake? Weren’t they that awful crotch-pop band from the mid-’80s that took hair farming to extremes and put out cheesy videos with that foxy babe from Bachelor Party?
Well, yeah, sure they were. But believe it or not, back in the ’70s, the group was not nearly as laughable; in fact, the British quintet was a force to be reckoned with. Whitesnake frontman David Coverdale belted out bluesy rock numbers that were embraced by what were then known as “heavy-metal” fans. I’m guessing that a young Cornell spent many an hour crooning along to tunes like “Fool for Your Loving” because the Rick Rubin-produced Out of Exile sounds like a tribute to the melodic hard rock of the 8-track era.
Opening track “Your Time Has Come” sounds like an outtake from Whitesnake’s Ready an’ Willing album, or better yet, Deep Purple‘s Burn. It sports the type of simple yet catchy guitar riff that made Richie Blackmore a rock legend; Audioslave picker Tom Morello even spices it up with a lickety-split, “Highway Star”-type lead solo.
There are times when Cornell doesn’t sound at all like Coverdale-as on the uplifting standout “Be Yourself” and the sludgy, Soundgardenish “The Worm”-but the hearty ’70s vibe crops up throughout. It’s nice to know that, if Coverdale ever croaks, Cornell will be there to take his place on the Whitesnakes of the 21st Century world tour.
Relax. I’m just joshin’.
To hear the full audio of my interview with 2008 interview with Chris Cornell subscribe to my Patreon page, where you can eavesdrop on over 250 of my uncut, one-on-one conversations with:
Dave Martone, 2020
Ian Gillan of Deep Purple, 2006
Joss Stone, 2012
Glenn Tipton of Judas Priest, 2005
Jack Blades of Night Ranger, 1984
Vivian Campbell of Def Leppard, 1992
Colin James, 1995
Kim Simmonds of Savoy Brown, 1998
Tom Cochrane of Red Rider, 1983
Ed Roland of Collective Soul, 1995
Taj Mahal, 2001
Tom Wilson of Junkhouse, 1995
Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, 2003
David Lindley, 2002
Marty Friedman of Megadeth, 1991
John Hiatt, 2010
Nancy Wilson of Heart, 2006
Jeff Golub, 1989
Moe Berg of the Pursuit of Happiness, 1990
Todd Rundgren, 2006
Chad Kroeger of Nickelback, 2001
Steve Earle, 1987
Gabby Gaborno of the Cadillac Tramps, 1991
Terry Bozzio, 2003
Roger Glover, 1985
Matthew Sweet, 1995
Jim McCarty of the Yardbirds, 2003
Luther Dickinson of North Mississippi Allstars, 2001
John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls, 1995
Steve Hackett from Genesis, 1993
Grace Potter, 2008
Buddy Guy, 1993
Trevor Rabin of Yes, 1984
Albert Lee, 1986
Yngwie Malmsteen, 1985
Robert Cray, 1996
Tony Carey, 1984
Ian Hunter, 1988
Kate Bush, 1985
Jeff Healey, 1988
Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi, 1993
Colin Linden, 1993
Kenny Wayne Shepherd, 1995
Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues, 1986
Elliot Easton from the Cars, 1996
Wayne Kramer from the MC5, 2004
Bob Rock, 1992
Nick Gilder, 1985
Roy Buchanan, 1988
Klaus Meine of Scorpions, 1988
Jason Bonham, 1989
Tom Johnston of the Doobie Brothers, 1991
Joey Spampinato of NRBQ, 1985
Patterson Hood of the Drive-By Truckers, 2003
Andy Powell of Wishbone Ash, 2003
Steve Kilbey of the Church, 1990
Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde, 1990
Dan McCafferty of Nazareth, 1984
Davy Knowles of Back Door Slam, 2007
Jimmy Barnes from Cold Chisel, 1986
Steve Stevens of Atomic Playboys, 1989
Billy Idol, 1984
Stuart Adamson of Big Country, 1993
Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, 1992
Warren Haynes of Gov’t Mule, 1998
John Bell of Widespread Panic, 1992
Robben Ford, 1993
Barry Hay of Golden Earring, 1984
Jason Isbell, 2007
Joe Satriani, 1990
Brad Delp of Boston, 1988
John Sykes of Blue Murder, 1989
Dave Mustaine of Megadeth, 1998
Alice Cooper, 1986
Lars Ulrich of Metallica, 1985
Shannon Hoon of Blind Melon, 1992
Myles Goodwyn of April Wine, 2001
John Mellencamp, 1999
Mike Campbell of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, 1999
Kenny Aronoff, 1999
Jon Bon Jovi, 1986
Dickey Betts of the Allman Brothers, 1992
Little Steven, 1987
Stevie Salas, 1990
J.J. Cale, 2009
Joe Bonamassa, 2011
…with hundreds more to come