  
Frontiers/BAM
WHITESNAKE has been around for a very long time, with perennial and eternally youthful vocalist David Coverdale at the helm. This is a live album by the probably umpteenth incarnation of the band, which has metamorphosed one more time after this album was made. The lineup of David Coverdale, vocals, Doug Aldrich and Reb Beach, guitars, Michael Devin, bass, Brian Tichy, drums, and guest keyboardist Michel Ruedy is no more. Or to be precise good old Tommy Aldridge has returned to his rightful place behind the drums as Brian departed for pastures green. This album was made during their nine dates UK leg of their 2011 “Forevermore World Tour”. Newcastle was definitely on their itinerary as you will hear.
I used to be thoroughly against anything made after the guitar duo of Bernie Marsden and Micky Moody. Or at least anything after Bernie had left. But it is not se o easy to maintain that point of view. There might not be enough of the old tracks for me, but there is the excellence of “Forevermore” to replace the feeling of too many changes. And the mix of something old, something new, and something old and blue is almost unbeatable these days. Coverdale´s voice seems to have healed from a painful memory from a mid 2000´s Sweden Rock Festival when the famed “´Ere´s a song for ya” sounded croaked already four songs into the set. I believe that David is also one of the most natural performance artists in the world. His chat with a younger member of the audience asking “Are you one of mine?” is unbeatable…or when he suggests everyone is to strip off for a love song… And there are songs on offer spanning the band´s entire illustrious career, from the bluesiest early days, via their ladyboy stage in the in-between days of 80´s to 90´s, up until today´s tight band´s return to form with “Forevermore”. What I have the hardest time accepting is the guitar overhaul of “Burn/Stormbringer”. Maybe it is best to leave the halcyon days be and save the voice for the fabulous time travel that “Ain´t No Love in the Heart of the City” still offers when the voice is in shape. The guitar duo of Beach/Aldrich may have been denigrated by your truly in the past, but I have to change “My Evil Ways” in that aspect. Their other bands like WINGER and BURNING RAIN are also moving from strength to strength it seems. Hats off, nuff said.
Track List
CD1
Best Years
Give Me All Your Love
Love Ain´t No Stranger
Is This Love
Steal Your Heart Away
Forevermore
Love Will Set You Free
My Evil Ways
Fare Thee Well
Ain´t No Love in the Heart of the City
Fool for Your Loving
Here I Go Again
Still of the Night
CD2
Bad Boys
Slide It In
Lay Down Your Love
Pistols at Dawn
Snake Dance
Can You Hear the Wind Blow
Fare Thee Well
One of These Days
The Badger
Deeper the Love
Soldier of Fortune
Burn/Stormbringer
www.frontiers.it www.whitesnake.com
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