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Whitesnake, the English rock band, transitioned from blues-rock origins to an MTV-friendly commercial powerhouse, achieving multi-platinum success and global recognition.
Round Hill Music acquired the catalog from Whitesnake's David Coverdale, including two solo albums and his work with Whitesnake and Deep Purple. The deal was estimated to be worth $35 million.
Whitesnake signed a new recording contract with American label Geffen Records in 1982, who handled all future North American releases. This partnership was instrumental in the band's commercial breakthrough in the US.
British music magazine that featured Whitesnake coverage, including David Coverdale's comments on the Geffen Records deal and album reviews.
Whitesnake maintained their contract with Liberty (a subsidiary of EMI) for releases in Europe, even after signing with Geffen Records for North America.
Whitesnake signed a recording contract with Sony for releases in Japan, expanding their international reach.
Whitesnake received heavy airplay on MTV for their music videos, particularly from the album '1987', contributing significantly to their commercial success in the US.
EMI International's Robbie Dennis sought to sign Whitesnake after their successful live performances, leading to the release of their first EP 'Snakebite'. Eventually, the band was signed to EMI proper.
Whitesnake signed a European recording contract with Steamhammer/SPV in August 2006, leading to the release of their live album 'Live... in the Shadow of the Blues' and subsequent studio albums.
The band signed a new recording contract with Frontiers Records in 2010 to release new material, starting with the album 'Forevermore'.
In August 2017, Whitesnake signed a new distribution deal for North America and Japan with Rhino Entertainment, in partnership with Warner Music Group.
Whitesnake partnered with Warner Music Group for distribution in North America and Japan through their deal with Rhino Entertainment (2017).
Whitesnake, an English rock band, was formed in London in 1978 by singer David Coverdale, following his departure from Deep Purple. Initially conceived as Coverdale’s backing band to promote his solo albums ‘White Snake’ (1977) and ‘Northwinds’ (1978), the group quickly developed its own identity. The original lineup featured Micky Moody and Bernie Marsden on guitars, Neil Murray on bass, Dave ‘Duck’ Dowle on drums, and Brian Johnston on keyboards. Their early sound was characterized by blues rock. The band released their ‘Snakebite’ EP in 1978, which included the track “Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City,” a song that would become a live staple. This was followed by their debut album ‘Trouble’ in 1978, marking the beginning of their successful career.
Over the next few years, Whitesnake built a strong presence in the UK, Europe, and Japan. Albums like ‘Ready an’ Willing’ (1980), ‘Live… in the Heart of the City’ (1980), ‘Come an’ Get It’ (1981), and ‘Saints & Sinners’ (1982) all achieved top ten positions on the UK Albums Chart. In the mid-1980s, Coverdale, with the backing of American label Geffen Records, focused on breaking into the North American market. The release of ‘Slide It In’ in 1984, featuring singles such as “Love Ain’t No Stranger” and “Slow an’ Easy,” significantly increased their exposure through heavy rotation on MTV. A pivotal moment came with their self-titled album ‘1987’ (titled ‘Whitesnake’ in the US), which sold over eight million copies in the United States and produced major hits like “Here I Go Again,” “Is This Love,” and “Still of the Night.”
After a period of hiatus and several short-lived reunions in the 1990s, Whitesnake regrouped in 2003 to celebrate their 25th anniversary. Since then, they have continued to release new material and tour extensively worldwide. Post-2003 studio albums include ‘Good to Be Bad’ (2008), ‘Forevermore’ (2011), ‘The Purple Album’ (2015), and ‘Flesh & Blood’ (2019). The band has received numerous accolades throughout their career, including a nomination for Best British Group at the 1988 Brit Awards, cementing their legacy as a prominent hard rock act.
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