Whitesnake 1987 Album Bassist Reveals John Sykes/Coverdale Power Struggle, David Wanted to be Boss 

Sykes was Whitesnake’s monster that couldn’t be tamed. The guy has like paranormal songwriting, vocal, and guitar talents and is to this day just criminally underrated.

Neil Murray is a MONSTER bassist. Some of those early Whitesnake albums, man, those bass lines, could make someone like Steve Harris blush. Awesome work, underrated dude.

"The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side." --Hunter S. Thompson

As good as the 87 album was, I didn't want to see Whitesnake without Sykes.

I met John in 1989 and all the bandmates of Blue Murder. What a great bunch of guys!!!! 🤘Had a real old camera, and of course....the pictures did Not turn out 😢 but my autographs are framed.

David is a saint......compared to Ozzy and Sharon

Whitesnake couldn't get arrested in the USA, Sykes helped to change all that, and he was repaid by being kicked out of the band. Which even now seems a really dumb thing to do. If Coverdale went on a solo run then it must be the biggest error he made. Kalodner should have knocked some sense into him . Whitesnake never recovered, but more so. Fans were robbed of at least one or perhaps two more killer albums with Sykes on board. Coversnake certainly dropped the ball regards a Sykes / Powell / Murray line up. Slip of the tongue... it's just not that good.

That album was the Monster that it was because of Sykes...They couldn't match the success of that album after he left and they declined....Coverdale should have compromised. They could've possibly got another amazing album with him before Grunge hit.

We could hear what John contributed because Whitesnake sucked after he was gone.

Dokken did it right, man. 4-way split for the recordings. Songwriting is different, but man. You gotta pay your band mates fair mechanical royalties.

The definition of a dysfunctional band headed by the most narcissistic and conniving lead singer rock has ever seen. Coverdale has screwed so many people in his life, I’m surprised someone hasn’t taken him out.

Whether you prefer Sykes or Coverdale, White snake has always been Coverdale's offspring from the DP years.

Neal Murray can play circles around Rudy.. I like Rudy but that's just the truth.

Not John taking forever. Was all David and his million and one excuses, including no studio was good enough. That's why I call him Diva Dave.

Murrey is the original and a huge contributor to the real Whitesnake and should be treated w respect

Like Chris Holmes says, LSD = Lead Singer Disease will kill a band. Sykes took Whitesnake to a whole new level. Whitesnake could never repeat the success of the 1987 album either.

I had Vandenburg’s self-titled album (with Burning Hesrt), Dio’s Holy Diver, had seen Ozzy live with Randy, Rudy Sarzo and Tommy Aldridge and so thought the band Coverdale put together for the 1987 tour (which I saw 2X) was unbelievable. I don’t think your average rocker in the 80s had any idea that the group he put together was a dream team of musical icons. But as much as I loved these guys, what I wanted to see as a fan of guitar who was cursed with a terminal coordination deficit (meaning as hard as I tried, I just could play on that level) was John Sykes, Ainsley Dunbar, and Neil Murray because the music they made was pure magic. Ozzy did the same thing replacing his touring staff after albums dropped. I think a lot of it was just the 80s pretty boy thing. You could be the most incredibly talented musician, but if you looked like the Hunchback of Norte Dame, you were doomed to session work (KISS could easily have replaced Ace Frehley with Bob Kulick but chose not to because Bob was bald). Sykes was more a player than a poseur, though he had the looks. I just don’t think Coverdale would get Sykes into spandex and Aquanet. Whitesnake is and long has been a real musician’s band. They tripped a couple of pop triggers and made a bit of fame, but longevity has been on the music, itself. Like Dream Theater, they just weren’t your average Motley Crue. No offense, but the first time I saw Whitesnake, they were opening for the Crue on the Girls, Girls, Girls tour. Yeah, it was the pretty boy lineup, but these guys were also demigods. Vandenburg, Campbell, Aldridge, Sarzo and Coverdale. I thought the marquee was upside down. And Coverdale left the stage at the end of their much too short for me set, shaking his head as if he knew it, too. I can’t help wondering if the change in lineups didn’t constitute just enough of an alteration in the music that it was noticeable on some subconscious level and that’s part of the reason Whitesnake didn’t get as big as they should have been? That and if you look at the 80s formula for massive success, Whitesnake took WAY too long between album releases and the turnstile on personnel never did stop. No other band committed both “crimes” - changing players AND touring endlessly on ONE album… there were plenty that did one or the other and made it out okay, but not both. Live music is like breathing pure oxygen. It’s not just hearing the songs. If that were the case, people would pay money to see my iPod playlist performed by a rack stereo system. And it’s not just the show or any lip-synching boy band would rule the world. Sure, there are people who still pay money to see Neil Schon’s Journey tribute band, or Bobby Blotzer’s or Gene Simmons’, or… but I’m not one of them. I can’t help feeling like people like me make the difference between a fair tour and a massive success. Maybe I’m probably giving the musically attuned fans too much credit. But I think not. I think the bands and record companies don’t give us enough credit. How many of you wanted Guns ‘n Roses back ALL THE WAY? How many would spend decent money to see Bas front Skid Row, again? Steve Perry back with the marquee lineup from Frontiers? I think the answer lies in the little difference between the KISS 1996 Reunion Tour and every tour they’ve done, since. No more multi-night sellouts of Madison Square Garden. What does that tell you? Coverdale should have recognized the gift he’d been given in Sykes and company, made a dozen albums and grown the reputation of the band around the music. Instead, we have two records that touched on the miraculous and 35 years of touring, remixing, and re-recording those songs. When the genius advised that success comes from doing one thing better than everybody else, I don’t think he meant doing the SAME thing with it every day. After the 1987 album (and Steve Vai’s short contribution) there was never any Whitesnake that didn’t feel like a copy of the original that was just a bit out of focus, lacked originality. If you listen to the Beatles catalog, or the Eagles, or Metallica, Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones, or Michael Jackson, or Elvis, or even Buddy Holly, the one thing you’ll find in common is that they grew in their quests to create great music. And never just cloned old records. KISS makes money touring because the show was the thing holding it all together. How do their studio albums work out, now? Simmons thinks the market is broken. I think KISS is broken, but that’s just me. I think Whitesnake ‘87 was a massive missed opportunity for Coverdale and he STILL doesn’t get it.

Look folks , there was a power struggle over a singer David Coverdale that named the band , and a Guitarist John Sykes that made the sound and lyrics of 2 of the Greatest Metal albums ever for that band . Slide It In and Whitesnake 1987 Albums from 1984 - 1987 John Sykes primarily created , and David Coverdale took the credit . ✨🌟💫💥🔥🙉🙈😏😎😬😵🤑🤒😳😉🤔🙄👌😧🌞

Neil Murray is a monster bass player

Always interesting to hear from a different point of view as to what went down.

For as much as Sykes contributed to Whitesnake he still got screwed. Unfortunately, it is David's band.

Hmm. I always heard that there was a period of time where David lost his voice and Sykes and the rest got antsy and pushed to maybe have a different singer. since that's not mentioned here at all I wonder if that was a story made up by Coverdale? Either way, losing Sykes was a huge loss although Slip of the tongue had it's moments.

Lol, bass players always get fucked. I remember how far back in the mix my bass was on lock up the wolves…. Felt like a kick in the balls… oh well. Making better money now anyway…lol Live and learn….👍🏻

They really did fool everyone into believing these guys played on this album and sold it to all of us like we were a bunch of idiots. I remember being a sophomore in hs when this came out and eating it up.

In 34 years David Coverdale hasn't sold total what Whitesnake itself has sold.

People keep on slagging Coverdale off. Forgetting the support he gave his band members and there solo projects

This is interesting because the bass COULD be a little bigger-sounding on 1987. When Slide It In was first released in England, Colin "Bomber" Hodgkinson's bass was inaudible; when Murray rejoined and added bass to the album, it was loud and clear. Compared with two other albums, both featuring Cozy Powell - Rainbow Rising and MSG's 2nd - 1987 had enough bass to keep it powerful. (Rising's problem was remedied with a different mix, in which Jimmy Bain's bass was brought up - it's clear on the (what irony) rough mixes too. The MSG album has never been righted, and Chris Glen remains almost inaudible - I can't listen to it.) A remix of 1987 should address the bass problem first.

Thank you for your dedication and your channel.

Ill tell yiu what. That John Sykes blessed with the focus

It was Coverdale's band!

Coverdale must have gotten the idea from Robert Palmer, who employed that exact strategy for his “Addicted to Love” video.

John Sykes was better suited to Thin Lizzy ,which were by far the better band.Whitsnake is DC and that's it everyone else is a hired gun .All of the really famous bands over the years have always been made up of the same musicians from start to finish ,with very little line up changes

Coverdale was, is and always will be the boss of Whitesnake. D.C. started Whitesnake way back in the 70's. It's his band...everyone else is just there to back him up. That's just the way it is.

Sykes lyrics Jelly Roll is very romantic,I love BLUE MURDER BAND, SOUNDS GREAT!!!!!!! ✈️🙏🥰☀️😊🎥🔐🎼

Those 4 were the touring Whitesnake for the Slide it In album. Killer show. They just blew QR off the stage.

Neil was not on saints and sinners or the European version of slide it in . Just saying . Love your interviews but wanted you to be informed ✌🏻

Wow. That is not a very good way to treat people. Such a crazy business.

Slide it In was the best.Period.Everything after was fluff,with the random heavy tune.And John Sykes,not gonna lie,would consider marrying him lol!

Past their prime.

Congrats on 10k. Let's keep spreading the bloom!

Thanks for another interesting video

As great as Sykes was (is), it's always going to be a power struggle within any band he joins. It barely worked in Thin Lizzy, but Tigers Of Pantang was a full-on clash, Whitesnake too. Hence: Blue Murder. And that debut album was absolutely stellar!! Too bad he couldn't follow it up... The second album "Nothing But Trouble" was good enough, but simply couldn't compete with the first. There have been a fair few "supergroups" over the years, and I think John Sykes could do exceedingly well in those!! Usually there's multiple people involved with their own experience of fronting a longstanding major band, and they tend to keep themselves in check. That said, I've always had a musical soft spot for Neil Murray. The guy can *PLAY* and has done so for many huge names for decades.... A bit like Bob Daisley, in a sense - a go-to guy if you want go on the road, or if your touring band falls apart 🤣 I hope he's doing well!!

David wanted to be boss? No...he was the boss. He formed the band and he's the main songwriter and creative director. And he's the only member to have appeared on all releases. As much as I loved Whitesnake with Sykes powering up some of the most savage heavy rock/metal guitar assaults ever committed to tape and that I do agree that the thing between Sykes and Coverdale turned very ugly and might have been handled differently, ultimately Whitesnake is David's baby.

So punk didn't kill corporate rock, it just got bigger.

The Horror, The Horror. The music biz. So glad I missed out on all this hoopla, but man it would of been so great to have been apart of it.

ONE RULE - Don't anger the Snake!

I was asked to take John Sykes place when he left Whitesnake....but I was already touring with Genesis and recording guitars for the new Ozzy Osborne and Guns n Roses albums

i love the classic whitesnake line up. but yeah the 80s came around (awsome times) so they had to fit in or they were done.

David is theowner of the Band , the one who point the way. That`s not be bossy,

Neil Murray is a monster bass player one of the best in my opinion

Rudy Sarzo’s discography is surprisingly small, especially when you consider how many hits/albums are associated with him.

Sykes was the secret sause of the Snake formula.

Sykes was way to talented for Coverdale's ego to handle.

Two Giant Ego's that made the 87' Album one of the best. Sykes may have been right, but he lost his cool and cost himself a boatload of fame and fortune. He was ALMOST not replaceable, almost.. Had he submitted to the label and Dave on 1987, he could have asked for the world on the next album. Because HE was the sound, He would have been irreplaceable. If only...........

Bottom line is that Whitesnake is David Coverdale. Johnny come lately should have just kept his mouth shut and say yes sir.

Vandenberg wasn't a patch on John Sykes ! Weird how Whitesnake & Blue Murder we're both with Geffen records

Ah. lets just throw out all the great musicians and get a 'buncha' guys from the LA music scene. Well OK but that will end anymore great albums. Bad choice.

Interesting I’ve never heard this..

Hes not telling the whole truth. In reality David erased all his bass lines so he wouldnt have to pay him any royalties. All the bass you hear on the '87 album was recorded out of an old Yamaha DX-7. Murray had to sue David and whitesnake to get paid. After that David just shoved him aside as he usually does/did to almost everyone whos had a working relation with him. The cut they offered Cozy would have made him millions but cozy wanted equal shares. Cozy left whitesnake after their show in Rock n Rio in 85. They had a HUGE fight in the limo getting back to the hotel from the second night. When Cozy landed in England he was already out of the band. Hes never spoken about his time in whitesnake after that. Had Coverdale kept Cozy, Murray, Sykes as a unit, they could have been as big as Aerosmith. They were that good. And perhaps Whitesnake would have gone down respected by its peers and fans. David burned all his wardrobe after the slip of tongue "Liquor and poker" tour and that album sold well but hes confided to close ones he "hates" that record. never played those songs ever again. I dont really blame all on David for the Sykes fallout. Sykes was incredibly difficult to work with, they changed producers midway through the recordings of '87, Sykes suggested getting rid of David in '86 when they were in recess so that David could treat a throat infection. Usually two huge egoes hardly ever align in music and the saying is true: you sleep in the bed you make. I wish Whitesnake would have stayed in their lane and produced more bluesy rock as they did in the beginning. The monster it became is just not what this bands loved for. I for one hate those records and even tough they are comercial as it could possibly be they are still better that a lot of the garbage put out in the mid 80's. The era of over the top.

Well Whitesnake obviously hasn't done anything as good as the 87 album since - but - John Sykes hasn't exactly set the world on fire either since then.

John Sykes lyrics are excellent & extremely exciting 😉😉😉

Sykes is a great musician but tbe fact he could never stay long in a band or hold down a project should tell you something about him.

Coverdale is a shyster, he shafted Sykes like he did Bernie Marsden !

Dave Coverdale has a monster voice.

Hopefully sykes made some good money off that record. He disappeared for many years after so you would think he did.

Umm? Let's get some guys from the L.A. scene...look I admire Aldridge's drumming. But, let's face it, he's as ugly as home made sin. He's definitely no better of a drummer than Dunbar, either. I think it's pretty shitty the way they were done. Some of the beats on that album are iconic and I used to wonder why it it was Dunbar, in the credits but Aldridge, in the videos until the last couple of years. Great article.

What? No love for Black Oak Arkansas?

rudy was never a great player ,he just looked good .

Listen to Sykes’ lead in Still of the Night, and compare to lead breaks in other songs. Other leads in WS songs seemed to be restricted, like Coverdale didn’t want to stand in the shadow of any great guitarist. Imagine a studio session: “great lead guy, but it’s too good, and you’re not the star here.” Didn’t they have Via in the band at one point - playing mostly/all rhythm? Hence, I think Coverdale’s ego is what prevented the band from achieving even greater notoriety. Thank God Roth didn’t make such a mistake.

Whitesnake was the original Milie Vanilli

this was extremely well known prior to this "revelation"

David was always a snake when it comes to business.

he was treated bad. Awful

Awful bussiness!

Who cares, the music is what it matters 🤘🤘🤘

Arguably THE most incestuous business on the planet.

Neil is a great bassist; very under appreciated. I personally don’t like the overall mix of the Whitesnake album- it’s all about the vocals and guitar. The bass and drums are buried and the whole thing sounds too big and there’s not enough separation between instruments.

No one got screwed. Whitesnake was and has always been Coverdales backning band. He was the star from Deep Purple and the unit was initially formed around him. He's been very successful in finding great musicians, but that doesn't mean they could take over the main spotlight. Anybody, try walking up to your CEO at work and tell him to step aside cuz you want to be CEO. There's a good chance you'll be fired and rightfully so. Coverdale is still doing shows (for another year at least). His former bandmates, not so much. That's a testament to how he professionally survived the crybabies IMO. Thank's for a great channel. 🤘

Rudy has made a career out of playing other people's bass lines.

To bad for Coverdale that he is that kind of person, with John he could do so much more. Best guitarist of whitesnake.

Whitesnake was always a 2nd string band. Nowhere near as popular as Motley Crue, Def Leppard, or even Poison. We all kinda knew David Coverdale was a little too old to be doing the 80s glam-metal thing.

❤❤❤В начале пути!❤❤❤

By the way I like John S

Well dude you weren't a big contributer. John and Dave wrote all the songs... Dave got rid of everybody in tbd band...BTW John didnt just quit.. such nonsense Neil.

I saw Neil with Tony Iommi Black Sabbath

Omg… why such a shit show with these hair bands ??

Ah yes. Behind the scenes. Coverdale was amazing looking. Had that sexy girlfriend. No way could they headline a 10,000 seater though. That irked him. Sarzo dying his hair blonde ? Hamming it up ? That irked me lol

Like it or not, Whitesnake was/is DC’s creation. It may not seem fair to anyone on the outside, but it’s my belief that DC had a right to call the shots.

Of course,DC is the real boss.....!!!!!

I really hate it whenever RU-vid uses somebody's name just a bad mouth them especially whenever you know that they're actually quite talented and fair 100%

Murray is the best bassist of all times.

WTF lol , wanted to be boss , he was the boss !

No shit, it’s his band.

I like your voice

❤

Is Neil on Still of the Night on the Whitesnake "The Rock Album"... the bass sounds completely different to me.

👊

John Sykes tried to stab David in the back and get him kicked out of his own band..

David,Sykes,Sarzo and Aldridge would have be the best rock line up in rock`n` roll history after Led Zepp cause Led Zep was incomparable

1, Dave was, is, and has ALWAYS been the boss is WS, it is HIS BAND, end of story. 2, who cares what the Bass Player thinks????