So anyway…
Was just chatting to Alex in the office about Opeth playing in London next week, and he mentioned that Michael Akerfeldt – their mainman – is a massive David Coverdale fan (DC being the driving force behind Whitesnake).
Weird?
Well yeah. But at the same time not that weird. Love Whitesnake or hate them, there is no denying that David Coverdale is not only a formidable frontman, but a consistently great songwriter. That said you may still be asking, why does the creative source behind today’s greatest progressive metal band love one of the most reviled and ridiculed people who had a career in MTV-sexing 80s hair metal?
I don’t know. But I like it.
It often happens that the members of the bands you love will love things that you hate. For example: I was mad about GnR when I was 12, but I had no idea who the bands on their t-shirts were. Ramones? UK Subs? Etc. As I got older I discovered who these bands were, and I was surprised that I hated them: ‘how can something I love so much, be inspired by something I think is shit?’ Depending on how old you are, this will no doubt still be happening to you. I like Motorhead. But where as Lemmy thinks the Beatles are the best band in the world. I think they’re dull as shit biscuits.
On the other hand it’s great to discover great new bands like the Misfits, who have enjoyed a revival of late, due in no small part to the armies of horror-core rock bands wearing the ubiquitous Misfits logo incessantly.
So, in summary: Opeth are great. David Coverdale is great. And it is OK to both love and hate the bands that the bands you like, like. Make sense? Good.
Peace, Love & Whitesnake
Gill
