| Doors: 7 pm | Show: 8 pm | Tickets: 54.75 EUR plus fees |

After he once fronted Deep Purple, David Coverdale founded his own band in 1978: WHITESNAKE – a multi gold and platinum Rock band that meanwhile faces its 40th anniversary. Perhaps they already celebrate this upcoming event ;) Already last year WHITESNAKE embarked on a best-of world tour, with a flying visit in Europe in November. Now they return for the European summer festivals and play one exclusive club show in Germany, at :: Turbinenhalle ::, Oberhausen.

In a recent interview David Coverdale was contemplating retiring in 2017 on the 30th anniversary of the release of one of the best-selling hard rock albums in history, 1987. To finish such a long running career with a best-of tour wouldn’t surprise. Well, it also could be a well-intended promotion trick for the current tour…
However, I was expecting a well-filled Turbinenhalle. But to see the location that packed and crowded really surprised me a lot. Ok, there were still tickets at door available, but I’d guess, only a handful of were left.

Great for the band, bad for the audience. It was hot! Extremely hot. And muggy. And extremely low in oxygen. Inside and outside. Yes, the Turbinenhalle has air conditioning, but either it’s way too small or the owner wanted to save money by running it on the lowest level. So, it didn’t wonder that the first fans fainted before the first band even started playing. And it became many more over the evening.

:: pics :: THE ANSWER ::

Hailing from Downpatrick, Northern Ireland, bluesy Hard rockers :: THE ANSWER :: opened the sweaty evening. Bodies drenched in sweat everywhere. THE ANSWER didn’t much care (actually had no choice ;)) and started to rock out with full enthusiasm. The audience however was quite… melted and unable to respond properly. THE ANSWER have finished recording their new sixth record. It is entitled Solas, and will be released on October 14 via Napalm Records. Tonight we got two new songs from this record, the rest were without exception tracks from the 2006 debut album Rise. Seems, the Irish guys do an anniversary tour too ;) Much likeable the dudes, great music too.
Setlist: Under The Sky, Come Follow Me, No Questions Asked, Sometimes Your Love, Preachin', Thief Of Light, Solas

:: pics :: WHITESNAKE ::

Right after everybody needed a break, to get some air, and much more, to get some liquids. The clock struck nine when lights went out. Under thunderous applause :: WHITESNAKE :: entered the stage and kicked off with Bad Boys. How cute ;) One second later everybody was drenched in sweat again.
Last time I saw WHITESNAKE playing live was in 2008, supporting Alice Cooper. The show back then was quite stagy, affected and lame. Only the guitar and bass players made it. 8 years later WHITESNAKE rocks as if there is no tomorrow. Especially David Coverdale was in great mood and shape, despite the heat. Also his vocal performance was great. Yes!
As it is known there have been line-up changes: Uriah Duffy and Doug Aldrich are out, Michael Devin (bass) and Joel Hoekstra (guitars) are in. Drummer Tommy Aldridge is back, once again, and on keyboard we got introduced to Michele Luppi.
Now the audience was much more enthusiastic, was singing along almost every song, while David Coverdale didn’t stop flirting with the crowd and stressed his knowledge of the German language. His band mates showed their skills during solo parts, as for the guitars maybe a bit too long. On the other hand, playing such filigrane stuff while streams of sweat ran down arms and hands… just wow! My respect!
After a playing time of about 90 minutes, WHITESNAKE came to an end. Without a bigger delay they came back on stage and pleased the audience with a 3 song encore, to get off stage as quickly as everyone else fled the venue. There was a huge longing for fresh air and a shower.
To sum it up: It was a great show, much better than I expected. If that really was kind of a farewell show I’m happy to have seen WHITESNAKE once again. And it would have been a worthy finale of such a long running history.

Setlist: Intro (My Generation - The Who song), Bad Boys, Slide It In, Love Ain't No Stranger, The Deeper The Love, Fool For Your Loving, Ain't No Love In The Heart Of the City/Judgement Day, (guitar solos), Slow & Easy, (bass Solo), Crying In The Rain (incl. drum solo), Is This Love, Give Me All Your Love, Here I Go Again // Still Of The Night, We Wish You Well, Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life

story & pics © Dajana & Dajana Winkel • Photography