DAVID COVERDALE: 'I Didn't Want To Be Part Of The Demise Of The Legacy Of DEEP PURPLE'

Goldmine contributor Bryan Reesman recently conducted an interview with WHITESNAKE frontman David Coverdale. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow.

On working with WHITESNAKE guitarist Doug Aldrich:

"After developing a good friendship from touring and hanging out, it was inevitable that we would gravitate towards musical conversation rather than just conversation. It's very similar to my fabulous friendship/relationship/partnership with Adrian Vandenberg. Great pals, and that translated into a very healthy and very creative relationship. You don't need to be aggressively and negatively beating the shit out of each other in order to create good rock music. Otherwise, I'd still be working with some assholes from my past!"

On seeing Jimmy Page after a recent show:

"He said, 'I wish we did more together again.' I said, 'Don't worry.' I was delighted with what we did. It was an honor and privilege to work with one of my heroes, and [who] now is one of my dearest friends, who I love and adore and support."

On his departure from DEEP PURPLE:

“I left PURPLE after the show in Liverpool. It was so f**king embarrassing. I did not want to be part of dragging PURPLE into the mud, the details of which I don't really want to go into right now because it would involve personal critiques of several of the members. The circumstance was I left and was asked to keep it quiet until some of the members had decided what course to pursue. But I was an emotional wreck at the end of it. Drugs had come in in a much more overt way, and it was awful to turn around and see some of the founding members playing with their heads down out of shame. I just went, 'F**k it; I'm out of here.' I just couldn't do it anymore. I didn't want to be part of the demise of the legacy of DEEP PURPLE. DEEP PURPLE was an unbelievably beloved band and still is in Europe."

On his druggie days in PURPLE:

"I had what I would call '1 percent Yorkshire sense.' You'd go, 'Okay, this is the last line for the night.' Then, five minutes later, another one. I didn't dive into it body, mind, and soul as some did, but I certainly did enough to know about it.”

On life lessons he has learned:

"These are impossible questions. The best life lesson I can tell anybody is balance. That's the best thing I can offer. That and a great lawyer and a great accountant. And a great woman in your life. It took me a few tries, but I'm absolutely, utterly blessed with my dear wife. I have it all, babe. I'm the luckiest bastard I know."

Read the entire interview at www.goldminemag.com.