WHITESNAKE Guitarist Discusses Songwriting Process For New Album

WHITESNAKE guitarist Doug Aldrich has sent MelodicRock.com the following comment regarding the group's upcoming album, "Good To Be Bad", due out through SPV/Steamhammer in Germany on April 18, rest of Europe on April 21 and North America on April 22:

"'Good To Be Bad' was a total commitment and very focused from the start. David (Coverdale, vocals) and I started banging around song ideas in early '07 and just kept refining and writing. We got on a real good roll and it just went from there. If something wasn't getting us off...we would just drop it and move on. We spent a long time discussing about what David wanted to accomplish and part of my goal was to try and help him see that through in whatever way I could. I feel this new record covers a lot. The best from all eras of WHITESNAKE and also pushes the sound to a contemporary place as well. The new songs are probably a bit more melodic than what we wrote previously. Those first four songs we recorded in 2006 were the start and with the new ones, I think it sounds like we have pushed the writing to an even more refined level. David went way deep with the lyrics, and hit on some really heavy things. It was so cool to see the songs develop. It's got everything that people would hope for WHITESNAKE. I'm really proud of it and David just sounds amazing!"

WHITESNAKE will play four dates in Australia in March. The details are as follows:

March 26 - The Tivoli, Brisbane (18+)
March 28 - Enmore Theatre, Sydney (Licensed all ages)
March 30 - Palace Theatre, Melbourne (18+)
March 31 - Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide (Licensed all ages)

Tickets go on sale Friday, February 15 at 9:00 a.m.

The cover artwork for WHITESNAKE's new album, "Good to be Bad", can be viewed at this location. The legendary hard rock band's first studio album in a decade features "11 new, slamming WHITESNAKE songs which are guaranteed to take their place alongside their multi-million selling catalog," according to a press release.

Commented frontman David Coverdale: "The new album contains all the elements I enjoy about WHITESNAKE, and more. I can hear moments that take me back to the bluesy, early years of the band all the way through the band's musical history to fully embrace the more electric aspects of where we are now, as a band. I'm thrilled with it and can hardly wait to unleash it on an unsuspecting public! If this is indeed the last WHITESNAKE studio record, then I'm happy to finish like this. It was a labor of love making this record...a joy... and I'm still enjoying listening to it. Can't be bad!"

The new songs, written by Coverdale and guitarist Doug Aldrich (who also co-produced the album with Coverdale and Michael McIntyre) provide a good balance of eight rocking tracks and three ballads. Coverdale feels it's the first "real" WHITESNAKE album in almost 20 years, commenting "It's very butch. Very muscular..."

"Good to be Bad" track listing:

01. Call On Me
02. Can You Hear The Wind Blow?
03. Best Years
04. All I Want All I Need
05. Good To Be Bad
06. All For Love
07. Summer Rain
08. Lay Down Your Love
09. A Fool In Love
10. Got What You Need
11. 'Till The End Of Time

WHITESNAKE will be take to the road with DEF LEPPARD, playing a series of co-headline shows across the UK, major festivals and headliner shows in summer of 2008. The internationally renowned, multi-platinum band will be featuring songs from David Coverdale's colorful career, including the hits and new material from "Good to be Bad". This is an opportunity to experience the ultimate lineup and celebrate 30 years of WHITESNAKE, who are: Doug Aldrich on guitar; Reb Beach on guitar; Timothy Drury on keyboards; Uriah Duffy on bass; Chris Frazier on drums, and, of course, the inimitable David Coverdale on vocals.

Said Coverdale: "I can't wait to get back on stage. After being in the studio for most of 2007, I am most definitely ready to let off some steam. The front row should definitely be prepared!"