Whitesnake's David Coverdale Should Have Been Led Zeppelin's Reunion Singer
Coverdale Suggested Several Singers in an Alternating Line-Up
David Coverdale floated that idea out to Jimmy Page around mid-December, just days before Page's manager, Peter Mensch, announced to the world in early January that there would be no Led Zeppelin reunion or tour.
Coverdale told the Pulse of Radio, "My suggestion to him when I saw him in the summer was to do what Carlos Santana did with 'Supernatural'."
"Supernatural" was the 1999 studio album multiple Grammy Award-winning effort by legendary rock guitarist Carlos Santana. It featured a host of lead singers and guest musicians, including Rob Thomas, Dave Matthews, and Everlast. The album was No. 1 for 12 weeks on the Billboard 200 albums chart and has sold over 15 million copies to date.
Coverdale went on: "I said Joe Elliott [Def Leppard] and me would come in and do a track rather than the focus be on one person."
Auditions had been going on for a few weeks with nobody seeming to click for Jimmy Page, bassist John Paul Jones, and drummer Jason Bonham, the son of late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham. One rumor had it that Myles Kennedy, lead singer for Alter Bridge, had been chosen, but in the end Page disbanded the project because nothing seemed to be working.
In the meantime, ex-Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant battled rumors that he would be stepping in to fill his old role. On tour with new singing partner Alison Krauss, Plant had stated publicly on several occasions that he would not do a reunion tour with his old band.
With his Plant-like vocals, David Coverdale had been considered the second coming of Robert Plant in the 1980's. With John Sykes' Page-like guitar-work, Coverdale led Whitesnake to a string of successful albums and hit songs. After the band went on hiatus in 1991, Coverdale teamed up with Jimmy Page. At one time Page made the comment that Coverdale sung Led Zeppelin's songs better than Robert Plant. Their collaboration, "Coverdale/Page," was released in 1993.
With such demand for a Led Zeppelin reunion, Coverdale's suggestion was not a bad one, if a bit modest. Whitesnake finished up their World Tour 2008 on December 21 in Holland. What an excellent Christmas gift for all Led Zeppelin fans if Jimmy Page had announced that David Coverdale would be on lead vocals for their upcoming tour.
Still, at least fans got new music from Robert Plant and David Coverdale in 2008.
Whitesnake released "Good To Be Bad" in April, their first studio album in 10 years.
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss were nominated for five 2009 Grammy Awards for the collaborative effort, "Raising Sand," including Album of the Year and Record of the Year.
Jimmy Page dissolved the new incarnation of Led Zeppelin in early January 2008.
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Source:
Planetrock.com
Pulse of Radio
Billboard.com
Wikipedia.org
Whitesnake.com
Published by Saul Relative
WVU graduate, with degrees in History, English, Secondary Education, Computer Programming, and Psychology (and nearly a degree in Political Science). Originally from West Virginia, with stints in Virginia,... View profile
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6 Comments
Post a Commentwhitesnake is much better than led zeppelin imo.
after 2 songs led zeppelin annoys me...
Coverdale is the man, Plant wishes he had the range and presence of David. As for the recorded "lipsync" stuff, OK name and artist these days that does NOT do this.
Are you guys kidding? I saw Whitesnake on tour with Alice Cooper this winter and David Coverdale was hardly singing at all. Some songs where definitely playback, other songs where sung badly.
Coverdale was even unable to act like he was singing. He put away his microphone and closed his mouth while the playback started.
Coverdale has no more voice at all. I was so angry that Coverdale tried to cheat us.
"Coverdale can reach those octaves" - No he can't! Not any longer. Just ask Google for some reviews of the shows in Germany.
I personally think Coverdale has far better vocal quality than does Plant. However, that being said, I own every album my friend Robert Plant has ever recorded -- including the Jimmy Page solo stuff... Just a big fan...
Coverdale had always seemed to me a rather cheesy version of Robert Plant, but the alternating lead singers idea is good--why not use current artists between their touring schedules? I'm sure they would be honored to sing with Zep for a bit (kind of like celebs like Carmen Electra rotating in and out of the Pussycat Dolls)...
;)