After departing Deep Purple, British rock vocalist David Coverdale formed a new band called Whitesnake in 1978. Whitesnake gradually built a following and struck success in the UK sooner than they did in the US. Whitesnake first hit the US chart in 1980 when "Fool For Your Loving" from "Ready An' Willing" peaked at #53. They would re-record this song to have it chart again in 1989, at which time it reached #37. Surprisingly, Whitesnake failed to achieve a chart single from one of their finest albums, 1984's "Slide It In." But their next release was a self-titled affair designed for radio airplay. In 1987, Whitesnake became a household name with the smash hit "Here I Go Again," which hit #1 for one week. The song is another recycled tune from their 1982 record, "Saints & Sinners." They almost hit the top spot again with "Is This Love," which lingered at #2 for one week. It would become the last time they'd see the Top 10. The band may be just as famous for its music videos from the 80s, which featured actress Tawny Kitaen, who was married to Coverdale from 1989-1992. Whitesnake has endured one of the most complex personnel rosters in rock history, with Coverdale remaining the only real constant through them all. At one time or other, the band has included members of Jefferson Starship, Quiet Riot, Ratt, and Heart. Former Dio guitarist Vivian Campbell played with Whitesnake from 1987-88, then joined Def Leppard. He was replaced with Steve Vai, recruited from David Lee Roth's band. Whitesnake continues to release new music with yet another lineup. In 2019, this incarnation of the band released the rather excellent "Flesh & Blood." "Give Me More Time" is one of the early songs that should have helped Whitesnake strike at radio sooner than they did.
Saints of the Underground were a hard rock supergroup that formed in 2006. Former players from Ratt, Alice Cooper, and House of Lords teamed up with ex-Warrant songwriter and vocalist Jani Lane to release a single record in 2008 called "Love The Sin, Hate The Sinner." It was a solid album that failed to generate any chart hits, and remains unjustifiably obscure even among most fans of the genre. The unexpected passing of Jani Lane in 2011 had the band calling it quits. I wish we could have heard more from these guys as their chemistry evolved. "Dead Man Shoes" is one of the standout tracks that demonstrated the promise of the band.
L.A. band Ratt helped launch the rise of hard rock in the 80s, beginning with their smash hit, "Round And Round," which soared to #12 in 1984. Ratt seemed poised to be a mainstay on the charts, but the follow-up single "Wanted Man" stalled at #87. Nothing else charted from their landmark record, "Out Of The Cellar," although cuts like "Back For More" and "Lack Of Communication" are now classics. The band would enjoy only one more top 40 appearance when "Lay It Down" barely made it at #40 in 1985. In 1990, Ratt released their fifth album, "Detonator," which became the last to feature all the founding members. The band retooled in an attempt to ride the wave of hairband rock, sounding more polished and radio-friendly than ever. They brought in big guns like Desmond Child and Diane Warren to help with songwriting, and their bud Bon Jovi to sing backing vocals on "Heads I Win, Tails You Loose." The band even broke down and recorded their first (and only) power ballad, the rather excellent "Givin' Yourself Away." "Detonator" seemed to have all the right ingredients to give the band a badly needed second wind, but the record did not "blow up," so to speak. It is a shame, shame, shame, because songs like "One Step Away" should have easily made the top 10.
