NO matter what your musical persuasion history sometimes demands respect.

And as Whitesnake prepare to enter the Leppard's lair – namely Sheffield Arena on June 23 – it's something of a new experience for David Coverdale's current right-hand man Doug Aldrich.

Guitarist with the vintage English blues-rock outfit since 2002, he co-wrote and co-produced Good To Be Bad, Whitesnake's first new album in a decade.

And as the tour combines two legends of the UK rock scene, Doug reminds fans the bands have a closer link than casual observers might think.

"Vivian Campbell of Def Leppard used to be in Whitesnake," he confirms from his American home.

"There's gonna be a real camaraderie – it'll be like getting together with some mates."

Since forming Whitesnake, post-Deep Purple singer and charismatic northerner David Coverdale has regularly altered his line-up and has employed about three dozen different band members, each bringing their own colour.

"David likes to keep things at the cutting edge," says Doug. "Many bands manage to carry on with changes and all the musicians in the history of the band have been great. But let's remember, he is the one the people want to see. He IS Whitesnake.

"The heart and soul of the band has always been David. The songs come first with him and he's still got a fire about making it right. That's why the band has lasted."

And at 30 years strong Whitesnake's past is only just longer than that of Joe Elliott's enduring outfit. "They are really up for it and they put on an amazing show," says Doug of the co-headliners.

"They're top guys and of course David is really jacked up for the tour. It's gonna be a really fun night for the fans. We're hoping for a loose vibe and as well as the hits and songs the fans know and love, both (bands) will be featuring songs from new albums. We're all really excited about it."

As well as a 30th anniversary-marking 3CD collection of their career highlights – Here I Go Again, Is This Love, Fool For Your Loving, In The Still Of The Night etc – Whitesnake hit the top 10 album chart with Good To Be Bad in April.

With a past that includes some genuine genre-defining albums, such as Trouble, Ready An' Willing and Saints And Sinners, the band took their time crafting new material, but Coverdale is as enthused as ever.

"It's about time we had new songs to present," he said on its release. "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.

"I'm thrilled with it and if this is indeed the last Whitesnake studio record then I'm happy to finish like this. It was a labour of love making this record... a joy, and I'm still enjoying listening to it.


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