If Coverdale had been smarter back then he never would have fired guitarist John Sykes, the true talent behind the sound and success of the 1987 album.

Adrian Vandenberg is a straight up class act. Besides being an awesome guitarist he’s just a genuinely good person. That really shines through in this clip.

I think Vivian Campbell was still a bit touchy after getting screwed over by Dio and the Whitesnake situation was very much the same deal. These singer/bandleader/frontman guys are often very talented, but not very good at being honest and up-front about their business and intentions. Sykes said that Coverdale sacked him and ran to his car, locked himself inside and drove off. Dio didn’t keep promises about equal pay once the band was making money. I think Vivian Campbell is a band member type of player, give him fair pay and be honest about stuff and he’s gonna stay with you and play great but if you get on his bad side by dishonesty you will know. I mean the guy has been in Def Leppard for 30 years and is not being a diva.

Vandenberg was a great band in itself, one of my favorites in the early 80’s.

I remember I used to think (for some strange reason) that John Sykes, Adrian Vandenberg, and Vivian Campbell played for Whitesnake simultaneously, and found out I was wrong. What a freaking guitar shredding machine Whitesnake would have been! I would still luv to see those three guys play some songs together.

So Coverdale managed to chase off John Sykes, Vivian Campbell, and Steve Vai in less than three years, lol. Impressive

Sucks for Campbell, but guy always lands on his feet. He's always in demand and can easily pick up another gig anytime.

Vivian Campbell spoke very similar of David Coverdale and Ronnie James Dio. Wonky when it came to the business side of music. I believe him.

This is an amazing interview clip! Thank you so much for sharing it, FIB! I think if I were going to help Vivian Back to the Future style, I would go back in the DeLorean and convince him to get a good entertainment lawyer and manager. Of course everything turned out OK for Vivian. He got to work with two of the best vocalists. But again what a great interview. And Adrian strikes me as very straight forward and honest.

I read years ago in a guitar magazine that Vivian Campbell said the tension was coming from Adrian, and that was why Coverdale released Campbell from Whitesnake. There apparently was more to the story than that, according to Adrian. Of course Coverdale is rather mercurial in who he has in the band.

Vivian said in interviews he and Adrian didn’t get along and the situation between them was bad. When Adrian’s hands got screwed up Vivian said now he’s out of the frying pan and into the fire. Coverdale didn’t want Campbells songwriting ideas as well, but from what I’ve heard it was probably insecurity on Adrian’s part.

Adrian Vandenberg is a classy guy.

strange, I never ever heard Vivian mention Vandenberg negatively...... He simply said that Coverdale would not accept anything from him with regard to writing, that it was a closed shop with Coverdale and Vandenberg. That's all I ever heard him say in interviews and he told me personally at an after show in Dublin...Coverdale did the same with Reb Beach.....He wrote everything with Doug Aldrich and Reb just recorded and toured.

Wow... and he and Vivian came in after John Sykes had basically recorded ALL the guitars for their HUGE Whitesnake LP...

My guess why Vivian said that Adrian didn't want him in the band is that's what David told him before he was hired. It's just a tactic the boss uses to plant the seeds of dissent and keep his employees from ganging up against him. Bosses of offices and restaurants do it too.

I imagine Viv was a hired gun because Adrian couldn't pull off Sykes' parts. Watch some of the soloing from that tour. More of the load was put on Viv because Vandenberg's noodling was insufferable.

I respect David, he admitted being arrogant, but he isn't the only one, looking back I'm sure he regrets some of his decisions, but look at all the great things that came out of it!!

Experience has taught me that if you are going to replace someone (in a band, a relationship, a job) you should ask yourself why, how they got axed etc... If it was an ugly or sketchy breakup then you could be next.

WS peaked on the self titled. John Sykes was key for WS Chemistry. After John Sykes left WS it was over .

Ok this my opinion I felt Vivian and Adrian just didn’t have any chemistry David big mistake was letting go of his old band

Vivian is completely on the level. Sucks he got screwed early on but he’s phenomenal in Def Lep and Last in Line. Such a genuine guy and just talented.

Vivian is great when it’s his project and he can play what he wants. In a group project like Whitesnake you’ve gotta have an all-around musician who can play what suits the music. Being a sideman is a completely different skill set than being the main guy. Eddie VH played on a studio session before the first VH album, and he stuck out like a sore thumb. Played some amazing stuff, but it just didn’t fit. You can find the clip on YT, sorry I can’t remember the name of the artist

I LOVE Slip of the Tongue! I think Vai brought some fresh air to the whole soundscape. Can’t understand why Whitesnake got such a bad rap over this record.

I worked with Viv on a guitar clinic in Mobile Alabama for MMI MusicWorld just post his leaving Whitesnake and just pre his release of the first Riverdogs album... he was EXTREMELY moody back then... did NOT want to discuss DIO at all!... that night, every time a kid would ask a DIO related question... I'd just be like damn.. this is gonna be a long night. He had a NightSwan that he'd removed the middle pickup out of and added a neck pup and sanded most of the blue/black graphic off the face of the guitar... he also had a red 50s strat that was beat and had been routed for all kinds of crazy experiments... same one in the "Stars" vid... I asked him about Whitesnake while tuning up... he said David had asked everyone to submit ideas/demos for the next album and when he gave David his demos... David told him .. "This is Whitesnake... NOT U2."... and told him he was going to run with Adrian's ideas. That was as far as we touched on that. lol. He really only wanted to talk gear and influences or not talk at all.... First question of the night... kid in the back.. "WHY did you quit DIO?!?".... Viv.. "because he's a dick.".. quick, dry, no emotion... next question... "Play the Holy Diver solo!"... Viv.. "I don't remember it... I don't listen to that stuff anymore."... and that was pretty much how the night went.

Needed two guitarist to replace one - enough said

Who cares, ancient history, Campbell moved on and has been in Def Leppard for decades now.

Besides David, Tommy is the longest lasting member of the band. 74 and still hitting hard.

I am glad I got to see Whitesnake on the 87 tour opening For Motley Crue. That was definitely one of my favorite concerts that just kicked ASS!!!!!

Campbell is a great guitarist

Sykes auditioned for Whitesnake and had the gig even before that but he blew it big time when he started singing ..really great too ..the kiss 💋 of death

We all go through hard times and having a family while on the road for 1.5 years would test any marriage. What I constantly hear is Vivian is a great guitarist, but he wants more creative input in a band. That shows a fire is brewing inside like any other passionate artist! The problem is Vivian worked with Dio and Coverdale who are in their own right the best of their time. That's a lot of egotism to try and manage. By the time Vivian joined Def Leppard he was a bit more humbled by his previous experiences and in my opinion a better guitarist than Phil Collen or Steve Clark for that matter. He had to put that in a bucket and let it sit until Leppard started writing albums again, so he put together Last in Line where he could focus on writing and shredding.😎🤘

I guess Coverdale saw Viv as a hired gun. That's all.

Worked out perfectly for Campbell.

I think they were all high on hairspray

Adrian hid in the back room fully aware of what was going to go down with viv lol.

It’s always about money and notoriety, and sometimes just wanted to be included. It’s ironic that Adrian helped write it all, but didn’t record any of it 🤦🏻‍♂️

Steve is one of my HUGE Influences. Vivian did a great job with Dio but Lepp seems like the only time he’s been “Happy” in a band. Woulda been cool to see JUST Adrian in WS at some point.

Thanks for this!

Whitesnake is a great band. A classic band !

Always a pleasure to catch a glimpse with your amazing interviews... fuck that narcassist Trunk, you’re the real deal THANK YOU 🤙💯🤙

I read an interview with David Coverdale years ago where he stated that Vivian Campbell was incapable of writing Whitesnake style songs. He said everything that came out of Vivian at that was some U2 sounding bullshit. I also remember other interviews with Vivian where he'd go on an on about how great U2 was, so I'm inclined to believe Coverdale's take.

I used to think Coverdale letting Sykes go was a big mistake - and in a way it was but it was the right move for Sykes and for Coverdale. Sykes went on to be a superstar and made millions Coverdale same thing obviously.

Vandenberg needs to work with ShawnLDelaney

Vivian has been getting screwed over for years, love the man, we all ain’t pretty boys, if you can play. You can play? Is it his look, is he an asshole behind the scenes? Doesn’t make sense? He & Jake E Lee have been totally screwed over, just ask Sharon?

What about the relationship between David and John Sykes? Rumours are that David felt uncomfortable trying to be the focal point in the band with John's stage presence and looks to compete with. Seems unlikely considering he then went and hired Adrian Vandenberg!!

I heard different stories that Vivian quit Whitesnake.

I always felt that Coverdale wanted so much to be an MTV diva and when he had an album that had hits he sacked most If the band and got an band that would Look good in videos. They were kind of like a male Pussycat dolls but they actually had talent but Coverdale only cared about that in as far as they played good live. Other then that he did it want them rocking the boat. Campbell may have thought it was more Of a band and Coverdale quickly told him otherwise. Campbell joined Def Leppard in 1991 and has had 30 great years with them and is in the rock and roll hall of Fame while Whitesnake and Dio are not. Coverdale is at least in with part of Deep purple while the hall left out Dio for Black Sabbath.

We all would’ve loved for Sykes to stay but cmon, anyone who knows about those days knows he was arrogant and pushy towards the recording process, super difficult to work with and had to have all this crazy gear which ended up sounding out of tune (pitch manipulated chorus effect), it’s a damn shame it ended too soon because the music was amazing! But people have to work together, and it’s David’s band everyone knows that 🤨🎯

Wth! What’s the right dividend for band members by the way? It’s a group effort for goodness sake.

viv campbell screwed over by many but you cant take his talent and legacy

John Sykes; enough said… end of any discussion!!!

Odd, Campbell had problems with both Dio and Coverdale.

Campbell played for Def Leppard!?! I had no idea! lol

not writing with Vivian and hiring Steve was a stupid decision that ultimately cost whitesnake.

Another example of Dave's ego ways fired Vivian because rock guitarist of the year 6 years in a row was Steve vai and Steve ripped that award right outta Eddie's hands after roth left VH cai was the big man on campus Coverdale new he was available and once again his ego fired Vivian and brought in v a I. Sarzo was brought in because he gained stardom with ozzy. You know if Rhodes was alive he would have tried to steal him. As nything for an altar lineup. He screwed John Sikes and John didn't even get a kiss

Idk anything about what was going on with the band behind the scenes, but we all know at this time of bands in the latter 80's, several were self indulging to the point of it hurting things, plus the buisness was changing. Concerning all three guitarists? They are all or were at that time worth their weight in gold. Viv and mates totally got screwed paywise during the Dio era, which was a shame considering the greatness of RJD and the bands music then, that was rubber necking everyone. However, if you read between the lines, I think Dio's manager and wife was pulling a lot of the strings and was getting poor management advice from a friend in the same work. RJD later admitted yhat his head was getting a bit too big for his hat and I could hear regret in his voice. Adrian and John are awesome too, what a great time to be alive and go to huge outdoor festivals up unto 84 or 87 at the latest! That latter 80's era and lack of focus of WS at that time, really seemed to plague a lot of bands that crashed and burned. It may have sold millions of albums, but I didn't purchase one. Didn't care for it, despite Dave's great voice. I wish them all the best!

Whitesnake has had more members in the band than Spinal Tap. When you're a top tier player, being shut out would definitely piss you off. That was a HUGE album they did together, and then to be dismissed. David seems to be an arrogant asshoal sometimes. I'm speculating, of course, because I have never worked with him.

John Sykes was put David Coverdale on the map. I just never understood why Coverdale had all the power?

Whitesnake pretty much went to hell after Adrien left. This is why Coverdale has repackaging that same 80s album for the last forty years.

david coverdale has become a parody of his 70s self ...dale coverdavid !

So, DC fired Viv because of Viv’s wife?

Sounds like BS TBH.

Vivian best whitesnake guitarist after sykes

I think slip of the tongue would have been better had viv played on it

And now , I bet Vivian looks back and laughs , because the way it all turned out , he probably makes more money than Coverdale , annually. Obviously, Def Leppard has had far more staying power and reaches a wider audience than Whitesnake - and the money is made on the road now, for which , Def Leppard never has a lack of demand Good job, Viv !!

Quite right, it's Coverdale's bloody band and he can fire who he wants and that's precisely what he's been doing. Get over it.

Vivian is never fking happy

Of course anyone would be put out when you take all writing credits away... that's where all the money is to be made, vandenberg is playing dumb but he knows whats up

LSD. Lead singer disease that was the problem with Whitesnake

vandenberg was the best guitar player ever in whitesnake

They all owe their fame and fortune to the real God of Thunder, John Sykes. Coverdale deserves to burn in hell for removing him from the band just before the album was released. Nobody deserves that. Treated like a session musician, which is the only thing he found after 1987.

It makes sense that Coverdale would write w/Adrian cause he had written on his solo albums. Where Viv was w/Dio and Dio was the main writer there. I don't know about no ideas considered but as a main writing partner Adrian. So then he ends up w/Leppard. I bet it had to do with Tawny getting too involved too.

Campbell seems like he’s just a malcontent.

No mystery, Campbell is a good guitar player, just not quite up to the level of Sykes/Vandenberg/Vai

Vandenberg seems like a great guy, but Slip of the Tongue is an absolutely awful record. Filled with bad cliches and tired double entendres. Vivian Campbell was lucky not to have anything to do with that album.

The Vai album is horrible. No balls. To me Vai ruins everything he touches. He should’ve kept Vivian. Viv got the last laugh

Wow, that was really uninformative.

Viv Campbell is a wuss. How do you go from Dio to Whitesnake to Def Leppard?

Poor Viv, made his name, working with difficult, elitist douche bag singers . His style pushed through that crap.

Coverdale is a tool.....he owes most of his fame to John Sykes......EVERYBODY in the business knows JS was the true talent behind those albums...not to mention JS had so much more stage presence

He had a affair with David girl friend...everyone knew that....that's why David broke up with her and kicked him out of the band..

steve vai ruined whitesnake

Vivian is a girls name

Hair metal.

I remember vandenberg for the horrible guitar solo on here I go again.

Vivian is so boring …. That’s a fact .

i always thought vivian quit to go to the def leppard camp he did the same with DIO he left for another band.