WHITESNAKE, FOREIGNER + EUROPE // OVO HYDRO, GLASGOW
Here they go again! Whitesnake, went back to the first time, for the last time and, yes, it is love.
★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
WHITESNAKE // OVO HYDRO, GLASGOW - 12.05.2022
PHOTOCREDIT: BAZZA MILLS
Whitesnake ensured they went out in style with a powerhouse tour accompanied by Foreigner and Europe. With decades of building up to it, Whitesnake have chosen to hang up the reins with a huge continental farewell tour. Saying goodbye creates some high-stakes and the pressure was on to pull it off. Did they? You bet they did!
Whitesnake started from humble beginnings, when their lead singer David Coverdale departed ways with Deep Purple in 1976 and he needed a backing band for his solo career. Jumping ahead to 1978, Whitesnake are finding their slither and shaking off to find their own way as a what would become a force to be reckoned with. They went on to showcase a unique, eclectic, hard rock style as one of Britian's greatest hard rock bands and they set the glamourous 80s standard for hair, head banging and some seriously appealing living. Flash decades forward, and their most recent album is out in 2019, Flesh and Blood. Whitesnake have continued to push themselves and through changes and breaks, they can have always continued to prove they can give to the fans just as hard as the first time.
For the tour, a large crowd filed into Glasgow's OVO Hydro. Everywhere there was lots of leather and lots of excitement. First of the night was Europe who took to the stage promptly for their set with some shredding guitar. Their lead, Joey Tempest, performed knockout vocals that were crisp and powerful and he commanded the stage with authority, swinging his mike stand like it was made of rope. Europe's performance had some straight from an LP perfection but with even more spinetingling power. Songs Carrie and Superstitious stood out as their best until they finished with killer destroyer Final Countdown. Their set was so good that it almost felt that the night was complete once their goodbyes were said, of course, things were only just getting started.
Up next was an epic set from Foreigner. Along with Europe, the sound quality continued to excel. Playing hit after hit, Foreigner seemed to reverse the clock. Like Whitesnake, Foreigner have history that is over four decades old but at the OVO they seemed to go back in time, sounding a fresh as they did as much younger men. They did not allow the quality to drop and the crowd were treated to a standout performance. Though they have had many line-up changes over the years, guitarist Mick Jones (77 years old) has stuck true to the group and was oldest performer to take to the stage of the night. Despite many changes over the years, Foreigner, have so many amazing songs that will never fail to get even the shyest toe tapping and their performance was simply incredible.
Then it was time for the nights main event. Whitesnake tore up the stage giving everything they had. David Coverdale came out to roaring applause and his warm charisma reach the back of the arena. Tommy Aldridge filled the set with incredible pace and played a breath-taking solo showing age truly is just a number. Coverdale did a knockout job showcasing he has not lost his incredible voice. With hot and heavy hard rock, Whitesnake played with gusto combining hard rock brutality with a cheeky wink. They invited Jones, of Foreigner, to join them onstage for the combined age of him, Coverdale and Aldridge to slide in to the two hundreds. They finishing with incredible combination of Take Me With You and emotional goodbye.
Decades have passed since Whitesnake first began their journey and saying goodbye is undoubtedly tough for many. With a performance like that it would be easy to convince yourself that they could do another decade or two but, in reality, Coverdale and Aldridge are both on stage at over 70 years old and have lived their lives to the fullest - for their own health they likely need to hang it up. Though a feeling of enjoyment extended from the back of the stage to the back of the crowd, there was a sense that this is a band ready to be put to bed. Whitesnake are pivotal in their field and their legacy will go on. With such amazing support and such a warmth filling the air, it's clear that this tour was thank you to the fans as well as a goodbye.
REVIEW BY // KATRIN LAMONT
PHOTO BY // BAZZA MILLS
SETLIST
OVO HYDRO, GLASGOW
BAD BOYS
SLIDE IT IN
LOVE AIN’T NO STRANGER
HEY YOU (YOU MAKE ME ROCK)
SLOW AN’ EASY
FOOL FOR YOUR LOVING
CRYING IN THE RAIN
IS THIS LOVE
GIVE ME ALL YOUR LOVE
HERE I GO AGAIN
STILL OF THE NIGHT
BURN
TOUR DATES:
14TH MAY 2022
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE // UTILITA ARNEA
16TH MAY 2022
LONDON // THE O2
17TH MAY 2022
LONDON // THE O2
18TH MAY 2022
MANCHESTER // AO ARENA
20TH MAY 2022
NOTTINGHAM // MOTORPOINT ARENA
22ND MAY 2022
BIRMINGHAM // UTILITA ARENA
25TH MAY 2022
CARDIFF // MOTORPOINT ARENA