DAVID COVERDALE: No One But Me Has The Right To Use 'WHITESNAKE' Name

WHITESNAKE frontman David Coverdale recently commented on his former bandmates' decision to use the "classic WHITESNAKE" banner for their new project, M3.

M3, who feature in their ranks Bernie Marsden (guitar, ex-WHITESNAKE),Micky Moody (guitar, ex-WHITESNAKE),Neil Murray (ex-WHITESNAKE, BLACK SABBATH),Tony Martin (vocals, ex-BLACK SABBATH),Jimmy Copley (drums, ex-PAUL RODGERS, GILLAN, BECK),and Mark Stanway (keyboards, ex-MAGNUM),issued a live album last month recorded during the band's appearance at The Robin 2, Mount Pleasant in Bilston, U.K. on August 13.

Audio samples from the CD, which consists entirely of cover versions of classic WHITESNAKE songs, have been posted online in streaming Windows Media format at this location.

Writing to his official message board, Coverdale said, "I was with DEEP PURPLE for three years. I wrote the majority of the music while I was there. But that doesn't give me the 'right' to call myself, or my band, DEEP PURPLE...

"I thought they were called THE COMPANY OF SNAKES... THE SNAKES… M3???

"It isn't anything to do with their 'right' to play WHITESNAKE music. Anybody, and I mean ANYBODY, has that same right. They just can't call themselves WHITESNAKE, and they are fully aware of that. It is the fact that they promote themselves as 'WHITESNAKE' which makes it confusing to many people.

"My former colleagues are very aware of the situation. I started the band, and I put the players together. Also I came up with the name WHITESNAKE, REGISTERED the name, so, in fact, I do actually own the name WHITESNAKE.

" 'We' didn't start the band together as a 'band'. The band was originally put together by me to promote my solo career after DEEP PURPLE. I am entitled to the name and the band identity I created, and as long as I am not featured in any particular musical line-up comprising of former members of WHITESNAKE, whoever it is will not be entitled to call themselves WHITESNAKE. It's as simple as that."

In other news, Coverdale has announced that he will become a grandfather early next year. "[Daughter] Jessica told me three weeks ago, and asked me to keep it quiet until her doctor gave his blessings to announce it. So, my sincere congratulations to my beloved daughter and my beloved son-in-law on this WONDERFUL news. I can hardly wait!!! For those of you curious, she's at 15 weeks."

Also on the Coverdale-related front, David's wife Cindy recently collaborated with Margie Lapanja, author of "Food Men Love", "Goddess in the Kitchen", and the upcoming "Romancing the Stove", on a cookbook entitled "Food That Rocks! Celebrated Recipes from Music's Legendary Kitchens".

Due in February 2004 through Conari Press, "Food That Rocks! Celebrated Recipes from Music's Legendary Kitchens" (view cover here) is being described as "a cookbook all about delicious bliss — your favorite foods, personal signature recipes, and food-inspired songs. This charity-based anthology will also profile musician-owned restaurants, cookbooks penned by musicians, and entertaining music/food trivia."

Proceeds from "Food That Rocks!" are targeted for charity, primarily Freedom from Hunger, a U.S.-based organization that helps women and their families in developing countries break free from poverty by promoting sustainable lifestyles through education and assistance (www.freedomfromhunger.org).