Coverdale Responds To Lip-Synching Allegations; Calls Joe Lynn Turner ‘A Daft Bugger’ And ‘A Total Prick’
David Coverdale has fiercely denied Joe Lynn Turner’s allegations that the Whitesnake frontman mimes to pre-recorded tapes in concert (see story above), calling Turner’s claims “absolute balderdash”.
Coverdale told Classic Rock: “I have no idea what the hell the daft bugger’s talking about.
“I do not, have not and will not use tapes of my voice to mime in concert. My band and I perform and sing live in concert. Yeah… we’re that fucking good! What a total prick.”
Coverdale continued: “We had these rumours in Germany last year while we were on tour with Alice Cooper and we actually had a journo [Frank Thiessis] sit out at the front-of-house mix to verify the rumours were unfounded.
“It’s strange… this started on the internet last summer in Spain, then again in Germany. It persisted so much that SPV, my record company, proposed we get a ‘regarded German journalist’ to witness and report on the show, so we did.
“I’m not sure what you can do when something like this does the rounds. I’m still dealing with the ‘is it true you’re joining Van Halen’ rumours from years ago.
“If this continues, I’ll get a some of my professional associates to make statements about this nonsense.”
This was the statement translated from Frank Thiessis’s story in the German edition of Metal Hammer, following Whitesnake’s show in Munich at the Olympiahalle on November 26, 2008:
With regards to the accusations, people pretending David Coverdale to perform playback during the Whitesnake/Alice Cooper Tour, Metal Hammer had the exclusive chance to check in Munich.
Standing directly next to front-of-house person Bradley Johnson during the whole show, we found out the following:
Different phrasing, sometimes shorter and sometimes longer sung tones and variations in signal strength are all indications of performing live.
David Coverdale has a very unusual technique to hold the microphone far away from the mouth which may look very strange to some people.
Bradley Johnson, working for Whitesnake since 2002, explains this as follows: “David has always sung this way. His microphone has an extremely high input level, which makes it possible that the voice is still heard even from a huge distance.
“I have my finger on the gain control during the whole show to make David’s vocals sound as constantly as possible.”
Besides usual standard vocal effects like reverb or echo we’ve seen no additional technology and that David is supported by high-class background vocal singers.
And two more things to mention: Why bother to record any show of the tour for an upcoming live CD if it is quite obvious and absolutely necessary to do overdubs later on?
And quite honestly, if a rock icon and entertainment professional like David Coverdale would really perform with full playback, it would certainly be so perfectly organised and staged, that not even the slightest suspicion would arise, wouldn’t it?
This statement was compiled for WS.com release November 2008:
In light of recent comments regarding WS current live tour we felt it necessary to offer a technical explanation for Mr Coverdale’s microphone technique, which appears to be responsible for initiating various threads online on the subject of playback, here are some comments from Bradley Johnson, Whitesnake’s very highly regarded front-of-house engineer…
“It is the goal of every front of house engineer to provide the best quality audio to as many ticket purchasing patrons as possible.
“The factors that have a direct influence on this include: room acoustics; type, size and quality of the PA system: performance of the musicians: stage volume of the backline gear; even temperature and humidity.
“I work extremely hard to accommodate David’s mic technique. I endeavour to make every syllable and nuance of his vocal heard no matter how far the microphone strays from the sweet spot.
“Getting a vocal mic audible over a juggernaut guitar rig when it is three feet from a singers mouth is no small task. Some nights I win, some nights I do not. As far as running tracks live… ludicrous.”
Saw them support def leppard last year and there is clearly nothing wrong with Coverdale’s voice – I just wished he performed more of his better songs.
I wish Leppard didnt play at all… And the snake stayed on all night, I was drunk and happy until I got a wiff of that stupid insense, and saw a topless, sweaty, gurning, guitarist.
Umm, I understand David’s response and I accept he isn’t miming (to backing tracks) but I personally feel he was “mouthing” words during choruses whilst the band sang… and Tim Drury does have a Coverdale style voice. This technique was more apparent on the last tour than previous tours. But Joe Lynn Turner is wrong about miming to a live, lead vocal. I wish David would explain more fully though.
The band people should have been going after was Journey on their tour for the “Generations” CD. After a few shows their vocalist was having problems so the rest of the tour was lip synched nearly 100%
Well all i can say is, i saw them in 2003 and 2008 and both times it was for real.No pretend singing from this guy. Admittedly his voice isn’t quite as good as it was but hey! thats gotta be expected.
Other people need to get a life,maybe then the world will be a better place
Rock On David
I’ve seen the ’snake on a number of occaisions, the last one being with Leppard in Liverpool last year. While I agree the level of input the backing singers have has crept up in the last few years, David’s voice still retains most of its former glory.
Plus I’m sure Elliot and co. would have mercilessly taken the piss had they discovered any evidence of miming
I saw the Snakes with Def Leppard last year and can say without any doubt that David Coverdale was on fine form. The mouthing of words during certain parts of choruses whilst other band members sing (as noted in other comments) is something that is done for the benefit of those in the crowd who wish to sing along, but are not sure of the words. Also David’s mic technique is basically a visual statement to show off the power of his voice (regardless of sound engineer intervention). Not sure, but I feel that these things that have been picked up on are merely down to what is known as “showmanship” – which is something else that David excels at.
As for the lip – synching claims, I’m sorry, but I find this both preposterous and unfounded.
Leave it Dave, he’s not worth it!
So why is JLT’s original claim still up in the Top Stories box where it will probably be seen for several days, but Coverdale’s response is down with the posts that will likely drop off the front page tomorrow?
Not very fair I don’t think.
Saw them on the def-snake tour last year, he definately wasn’t miming, but his voice did occasionally strain, where he can’t hit the notes he used to, and he often didn’t sing sections at all, leaving a distracting amount of singing to the keyboard player.
I don’t think Coverdale would do it, he has too much integrity.
JLT is just jealous that he [quite rightly in my opinion] never got to stay in Deep Purple long. And you can see why… if you want terrible singing check out the JLT led version of Purple performing Highway Star in 1991 on youtube. Awful doesn’t even come close! It’s sacriligeous!
Typical Turner!!! Coverdale definitely does not mime…unfortunately his vocals aren’t as they were and I have bootlegs from consecutive nights of recent tours and the vocals are different each night. If they were on tape wouldn’t they be identical every night?
Give the guy a break….was an awesome vocalist, sadly like most powerful singers he has suffered in his later years….if he can get backing vocalist to sing the choruses and it helps him through the tour, then thats what has to be done….otherwise you whitesnake fans wouldnt get to see him, and im sure there would be bitching if dates were cancelled.
Don’t be a daft bugger Joe! Dave doesn’t need to mime, like yourself Dave’s a legend and forget about silly fueds and get recording again! also we want more concert dvd’s (don’t get any live concerts out in wilds of Scotland so dvd’s next best thing!
While I’m at it bring back Unplugged Show and have a Classic rock singers special!
Having seen David Coverdale perform live on every tour since 1978, the idea that he lip-syncs is absolute bollocks.
Why on earth a ponse like JLT. should pass any form of comment on one of the finest rock vocalists is totally uncalled for and he should retract what he has said and apologise immediately.
I agree with Wrensta! Nothing else to say except Whitesnake ROCK LIVE!!!!!!!
This is very strange. Joe Lynn Turner once described DC as his ‘best friend’! I think Coverdale HAS to be telling the truth. After all the reports that his voice was sounding rough in concert, it would be strange indeed if lead vocals were coming from elsewhere.
High-powered rock singers are almost inevitably going to have vocal problems at times (except Dio!). Coverdale is exceptionally good, but I personally enjoy his singing most when he’s more relaxed. Restless Heart was a fine album, and he sounded at his best on it. That’s not to put the new album down, though.
Right on Dave! he IS a prick, Joe lynn Turner is obviously jealous because his career has been totally average since leaving Purple and look at Mr Coverdales in comparison. Seems like old Joe is a bit of a jealous lover!
Mr Coverdale’s got it right – his voice ain’t what it was but he sings live, and puts on a bloody good show! JLT can go and do one.
About his “holding the mike a long way from mouth” technique, all you have to do is watch their live DVD “In The Still Of The Night: Live” and you can see him doing it then, and his voice was great back then (2004) was it not?
have been a fan of coverdale since deep purple
listen to mistreated he moves away from mic you can still hear his vocals L.L.T who is he
I saw whitesnake in 1985 in Dublin and again in 2009, David is still a fantastic singer and showman, I wished that Whitesnake stayed on all night, Def Leppard, Journey were ok but I was there for Whitesnake and I felt 18 again. Thanks David