As the single charted, the pic. sleeve copies disappeared very early on, rapidly making them collectors' items. Dedicated fans got it mainly for the non-album b-side, 'Bad Girl'. It's in a similar vein to the LP, though contains more guitar than is normal these days. Lyrics are as lousy as ever though!

The promo film was screened on Top Of The Pops on September 20th, the first TV spot for Blackmore and Glover in eight years. Looking at Ritchie's fingers gliding about the guitar, I forgave him everything almost at once. Bonnet looked daft, but also as if he could laugh at himself maybe. It all hinted at what they could be like live, and almost made me eat my words about my 'Down To Earth' review.

I recently rated the last studio album, issued only in Japan, as the best ex-purple disc to date. This comprises five tracks from it (three of which have been re-recorded), plus five new tracks. So how could they go wrong? Well they have. How they can honestly turn this out after that Jap. LP is beyond me. The material I can take, what I can’t take is the abysmal mix. It is just bloody terrible. Gillan’s vocals are buried, and though the drummer is presumably playing a whole kit, only the cymbals can be heard.

This contains five tracks from the UK edition (which sound the same to me), plus four new ones. Of those, 'Your Sister's On My List' is quite catchy, and has lyrics which you would expect with a title like that! 'Move With The Times' is kept going by bass, drums and piano (sort of Pot Black style!). 'Sleeping OnThe Job' is very catchy, but not as good as the live version, because Gillan is mixed down too far. 'Street Theatre' is a short Towns instrumental, probably destined for a stage opener some day. Overall, that spark which made Gillan 'Gillan' outstanding is absent.

Gillan were at the Reading Festival on August 25th, and the gig was taped and relayed on the Friday Rock Show later. There was also a half-hour In Concert broadcast by BBC Radio on October 6th. A full tour of the UK then followed, which lasted right the way through October.

Sheffield City Hall was a superb show, easily the best I’ve seen from any IGB / Gillan line-up since they began. The intro ‘Second Sight’ blasted out, accompanied by searchlights into the balcony. The band filtered on, and launched straight into ‘Secret of The Dance’. Ian had to work hard to prevent himself being overshadowed by the band, and he has always been better for a struggle on-stage. It’s hard to pick out an outstanding track, they were all good, and also I was too absorbed in it all to be remembering individual bits.

Dowell's departure (see Issue 19), was deemed necessary as he wasn't really a rock drummer. Cozy Powell was no.1 candidate to replace him, but due to contactual reasons it wasn't feasable. It was then heard that Ian Paice had been raving about Whitesnake after seeing them at the Hammersmith charity gig earlier this year, so they gave him a call...

The latest phase of Whitesnake's career began at the Reading Festival on August 26th. The BBC taped the set, and broadcast it a few weeks later. The band flew to the US on Sept. 17th for a week of general promotion, ending with a single concert in LA on Sept.23rd. After that it was the UK"s turn, with a 23 date tour kicking off in Portsmouth on Oct.11th.