Are you excited to know why did Bernie Marsden leave Whitesnake? Before digging out the reason, let us first look at who Bernie Marsden is, his career, and his personal life.
Who hasn’t heard of Whitesnake? Whitesnake is one of the most prominent English hard rock bands formed in the late 1970s. Bernie Marsden was the founding guitarist of Whitesnake and gained immense popularity due to his talent along with other band members, including bassist Neil Murray and drummer Cozy Powell.
Why was Bernie Marsden so famous? Answering this question, Bernie Marsden was one of the greatest. His four-year, hugely successful run with Whitesnake, from 1978 to 1982, during which he worked on the group’s debut EP, five studio albums, and a live album, made him famous.
Bernie Marsden’s role in the band
Before we look at why Bernie Marsden left Whitesnake, though, let’s quickly look at how it all began and what role Bernie played in that band.
Whitesnake was formed in 1978 by former Deep Purple lead singer David Coverdale after he quit the band. The early sound of Whitesnake was influenced by blues rock; they made their name in the UK very quickly.
Founding guitarist Bernie Marsden joined them in 1978 and played a significant part in shaping how Whitesnake sounded. His bluesy guitar style fitted perfectly with the band’s style, winning him many fans.
Bernie Marsden (Credits: @berniemarsden/Instagram)
The popularity of Whitesnake continued to grow throughout the late 70s and early 80s, and much of this success is thanks to Bernie Marsden’s contributions. In 1982, though, Bernie Marsden decided to leave Whitesnake, and his departure caused quite some mystery amongst fans for years to come. Continue reading further to explore why Bernie Marsden left Whitesnake.
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Creative Differences
Are you aware of what was the reason behind Bernie Marsden’s departure from the band? According to Marsden, creative differences caused him to leave the band with Whitesnake’s lead singer, David Coverdale.
Bernie and David had different perspectives on how the band should move forward. As many know, Marsden always wanted to lead the guitar-driven band and focus on the bluesy. However, Coverdale, on the other hand, desired to take a more commercial approach.
As a Marsden fan, haven’t you heard of “Where’s My Guitar.” It is an autobiography of Marsden where he has written all his challenges and achievements. In one of his stories, Marsden mentioned that he and Coverdale had a controversy over the song “Here I Go Again.”
Why did Bernie Marsden leave Whitesnake? (Credits: @berniemarsden/Instagram)
He stated that Coverdale insisted on taking the co-writing credit and changing his lyrics. After this event, Marsden was discontented with Coverdale’s conduct and felt he was being pushed out of the band.
Personal Issues
Not many of you may know that Bernie Marsden was addicted to alcohol. Marsden has spoken about his difficulties handling the demands of being in a famous band. He has also mentioned that his departure from the band has helped him reclaim his life and avoid alcoholism.
Personal issues and creative differences with David Coverdale might have contributed to his departure. Even though Marsden left Whitesnake more than 40 years ago, music critics and fans still laud his contributions to the band’s sound and legacy.
You might know that Bernie Marsden passed away on August 24, 2023. His unsudden death has put millions of people down. However, as one of the greatest blues-rock guitarists of all time, Bernie Marsden will be remembered, and his music will carry on his legacy.
