During his appearance on ‘The Card King Sports Variety Show,’ Craig Goldy shared that he was once on the verge of joining David Coverdale’s Whitesnake, but now he’s glad this didn’t take place.
In the late 1980s, as Whitesnake sought a replacement for guitarist John Sykes, Goldy received a call from Whitesnake’s A&R executive John Kalodner, hinting at a potential role within the band. This opportunity came during a period when Goldy, alongside David Glen Eisley, was in a project for Geffen Records under the guidance of Kalodner:
“I’ll never forget it, walking in and hearing the… I turned on the machine to find out where my messages were and who called since I was gone. I hear, ‘Goldy, it’s Kalodner. Don’t sign any contracts. You’re gonna be the next guitar player for Whitesnake. I’ll call you back.’ … He was the reason why Aerosmith got back together again and got so big. The guy knew what he was doing.”
Despite the exciting possibility, Goldy’s collaboration with Whitesnake did not materialize. Reflecting on the turn of events, Goldy expressed his contentment, stating that the subsequent path led him to valuable collaborations and recognition from industry giants:
“[It] didn’t go through. And in a way, I’m very glad because then Kalodner put me and David Glen Isley together back in the studio, and that’s where some of those other really great gems came from. And then that’s what was part of some of the stuff that I did that got David Lee Roth interested [in me], and the producer of Pink Floyd interested, and Joe Lynn Turner and all that kind of stuff. So, some of the failures actually brought in some great achievements. But that was the deal.”
Goldy’s musical career is full of collaborations and contributions, particularly with Dio, whom he joined during the ‘Sacred Heart” tour in 1986, replacing Vivian Campbell. Besides his work with Dio, Goldy’s career includes stints with bands such as Vengeance, Rough Cutt, and Giuffria, as well as his solo project, Craig Goldy’s Ritual, launched in 1991.
Goldy Still Thinks His Talent is a Good Match For The Band
Although he missed this opportunity with Whitesnake, Goldy holds David Coverdale’s vocal talents in high regard, considering himself a good musical match for the band due to his admiration for Coverdale’s voice. However, he sees his own musical style as specialized, preferring to focus on specific genres and styles:
“Now I’ve dropped the weight and everything, I’d be a great fit for Whitesnake ’cause I love Coverdale’s voice. But I’m not one of those jack-of-all-trades guys. That’s what he needs … I’m not that guy. I’m just kind of like a stylized guy. I have limitations. … Otherwise, I would have been David Lee Roth’s guitar player, and I probably would’ve been Whitesnake’s guitar player, but I wasn’t a good fit, and they just figured that out. And I’m good with that. Just to be considered was great.”
This self-awareness influenced Goldy’s career decisions, steering him away from roles that demanded being a ‘jack-of-all-trades’ guy, such as that with Whitesnake.
You can listen to the full interview below.
