“Still of the Night”:
How Whitesnake’s Roaring Rock Anthem Took 1987 by Storm
When Whitesnake dropped “Still of the Night” in March 1987, it wasn’t just another rock single—it was a thunderclap. A full-on, hair-whipping, amp-blasting power move that helped launch the band from cult favorite to global rock gods. As the lead single from their self-titled album (often just called 1987), it was loud, sultry, dramatic, and utterly unforgettable. Even now, decades later, it still hits like a freight train.
That Monster Riff and a Whole Lot of Swagger
From the jump, “Still of the Night” sets the tone with a dark, brooding intro that builds like a storm before unleashing one of the most iconic riffs of the decade. David Coverdale and guitarist John Sykes co-wrote the track, and the way it moves—from simmering tension to full-throttle rock—is masterful.
Sykes’ guitar work is front and center, with thick, snarling riffs and a solo that screams both skill and soul. Add in the heavyweight rhythm section—Aynsley Dunbar on drums and Neil Murray on bass—and you’ve got a rock track with serious muscle. It’s theatrical, it’s bluesy, and it’s big in every sense of the word.
Coverdale’s Voice? Straight Fire
David Coverdale doesn’t just sing on this track—he commands. His voice goes from smoky whispers to primal wails without breaking a sweat. You can hear the Robert Plant influence, sure, but Coverdale brings his own flavor—something a little darker, a little more seductive.
The lyrics lean hard into obsession and desire. Lines like “In the still of the night, I hear the wolf howl, honey / Sniffing around your door” are pure, dramatic lust, wrapped in mystique. And with Coverdale delivering them, it’s not just a song—it’s a late-night fever dream.
Big Hair, Big Drama, Big MTV
This was the height of the MTV era, and Whitesnake made sure the video delivered. Directed by Marty Callner, it featured all the essentials: moody lighting, intense stares, and the magnetic Tawny Kitaen, who brought serious presence to the screen. She and Coverdale were dating at the time, and her appearance—equal parts sensual and stylized—amplified the video’s impact.
Interestingly, the band you see in the video isn’t the same crew who recorded the song. The clip features Rudy Sarzo, Tommy Aldridge, Adrian Vandenberg, and Vivian Campbell—the live touring lineup—while only Coverdale actually appears on both the track and in the video.
A Song That Still Shreds
“Still of the Night” may not have hit the top of the pop charts—it peaked at #79 on the Billboard Hot 100, but hit #18 on the Mainstream Rock chart and #16 in the UK—but it didn’t need to. It lit the fuse for the 1987 album, which went multi-platinum and produced massive hits like “Here I Go Again” and “Is This Love.”
More than anything, “Still of the Night” became the band’s statement piece. It showed they could be heavy, slick, and theatrical all at once. And it earned them real rock cred at a time when hair metal was starting to get crowded.
Even now, it’s a Whitesnake show staple, a classic rock radio regular, and one of the definitive hard rock tracks of the ’80s. It’s over the top in all the right ways—and that’s exactly why it still rules.