A Chat with Snowy White (25.07.25)
Interview with Karen Beishuizen (Guest contributor)
Snowy White is an English singer and guitarist. He played with Peter Green, toured with Pink Floyd and Thin Lizzy. His first solo album, White Flames, was released in 1983, and the single ‘Bird of Paradise’ became an international hit. We chat with Snowy White about his career, people he worked with, his top 5 guitar solos, and more.
What is so special about your signature guitar Gibson Les Paul? You have been using it for more than 50 years.
White: There’s nothing special about my Gibson Les Paul. It’s just an ordinary 57 Goldtop. I’ve changed a few things, for instance, I put on a bridge that Peter Green gave me, and I put an ‘out of phase’ switch on the tone control, but no big changes. I think that, because I’ve used it for nearly fifty years, it has developed a certain aura.
How did you meet Peter Green, and on what music did you collaborate?
White: When I arrived in London in about 1969 I met a drummer who had Peter’s phone number, which he gave to me, so the next day I walked down to my nearest phone box (no mobiles in those days of course), and called him to ask if I could come to his house so we could have a little jam together. To my surprise, he said yes (later on, I discovered that Peter had a very generous spirit). He was living with his mum and dad, and they asked me if I wanted to stay for dinner. So we had time for a good bit of talking.
In 1979, he asked me if he could use me and my band, as he was going to record an album for a small record company which his brother was involved in. That album became In The Skies. That’s the only time Peter and I collaborated on a recording.
How did you get involved with Pink Floyd, and what was it like working with these guys?
White: A friend of mine, Jim Cregan, who played guitar with Rod Stewart, told me that Pink Floyd’s manager was trying to contact me and that maybe it would be a good idea to call him. I didn’t call as I didn’t know much about the PF, only that it wasn’t blues, so I wasn’t really interested. Later, someone else told me that Pink Floyd still wanted to contact me as they were looking for a guitarist for all their live work, so as I wasn’t doing anything at that time, I called the manager, and he asked me to come with him to the studio where they were recording the Animals album. Dave offered me the gig and I said yes.
What was it like? Well, it was fairly ‘ordinary’ really. Rehearse, do the shows, move on, the same as any band.
Thin Lizzy wanted you as a guitar player, but you also still played with Pink Floyd? That must have been complicated.
White: Yes, I was actually in two major bands at the same time for a few months. I was in Los Angeles rehearsing The Wall shows, but in my spare time, I was in my apartment learning Thin Lizzy songs. Very different. I was recording in London with Thin Lizzy and had to take time out to play with PF in their London shows at Earls Court.
You did The Wall Concert in Berlin with Roger Waters in 1990 at the ruins of the Berlin Wall. Was that an emotional thing for you?
White: It was interesting, but I didn’t really have any emotions about it. I was just trying to make sure that I learned all my parts and played them properly. No time to think about anything else.
Are there any artists you wish you had collaborated with in your career?
White: No. I liked quite a few people, but I didn’t want to collaborate with anyone; I was happier just going along to their shows to watch and listen.
Do you have a top 5 of guitar solos you like the best?
White: In no particular order:
‘Hideaway’ – Eric Clapton on the Bluesbreakers album
‘Stone Free’ – Jimi Hendrix, B-side of ‘Hey Joe’ single
‘Watch Out’ – Peter Green on the Blues Jam at Chess album.
‘Song Of The Wind’ – Carlos Santana on the Caravanserai album
‘Night Life’ – B.B.King on the Blues is King live album.
Thanks to Snowy White for speaking with us. Find out more about Snowy White on his official website, YouTube, and Spotify.
