Expert: Bong Santos - 9/18/2006

Question
I have been searching all over to find the answer to this question, and I hope someone can help!

There is a piece in the middle of the Whitesnake song "Still of the Night" where there is an instumental solo. This is the *recorded* version - in live footage it sounds different, much more like pure synthesizer. In looking around the web, I have found ALL of the following explanations of what this instrument is.

A) it is a guitar being played with a violin bow (in the video they do this, but I'm guessing it's just for show)
B) it is a cello
D) it is an electric cello
E) it is some other stringed instrument
D) it is synthesized cello
E) it is some other synthesized string
F) it is a generic synthesized sound, not replicating ANY particular real life instrument

If SOMEONE, anyone could tell me what the actual instrument is on the album recording, I would be so grateful! Thanks!  

Answer
Dear Jennifer,

STILL OF THE NIGHT is a single off WHITESNAKE's self-titled album from 1987. It peaked at #79 on July 18, 1987 and was the very first single released from this album.

The instrumental part has long been a debate and DAVID COVERDALE didn't even attempt to clear the smoke apparently to put some mystery behind it as in a Led Zeppelin song, it being some kind of a tribute to the band. But tradition states that the first part of the instrumental was indeed played on an electric guitar using a violin bow (possibly by guest musician ADRIAN VANDENBERG as in the music video) accompanied by a mellow keyboard (played by guest musician DON AIREY. The second part is a faster "string" recorded with the use of a synthesizer or a sampler again by DON AIREY accompanied by the guitar riff of former member JOHN SYKES.    

There you go!

Maraming salamat po!

BONG M. SANTOS
Manila, Philippines