The Snakes

Lore & Background

The Snakes were formed by original Whitesnake guitarists Bernie Marsden and Micky Moody. Initially the project was called 'Saints and Sinners' and briefly featured other former Whitesnake bandmates, including bassist Neil Murray and drummer Cozy Powell, as well as American vocalist John West, but this never materialized. The band ultimately settled on a lineup of Norwegian musicians: vocalist Jørn Lande, bassist Sid Ringsby, and drummer Willy Bendiksen.

On July 23, 1998, the band released the studio album 'Once Bitten' in Japan on the Pony Canyon label. TNT guitarist Ronni Le Tekrø produced the album, and TNT's touring keyboardist Dag Stokke engineered it. A live album, 'Live in Europe', was released in 1999, featuring recordings of live performances of Whitesnake songs. The band broke up in 1999.

Reader's Guide

The Snakes occupy a niche in hard rock history as a brief reunion of two key Whitesnake guitarists, Bernie Marsden and Micky Moody, who had co-written many of that band's classic songs. Their project was notable for exclusively performing Whitesnake material, effectively serving as a tribute act by original members. The band also introduced Norwegian vocalist Jørn Lande, who would later gain prominence in progressive metal. The involvement of TNT members Ronni Le Tekrø and Dag Stokke added a Norwegian hard rock flavor. The Snakes released only two albums—one studio and one live—before disbanding in 1999, making them a footnote in the careers of Marsden and Moody. Their legacy lies in documenting a specific moment when former bandmates revisited their past work with a new international lineup.

Did You Know?

• The Snakes were formed by former Whitesnake members Bernie Marsden and Micky Moody in 1997.
• The band exclusively performed Whitesnake songs.
• The studio album 'Once Bitten' was released in Japan on the Pony Canyon label on July 23, 1998.
• TNT guitarist Ronni Le Tekrø produced the album 'Once Bitten'.