Whitesnake frontman David Coverdale has announced his retirement.
The 74-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee – who also fronted Deep Purple from 1973 to 1976 – is hanging up his rock ‘n’ roll platform shoes and skintight jeans after more than 50 years of performing.
Fare Thee Well hitmaker David said in a YouTube video: “Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, brothers and sisters of the Snake, a special announcement for you.
“After 50 years-plus of an incredible journey with you – with Deep Purple, with Whitesnake, Jimmy Page – the last few years it has been very evident to me that it’s time really for me to hang up my rock ‘n’ roll platform shoes and my skintight jeans.”
David thanked fans for their support throughout his career, but admitted he now wants to “enjoy” his retirement.
He added: “And as you can see, we’ve taken care of the lion’s wig.
“But it’s time for me to call it a day.
“I love you dearly. I thank everyone who’s assisted and supported me on this incredible journey: all the musicians, the crew, the fans, the family. It’s amazing.
“But it really is time for me to just enjoy my retirement, and I hope you can appreciate that.
“Once again, I love you with all my heart. Fare thee well.”
David and Whitesnake are best known for hits Here I Go Again and Is This Love.
But before forming the band, he fronted Deep Purple for three years, featuring on three of their albums – Burn, Stormbringer and Come Taste the Band.
Whitesnake’s last album, Flesh and Blood, dropped in 2019, and their final show took place at Hellfest in Clisson, France, in 2022.
They were due to play further farewell tour dates in Europe, but had to axe the gigs due to health challenges among their band members.
In 2023, David told Ultimate Classic Rock magazine: “Last year, I was so incredibly compromised by, without any doubt, the worst sinus infection I’ve ever had in my life.
“And as a singer, I know them like f***ing relatives of mine.
“This was one of the ugliest illnesses I think I’ve [ever] had. For seven months, I was taking ever-increasingly strong antibiotics and horrifying Prednisone steroids.
“I really don’t know [when we’ll be back onstage.
“I’ll be 72 this year. But, you know, my passion is that of a much younger man, particularly with the new creative team that I have, working on these legacy projects and also new things at the same time.
“It’s like bluebirds flying out of every orifice.”