Whitesnake

After departing legendary rockers Deep Purple in 1976, frontman David Coverdale formed Whitesnake two years later to expand Deep Purple's thundering dark blues into stadium-rocking, commercial metal. Joined by guitarists Micky Moody and Bernie Marsden, bassist Neil Murray, and drummer Dave Dowle, the group released the Snakebite EP and their debut album Trouble in 1978. By the time of 1980’s Ready an’ Willing, the band featured Coverdale’s former Deep Purple bandmates Ian Paice (drums) and Jon Lord (keyboards). Numerous line-up changes didn’t hurt the UK success of albums such as Come an' Get It (number 2 in 1981), and Saints & Sinners (number 9 in 1982). However, more line-up changes and a slicker, more commercial sound revealed Coverdale’s love of melodic rock and power ballads. The group scored numerous hits with songs such as 1987’s “Still of the Night,” “Here I Go Again ’87,” and “Is This Love.” Slide It In (1984) was their first UK number 1 album before follow-up Whitesnake (1987) became a huge global hit, selling over six million copies. Steve Vai joined briefly on guitar for ninth studio album Slip of the Tongue (1989), when the band was seemingly lurching towards retirement. After an eight-year break, Whitesnake returned with the album Restless Heart (1997), which failed to scale the charts like previous releases. In 2008, Whitesnake returned to action with a live DVD and Good to Be Bad, their first studio album for over a decade. The group have sporadically released albums since then - Forevermore (2011), The Purple Album (2015), and Flesh & Blood (2018) - and have released several compilations, live albums, and have undertaken several world tours since their return to action. Several members of Whitesnake’s revolving line-up have passed away including Cozy Powell (1998), Mel Galley (2008), Jon Lord (2012), and Brett Tuggle (2022), On August 24, 2023, founding guitarist Bernie Marsden died of bacterial meningitis at the age of 72.

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