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David Coverdale, the iconic frontman of Whitesnake, announced his retirement from music.
At 74, Coverdale decided to step back after a remarkable career spanning over five decades. In a heartfelt video message, he expressed gratitude to his fans and colleagues, saying, "Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, brothers and sisters of the Snake, a special announcement for you." He added, "The last few years have made it very evident that it's time for me to hang up my rock and roll platform shoes and my skin-tight jeans."
Coverdale's career began in the United Kingdom with local bands before he became the lead singer for Deep Purple in 1973. He later founded Whitesnake in 1978, which went on to release 13 albums, including their 2008 hit "Good to be Bad." Coverdale also collaborated with Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page on the platinum album Coverdale/Page in 1993.
In 2016, Coverdale was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Deep Purple. Whitesnake played their last concert at Hellfest in France on June 23, 2022, after which they canceled remaining shows due to health issues among band members, including Coverdale's severe sinus infection.
Fans have been paying tribute to Coverdale, thanking him for his music and wishing him well in his retirement. As one fan commented, "This is the classiest farewell I have ever seen or heard from an artist. Words cannot express what your music has meant to me."