List of Whitesnake band members
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Because of the close links between David Coverdale's other projects and Whitesnake, notes on Whitesnake members/former members work on Coverdale's other work is included. Whitesnake is so strongly controlled by David Coverdale that it could almost be called a solo project of Coverdales, dressed up to appear to be a unified band. This may explain why so many people who worked on his Page & Plant duo album with Jimmy Page and his three solo albums have been in Whitesnake.
The inclusion of these details helps to construct an accurate chronology.
[edit] David Coverdale backing bands - transformed into Whitesnake (1976-1978)
Whitesnake wasn't so much formed, as evolved. It was put together during the process of David Coverdale's post-Deep Purple solo career. He began work with classic Whitesnake guitarist Micky Moody on both his solo albums. The touring band in 1978 that Coverdale used (to support his Northwinds album) was the band that would become Whitesnake very shortly.
| Period | Lineup | Releases |
|---|---|---|
| David Coverdale Band
(1976-1977) |
with
|
|
| David Coverdale Band
(1978) |
|
|
| David Coverdale Band/Whitesnake
(1978) |
|
[edit] First Whitesnake Era (1978-1982)
| Period | Lineup | Releases |
|---|---|---|
| David Coverdale's Whitesnake
(1978) |
|
|
| Whitesnake (1978 - 1979) |
|
|
| Whitesnake (1979 - 1982) |
|
|
[edit] David Coverdale looks after his sick daughter - band on hiatus (1982)
[edit] Second Era Whitesnake (1982-1991)
When reforming Whitesnake, Coverdale brought back only Mood and Lord, and the hurriedly put together band changed as it settled. The session musicians required to complete Whitesnake's self-titled album in 1987 only played on the song Here I Go Again 87 (other than the keyboards), because this song was unfinished when the band was fired.
| Period | Lineup | Releases |
|---|---|---|
| Whitesnake (1982-1984) |
|
|
| Whitesnake (1984) |
|
|
| Whitesnake (1984) |
with
|
|
| Whitesnake (1985 - 1987) |
with
|
|
| Whitesnake (1987 - 1988) |
|
|
| Whitesnake (1988-1989) |
with
|
|
| Whitesnake (1989 - 1991) |
|
|
[edit] Coverdale embarks on Coverdale-Page Collaboration (1991-1993)
[edit] Third Era Whitesnake: Temporary reunions (1994-1998)
When Coverdale split up the band in 1991 to work with Jimmy Page, he worked with Denny Carmassi (who had done a little session work in 1987 for Whitesnake), Guy Pratt and Brett Tuggle. Carmassi was on both the album and tour for Coverdale-Page while the other two only appeared on the tour. Carmassi would join Whitesnake for the 1994 Greatest Hits Reunion tour which was organised shortly after Coverdale put the new compilation together. All three would join the band in 1997 for Restless Heart (though this was initially meant to be a David Coverdale solo project, and Pratt and Tuggle left before the support tour).
| Period | Lineup | Releases |
|---|---|---|
| Whitesnake
Greatest Hits Tour (1994) |
|
|
| Band split (1995 - 1997) | Coverdale works on solo album, becomes Restless Heart | |
| David Coverdale & Whitesnake
Restless Heart Reunion (1997) |
|
|
| Whitesnake Unplugged (acoustic)
(1997) |
|
|
| David Coverdale & Whitesnake
Restless Heart Reunion Tour/Whitesnake Farewell Tour (1997) |
|
|
| Band split (1997) | Coverdale takes time off after hectic tour | |
[edit] David Coverdale returns to solo work and tours (1998-2002)
Hilland, Franklin, and Carmassi all joined Coverdale for his Into the Light solo album.
[edit] Fourth Era Whitesnake: 25th Anniversary reformation (2002-present)
In 2002, Whitesnake reformed fully. Unlike the reunions of the mid 1990s, this is a full time lineup as existed previously in the late 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s.
| Period | Lineup | Releases |
|---|---|---|
| Whitesnake
25th Anniversary Reformation (2002 - 2005) |
|
|
| Whitesnake (2005 - 2007) |
|
|
| Whitesnake (2007 - present) |
|
|
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