List of Whitesnake members

Whitesnake are a British hard rock band originally from Middlesbrough. Formed in 1978, the group originally consisted of vocalist David Coverdale, guitarists Micky Moody and Bernie Marsden, bassist Neil Murray, drummer Dave Dowle and keyboardist Brian Johnston. The current lineup of the band includes Coverdale, drummer Tommy Aldridge (from 1987 to 1990, 2002 to 2007, and since 2013), guitarists Reb Beach and Joel Hoekstra (since 2002 and 2014), bassist Michael Devin (since 2010), and keyboardist Michele Luppi (since 2015).

Whitesnake performing in 1980 (top), 1983 (middle) and 2016 (bottom)

History

1978–1986

Following the release and promotion of his debut solo album White Snake in 1977, vocalist David Coverdale formed the band of the same name the following February,[1] with the initial lineup including guitarists and backing vocalists Micky Moody and Bernie Marsden, bassist Neil Murray, drummer Dave "Duck" Dowle and touring keyboardist Brian Johnston.[2] After their first few shows, the group replaced Johnston with Peter Solley (although he was still credited as a "special guest", rather than a full member)[3] and recorded their debut EP Snakebite.[4] By August, Solley had also been replaced by Jon Lord, Coverdale's former bandmate in Deep Purple, in time for the recording of their debut album Trouble.[4] Dowle was replaced in July 1979 after the recording of Lovehunter by Ian Paice, another Deep Purple alumnus.[5] After Ready an' Willing and Come an' Get It, Whitesnake were placed on hiatus by Coverdale in early 1982, during which time Marsden, Murray and Paice all left the band for other projects.[1][6]

Coverdale reformed the group in October 1982, with Moody and Lord joined by new guitarist Mel Galley, bassist Colin Hodgkinson and drummer Cozy Powell.[1] After the recording of Slide It In, Moody and Hodgkinson left in December 1983, with John Sykes and the returning Neil Murray taking their places.[7] Both new members featured on the US reissue of the album, which featured re-recorded tracks.[8] A few dates into the subsequent tour, Galley broke his arm and was forced to leave the band, who completed the shows as a five-piece.[9] Lord also left in April to rejoin his former bandmates in reforming Deep Purple.[10] Whitesnake subsequently continued performing as a four-piece, adding Richard Bailey as a touring keyboardist throughout the rest of the year.[11] After two Rock in Rio performances in January 1985, Powell then left to form Emerson, Lake & Powell.[12] A few months later, the band started recording their self-titled album with new drummer Aynsley Dunbar and session keyboardist Don Airey.[13]

1986–1997

After it was completed the previous year, Whitesnake was released in 1987.[14] Shortly before its release, Coverdale put together an all-new lineup which included former Dio guitarist Vivian Campbell, former Vandenberg guitarist Adrian Vandenberg, and former Ozzy Osbourne bassist and drummer Rudy Sarzo and Tommy Aldridge.[14] After the end of the album's touring cycle, Campbell left the band.[15] He was replaced the next April by Steve Vai, formerly of David Lee Roth's solo band.[16] Vai performed all guitars on the group's next album Slip of the Tongue, after Vandenberg suffered a wrist injury that prevented him from playing.[17] For the album's touring cycle, Rick Seratte joined on live keyboards.[18] At the end of the tour in September 1990, Coverdale chose to disband Whitesnake.[19]

In 1994, Coverdale revived Whitesnake following the breakup of Coverdale•Page, touring between June and October in promotion of Greatest Hits.[20] The band's lineup included returning members Vandenberg and Sarzo, in addition to Ratt guitarist Warren DeMartini, former Coverdale•Page touring drummer Denny Carmassi, and backup keyboardist Paul Mirkovich.[21] At the end of the run, the group's contract with Geffen Records expired and they disbanded again.[21] A second reformation followed in 1997, when Coverdale, Vandenberg and Carmassi reunited alongside former Coverdale•Page touring members Guy Pratt (bass) and Brett Tuggle (keyboards) for Restless Heart.[22] The album was initially intended to be a Coverdale solo release, however due to pressure from his new label EMI Records it was branded a Whitesnake album.[23] The tour, which ran from September to December 1997, featured Vandenberg and Carmassi, plus guitarist Steve Farris, bassist Tony Franklin and keyboardist Derek Hilland.[22]

2002 onwards

After a five-year break, it was announced in December 2002 that Whitesnake had reformed for a tour the following year, with drummer Tommy Aldridge returning alongside new members Doug Aldrich and Reb Beach on guitars, Marco Mendoza on bass, and Timothy Drury on keyboards.[24] In April 2005, Mendoza left to pursue "other musical avenues",[25] with Uriah Duffy taking his place the following month.[26] In December 2007, it was also announced that Aldridge had departed, with Chris Frazier having taken his place to record drums for Good to Be Bad, the first Whitesnake studio album since 1997.[27] Both Frazier and Duffy had left by June 2010, with Brian Tichy and Michael Devin taking their places, respectively.[28][29] Drury left to pursue a solo career in September,[30] with his place taken on the Forevermore touring cycle by Brian Ruedy.[31] After two years of touring, Tichy left in January 2013 and was replaced by Aldridge a few weeks later.[32][33] Aldrich later left in May 2014, citing a desire to start a solo career.[34]

Aldrich's place in the band was taken by Night Ranger guitarist Joel Hoekstra in August 2014.[35] The following year saw the release of The Purple Album, a collection of recordings of tracks from Coverdale's time in Deep Purple.[36] Shortly after the album's release, Michele Luppi was enlisted as Whitesnake's new keyboardist.[37] Flesh & Blood followed in 2019.[38]

On 7 December 2011, David Coverdale made Demian Fox, Shane O'Brien and James Walmsley from comedy rock band Dead Cat Bounce members of Whitesnake for all of 16 seconds[39] as part of their award-winning mockumentary Discoverdale.[40]

Members

Current members

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
David Coverdale
  • 1978–1990
  • 1994
  • 1997
  • 2002–present
lead vocals all Whitesnake releases
Tommy Aldridge
  • 1987–1990
  • 2002–2007
  • 2013–present
  • drums
  • percussion
Reb Beach 2002–present
  • guitar
  • backing vocals
  • Live... in the Still of the Night (2006)
  • Live: In the Shadow of the Blues (2006)
  • Good to Be Bad (2008)
  • Forevermore (2011)
  • Made in Japan (2013)
  • Made in Britain/The World Record (2013)
  • all Whitesnake releases from The Purple Album (2015) onwards
Michael Devin 2010–present
  • bass
  • harmonica
  • backing vocals
  • Forevermore (2011)
  • Made in Japan (2013)
  • Made in Britain/The World Record (2013)
  • all Whitesnake releases from The Purple Album (2015) onwards
Joel Hoekstra 2014–present
  • guitar
  • backing vocals
  • The Purple Album (2015)
  • The Purple Tour (2018)
  • Flesh & Blood (2019)
Michele Luppi 2015–present
  • keyboards
  • piano
  • backing vocals
  • The Purple Tour (2018)
  • Flesh & Blood (2019)

Former members

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Micky Moody 1978–1983
  • guitar
  • backing vocals
all Whitesnake releases from Snakebite (1978) to Slide It In (1984)
Neil Murray
  • 1978–1982
  • 1983–1987
bass
  • all Whitesnake releases from Snakebite (1978) to Saints & Sinners (1982)
  • Slide It In (US reissue) (1984)
  • Whitesnake (1987)
  • Live in '84: Back to the Bone (2014)
Bernie Marsden 1978–1982
  • guitar
  • backing vocals
all Whitesnake releases from Snakebite (1978) to Saints & Sinners (1982)
Dave "Duck" Dowle 1978–1979 drums all Whitesnake releases from Snakebite (1978) to Live at Hammersmith (1980)
Jon Lord 1978–1984
(died 2012)
keyboards all Whitesnake releases from Trouble (1978) to Slide It In (1984)
Ian Paice 1979–1982 drums all Whitesnake releases from Ready an' Willing (1980) to Saints & Sinners (1982)
Mel Galley 1982–1984
(died 2008)
  • guitar
  • backing vocals
  • Saints & Sinners (1982)
  • Live at Castle Donington (1983)
  • Slide It In (1984)
Cozy Powell 1982–1985
(died 1998)
drums
  • Live at Castle Donington (1983)
  • Slide It In (1984)
  • Live in '84: Back to the Bone (2014)
Colin Hodgkinson 1982–1983 bass
  • Live at Castle Donington (1983)
  • Slide It In (1984)
John Sykes 1983–1987
  • guitar
  • backing vocals
  • Slide It In (US reissue) (1984)
  • Whitesnake (1987)
  • Live in '84: Back to the Bone (2014)
Aynsley Dunbar 1985–1987
  • drums
  • percussion
Whitesnake (1987)
Adrian Vandenberg
  • 1987–1990
  • 1994
  • 1997
  • guitar
  • backing vocals
Rudy Sarzo
  • 1987–1990
  • 1994
bass
  • Slip of the Tongue (1989)
  • Live at Donington 1990 (2011)
Vivian Campbell 1987–1988
  • guitar
  • backing vocals
"Give Me All Your Love" (single version) (1988)
Steve Vai 1989–1990
  • Slip of the Tongue (1989)
  • Live at Donington 1990 (2011)
Denny Carmassi
  • 1994
  • 1997
  • drums
  • percussion
  • "Here I Go Again" (single version) (1987)
  • Restless Heart (1997)
  • Unzipped (2018)
Warren DeMartini 1994 guitar none
Paul Mirkovich keyboards
Guy Pratt 1997 bass Restless Heart (1997)
Brett Tuggle
  • keyboards
  • backing vocals
Mark Francis guitar Farewell Tour 1997 – live performances only
Steve Farris
Tony Franklin bass
Derek Hilland keyboards The Purple Album (2015)
Doug Aldrich 2002–2014
  • guitar
  • backing vocals
  • Live... in the Still of the Night (2006)
  • Live: In the Shadow of the Blues (2006)
  • Good to Be Bad (2008)
  • Forevermore (2011)
  • Made in Japan (2013)
  • Made in Britain/The World Record (2013)
  • Unzipped (2018)
Timothy Drury 2002–2010
  • keyboards
  • backing vocals
  • Live... in the Still of the Night (2006)
  • Live: In the Shadow of the Blues (2006)
  • Good to Be Bad (2008)
  • Forevermore (2011)
  • Unzipped (2018)
Marco Mendoza 2002–2005
  • bass
  • backing vocals
  • Live... in the Still of the Night (2006)
  • Unzipped (2018)
Uriah Duffy 2005–2010
  • Live: In the Shadow of the Blues (2006)
  • Good to Be Bad (2008)
  • Unzipped (2018)
Chris Frazier 2007–2010 drums
  • Good to Be Bad (2008)
  • Unzipped (2018)
Brian Tichy 2010–2013
  • drums
  • percussion
  • backing vocals
  • Forevermore (2011)
  • Made in Japan (2013)
  • Made in Britain/The World Record (2013)
  • Unzipped (2018)

Backup musicians

Image Name Years active Instruments Details
Brian Johnston 1978
  • keyboards
Johnston was the keyboardist for Whitesnake's first few shows, but was not credited as a full band member.[2]
Peter Solley Solley replaced Johnston and performed on Snakebite, but was still credited as a "special guest" performer.[4][3]
Richard Bailey 1984–1985 Following the departure of Jon Lord in April 1984, Whitesnake enlisted Richard Bailey to take his place on tour.[11]
Rick Seratte 1989–1990 In the absence of a full-time keyboardist, Seratte performed on the tour promoting 1989's Slip of the Tongue.[18]
Brian Ruedy 2011–2013
  • keyboards
  • backing vocals
Following the departure of Timothy Drury in September 2010, Ruedy performed on the Forevermore tour.[31]

Timeline

Lineups

Period Members Releases
February – March 1978 none – live performances only
April – July 1978
  • David Coverdale – lead vocals
  • Micky Moody – guitar, backing vocals
  • Bernie Marsden – guitar, backing vocals
  • Neil Murray – bass
  • Dave "Duck" Dowle – drums
  • Peter Solley – keyboards (session/touring)
August 1978 – July 1979
  • David Coverdale – lead vocals
  • Micky Moody – guitar, backing vocals
  • Bernie Marsden – guitar, backing vocals
  • Neil Murray – bass
  • Dave "Duck" Dowle – drums
  • Jon Lord – keyboards
July 1979 – January 1982
  • David Coverdale – lead vocals
  • Micky Moody – guitar, backing vocals
  • Bernie Marsden – guitar, backing vocals
  • Neil Murray – bass
  • Ian Paice – drums
  • Jon Lord – keyboards
October 1982 – December 1983
December 1983 – March 1984
  • David Coverdale – lead vocals
  • Mel Galley – guitar, backing vocals
  • John Sykes – guitar, backing vocals
  • Neil Murray – bass
  • Cozy Powell – drums
  • Jon Lord – keyboards
  • Slide It In (US edition) (1984)
March – April 1984
  • David Coverdale – lead vocals
  • John Sykes – guitar, backing vocals
  • Neil Murray – bass
  • Cozy Powell – drums
  • Jon Lord – keyboards
none
April 1984 – January 1985
  • David Coverdale – lead vocals
  • John Sykes – guitar, backing vocals
  • Neil Murray – bass
  • Cozy Powell – drums
  • Richard Bailey – keyboards (touring)
  • Live in '84: Back to the Bone (2014)
August 1985 – April 1986
  • David Coverdale – lead vocals
  • John Sykes – guitar, backing vocals
  • Neil Murray – bass
  • Aynsley Dunbar – drums, percussion
April 1987 – December 1988 none
April 1989 – September 1990
  • David Coverdale – lead vocals
  • Adrian Vandenberg – guitar, backing vocals
  • Steve Vai – guitar, backing vocals
  • Rudy Sarzo – bass
  • Tommy Aldridge – drums
  • Rick Seratte – keyboards (touring)
Band inactive September 1990 – June 1994
June – October 1994 none
Band inactive October 1994 – March 1997
March – September 1997
  • David Coverdale – lead vocals
  • Adrian Vandenberg – guitar, backing vocals
  • Guy Pratt – bass
  • Denny Carmassi – drums, percussion
  • Brett Tuggle – keyboards, backing vocals
September – December 1997
  • David Coverdale – lead vocals
  • Adrian Vandenberg – guitar, backing vocals
  • Steve Farris – guitar
  • Mark Francis – guitar
  • Tony Franklin – bass
  • Denny Carmassi – drums, percussion
  • Derek Hilland – keyboards
none
Band inactive December 1997 – December 2002
December 2002 – April 2005
May 2005 – December 2007
  • David Coverdale – lead vocals
  • Doug Aldrich – guitar, backing vocals
  • Reb Beach – guitar, backing vocals
  • Uriah Duffy – bass, backing vocals
  • Tommy Aldridge – drums, percussion
  • Timothy Drury – keyboards, backing vocals
December 2007 – June 2010
  • David Coverdale – lead vocals
  • Doug Aldrich – guitar, backing vocals
  • Reb Beach – guitar, backing vocals
  • Uriah Duffy – bass, backing vocals
  • Chris Frazier – drums
  • Timothy Drury – keyboards, backing vocals
August – September 2010
  • David Coverdale – lead vocals
  • Doug Aldrich – guitar, backing vocals
  • Reb Beach – guitar, backing vocals
  • Michael Devin – bass, harmonica, backing vocals
  • Brian Tichy – drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Timothy Drury – keyboards, backing vocals
March 2011 – January 2013
  • David Coverdale – lead vocals
  • Doug Aldrich – guitar, backing vocals
  • Reb Beach – guitar, backing vocals
  • Michael Devin – bass, harmonica, backing vocals
  • Brian Tichy – drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Brian Ruedy – keyboards, backing vocals (touring)
January 2013 – May 2014
  • David Coverdale – lead vocals
  • Doug Aldrich – guitar, backing vocals
  • Reb Beach – guitar, backing vocals
  • Michael Devin – bass, harmonica, backing vocals
  • Tommy Aldridge – drums, percussion
  • Brian Ruedy – keyboards, backing vocals (touring)
none
August 2014 – April 2015
  • David Coverdale – lead vocals
  • Reb Beach – guitar, backing vocals
  • Joel Hoekstra – guitar, backing vocals
  • Michael Devin – bass, harmonica, backing vocals
  • Tommy Aldridge – drums, percussion
April 2015 – present
  • David Coverdale – lead vocals
  • Reb Beach – guitar, backing vocals
  • Joel Hoekstra – guitar, backing vocals
  • Michael Devin – bass, harmonica, backing vocals
  • Tommy Aldridge – drums, percussion
  • Michele Luppi – keyboards, backing vocals
  • The Purple Tour (2018)
  • Flesh & Blood (2019)

References

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