74-year-old Coverdale – who also fronted Deep Purple for several years in the 1970s – took to Whitesnake's Instagram on Thursday to announce his retirement:
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, brothers and sisters in 'snake', a special message to you. After more than 50 years of an incredible journey with you, with Deep Purple, with Whitesnake, Jimmy Page, it has become very clear to me in recent years that it is really time to hang up my rock'n'roll platform shoes and my super tight jeans, Coverdale says in the video clip.
And as you can see, we've taken care of the lion's mane. But it's time for me to step down. I love you dearly, he continued, also saying that it's now time to enjoy retirement.
