Whitesnake guitarist Adrian Vandenberg recently addressed whether former bandmate and vocalist David Coverdale could appear as a special guest at his upcoming anniversary shows.
Vandenberg is set to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his career with a series of special shows. The setlist will include Whitesnake material. When asked whether he still keeps in touch with Coverdale and whether the legendary frontman might join him on stage, Vandenberg gave a candid response.
The question posed was: “Is it fair to say that you’re still talking to David Coverdale? I mean on a regular basis or semi-regular. And would David be one of those special guests on your 50th Anniversary shows?”
“Yeah we talk. But I don’t think so. No. No. It doesn’t look like it,” Vandenberg said. “David really completely retired from the music business. As people know. Which is why it’s even a better thing for me to play those Whitesnake songs to keep everything alive.”
Despite Coverdale’s absence, Vandenberg expressed enthusiasm about his current lineup and the direction of the shows.
“I love playing them after all those years and I’ve got a killer band and the drummer is like a young Tommy Alder,” he continued. “I got a killer bass player, keyboard player and watch lead singer. He survived working with Yngwie Malmsteen, which is like an achievement.”
Coverdale’s retirement marks the definitive end of an era for one of rock’s most iconic voices. It gives Vandenberg’s anniversary shows an added significance for longtime fans of the band.
Coverdale made his retirement official in November 2025, confirming what had been a topic of discussion since as early as 2020. The 72-year-old vocalist stated it was time for him to “hang up my rock ‘n’ roll platform shoes” after more than five decades in the music industry with both Deep Purple and Whitesnake. He accompanied the announcement with a newly remixed version of his song “Fare Thee Well.”
Coverdale had not performed live since Whitesnake’s Farewell Tour MMXXII was abandoned. His retirement announcement formally closed a chapter that had already quietly ended on stage. The absence of a proper final concert only adds weight to Vandenberg’s commitment to keeping the music alive through his own performances.
Vandenberg’s 50th anniversary shows are scheduled to kick off in late 2026, with confirmed dates in major European cities. The tour is designed to honor both his solo career and his legacy with Whitesnake.
The band he has assembled for the occasion reflects that ambition. His current lineup features a drummer he likens to a young Tommy Alder, a strong bass player, a keyboard player, and a lead vocalist with serious credentials. That vocalist previously worked alongside Yngwie Malmsteen — a notoriously demanding environment by any measure in the rock world.
