David Coverdale is best-known as the lead singer of Whitesnake, but was also important as lead singer of Deep Purple in the mid seventies, and as having recorded a platinum album with Led Zeppelin’s guitarist Jimmy Page in the early 1990s.

Deep Purple with David Coverdale in 1976, with Tommy Bolin having just replaced Richie Blackmore on guitar.

Coverdale got his first big break when Deep Purple’s singer, Ian Gillan, left the band in 1973. Coverdale knew the band, and was quickly hired as a replacement, recording several gold albums, including Burn, and Stormbringer.

Coverdale’s 1976 solo album

When Deep Purple broke up in 1976, Coverdale recorded two little-known solo albums, the main outcome being that the title of one, White Snake, became the name of his subsequent band, which was successful only in the UK for several years, before finally making it big in the US in the mid 80s.

Coverdale in Whitesnake’s video, Still of the Night

In 1992, Coverdale took a break from his band to record Coverdale/Page.

Since then, he’s periodically recorded and toured with Whitesnake.