British hard rock band formed in London in 1978 by David Coverdale (vocals, b. September 22, 1951, formerly of Deep Purple). Long-running lineup has rotated extensively but Coverdale has been the only constant member. Notable members have included Bernie Marsden (1951-2023), Mickey Moody, Cozy Powell (1947-1998), Steve Vai, Adrian Vandenberg, and many others.
Released 13 studio albums between Trouble (1978) and Flesh & Blood (2019). Commercial peak: Whitesnake (1987, 8x platinum in the US, featuring "Here I Go Again" and "Is This Love") and Slip of the Tongue (1989). The band shifted from a blues-based hard-rock sound to a glam-metal direction starting with the 1984 Slide It In album.