Whitesnake Biography: Age, Net Worth, Music, Founder, Wives, Members, Height, Parents

Whitesnake is a British hard rock band formed in 1978 by former Deep Purple vocalist David Coverdale.

Blending blues-rock roots with soaring melodic hooks and driving guitar riffs, they achieved international fame in the mid-1980s with hits like “Here I Go Again” and “Is This Love.”

Over more than four decades, Whitesnake has sold over 30 million albums worldwide, undergone numerous lineup changes, and has remained an active presence on the global touring circuit.

Early Life & Members

David Coverdale:

Born September 22, 1951, in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, England, Coverdale sang in local bands before joining Deep Purple in 1973. His distinctive blues-tinged voice and songwriting vision laid the groundwork for Whitesnake’s sound.

Reb Beach:

Born August 31, 1963, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Beach cut his teeth touring with Victor Wooten and Alice Cooper before joining Whitesnake in 2002. Renowned for his fluid legato technique and melodic solos, he’s been a mainstay on guitar.

Joel Hoekstra:

Born June 13, 1970, in Rockford, Illinois, Hoekstra built his résumé with Night Ranger and Trans-Siberian Orchestra. He joined Whitesnake in 2014, bringing polished shred guitar skills and contributing to co-writing efforts.

Tommy Aldridge:

Born on November 15, 1950, in Jackson, Mississippi, Aldridge is a veteran drummer whose thunderous double-bass style powered Ozzy Osbourne and Gary Moore before he joined Whitesnake in 1987 (and again in 2002).

Michele Luppi:

Born on July 16, 1974, in Reggio Emilia, Italy, Luppi is a keyboardist and vocalist who joined the band in 2015. With a background in melodic rock, he adds layers of synth, piano, and backing vocals.

Michael Devin:

Born January 16, 1959, in Jersey City, New Jersey, Devin assumed bass duties in 2003. His solid low-end grooves underpin the band’s live and recorded sound.

Formation

In early 1978, David Coverdale departed Deep Purple and assembled a group of London-area musicians under the name “David Coverdale • Whitesnake.”

Their self-titled debut EP, Snakebite (1978), and first album, Trouble (1978), showcased a gritty blues-rock approach. Over the next few years, as their personnel evolved and label support grew, they refined their style into the polished hard rock that would define their mainstream breakthrough.

Career

Throughout the early 1980s, albums such as Lovehunter (1979), Ready an’ Willing (1980), and Slide It In (1984) established a strong following in the UK and Europe. After retooling for the American market, the self-titled 1987 album Whitesnake (retitled 1987 in Europe) delivered multi-platinum sales in the U.S., propelled by MTV-driven singles “Here I Go Again,” “Is This Love,” and “Still of the Night.”

Subsequent releases, such as Slip of the Tongue (1989) and Restless Heart (1997), yielded loyal fan club support. A reunion in 2003 led to the release of Good to Be Bad (2008) and Forevermore (2011), both of which reaffirmed their global arena-rock status. Their most recent studio effort, Flesh & Blood (2019), continued to blend modern production with classic Whitesnake dynamics.

Social Media

• Instagram: @whitesnake
• Twitter/X: @Whitesnake
• Facebook: /whitesnake
• YouTube: WhitesnakeTV

Personal Life

David Coverdale:

Married to singer–songwriter Candice Night since September 14, 2000, they welcomed daughter Phoenix Olivia Moon Coverdale in 2011. Coverdale often cites family as his anchor during touring.

Reb Beach:

Married to Denise Beach since 1987, they have two daughters. Reb balances life on the road with parenthood and occasional studio session work.

Joel Hoekstra:

Married and father to one daughter, he splits time between touring, session guitar work, and composing for TV and film.

Tommy Aldridge:

A three-time married father of two, Aldridge resides in Nashville when not touring, where he also teaches masterclasses and collaborates with other rock artists on recordings.

Michele Luppi:

Married with one son, Luppi divides his schedule between Whitesnake commitments and his melodic metal project, Vision Divine.

Michael Devin:

Married, with the couple raising two children. Devin is actively involved in local music education programs and operates a small recording studio.

Net Worth

Whitesnake’s cumulative net worth is around $50 million, with David Coverdale’s fortune near $20 million. Touring, album sales, and publishing continue to generate revenue across their catalogue.

Discography

Studio Albums:

• Trouble (1978)
• Lovehunter (1979)
• Ready an’ Willing (1980)
• Come an’ Get It (1981)
• Saints & Sinners (1982)
• Slide It In (1984)
• Whitesnake (1987)
• Slip of the Tongue (1989)
• Restless Heart (1997)
• Good to Be Bad (2008)
• Forevermore (2011)
• The Purple Album (2015)
• Flesh & Blood (2019)

Extended Plays (EPs):

• Snakebite (1978)
• 1987 Versions (1987 Japanese EP)

Singles:

• Here I Go Again
• Is This Love
• Still of the Night
• Fool for Your Loving
• Give Me All Your Love

Promotional Singles:

• Slow an’ Easy
• Crying in the Rain
• Love Will Set You Free

Concert Films

• Live… in the Heart of the City (1980)
• Live at Donington 1990 (2011)

Music Videos

• Here I Go Again ’87
• Still of the Night
• Is This Love
• Judgement Day