David Coverdale announced via the Whitesnake.com website that the band would be stepping off its band's co-headlining summer tour with the Scorpions due to his ongoing repository illness.
Coverdale statement reads in full:
It is with profound disappointment and a heavy heart that I must announce that Whitesnake will no longer be able to join The Scorpions on their US and Canadian tour due to my continued treatment for a persistent upper respiratory infection that affects my ability to perform. This includes the cancellation of our own headlining shows as well.
While Whitesnake will no longer be on the tour, the Scorpions will be continuing on. We Wish Our Good Friends, The Scorpions Every Success!!!
We Wish You Well
David Coverdale
Coverdale went on to post a personal message to the Scorpions on his social media.
Last month, the band scrapped its remaining European concert dates, “Due to continuing health challenges.” The band's “farewell tour” kicked off in Ireland, in early May, before heading to The UK and Europe, but had been faltering since mid-June, when guitarist Reb Beach missed four shows after falling ill. The band also missed a festival date in Spain after drummer Tommy Aldridge also got sick, while Coverdale’s issues caused cancellations in Italy, Austria, and Croatia.
Coverdale wrote: “It's time for me to get my arse home… Thank you for understanding, but I need to get home to rest and recuperate.”
Scorpions kickss off their summer tour on August 21st at Toronto's Budweiser Stage.