WHITESNAKE frontman DAVID COVERDALE has commemorated his first live show with DEEP PURPLE by posting a special tribute on the homepage of his website.

COVERDALE – the so-called “singing salesman from Redcar” who was plucked from obscurity to replace IAN GILLAN – made his stage debut with Mk III line-up of PURPLE 40 years ago yesterday, on December 9, 1973.

The singer has posted the following message on the WHITESNAKE website:

”It was 40 years ago this very day, December 9, 1973, when I had the indescribable honour of walking on stage with the extraordinary talents of Ritchie Blackmore, Jon Lord, Ian Paice and Glenn Hughes at the KB Hallen in Copenhagen, Denmark for the very first time.

“The Burn album had yet to be released, but it showed the balls of the guys in the band to go out and play brand-new, unheard songs to a rapturous Danish audience. An unforgettable experience for me.

“Thank you ALL for an amazing journey that continues today…”

David Coverdale
Lake Tahoe
Dec 9, 2013

Watch COVERDALE performing Burn with PURPLE at the California Jam in 1974 below.