As previously reported, in a recent interview with The Metal Circus out of Spain, vocalist Joe Lynn Turner accused WHITESNAKE frontman David Coverdale of using backing tapes for his lead vocals while performing live (see details here). Coverdale responded by calling Turner "a daft bugger" in a statement, but he has since followed it up with an in-depth response via the official Whitesnake website. It appears below:

Response To Joe Lynn Turner’s Interview Remarks About My Supposed Miming In Concert

"I am shocked, very disappointed & surprised by Mr Turner's misleading and completely untrue observations he felt it necessary to discuss in a recent interview. Whatever his motives, they are disturbing, to say the least.

I do not ‘mime’ in concert. I never have and I never will.

I am David Coverdale. My career spans almost 40 successful years and I have worked with some of the finest musicians in contemporary music & in all that time I have never ‘pretended’ to sing to tapes when I am performing in front of a paying crowd.

I have no idea how anyone who has seen me working live in concert, or is remotely connected to the music business can even suggest such an odious thing.

I have seen the purported video of me supposedly ‘miming’ and all I can say is he and anyone else who believes this nonsense should look more closely.

It is obvious that I am holding the microphone out to the crowd & inviting the audience to participate, as I do during every show, and have done since the beginning of Whitesnake while my background singers keep the songs vocal momentum.

It is hugely important to me that the audience feel completely part of the Whitesnake show & participate with me from the beginning to the end.

They are called the ‘Whitesnake Choir’ for that reason.

Please know, as most sensible people do, that I am especially blessed in this band with two very powerful singers in guitarist Reb Beach & keyboardist, Timothy Drury & also two very capable background singers in bassist Uriah Duffy & guitarist Doug Aldrich, and when I am working the crowd, these guys hold the songs for me exceptionally well, as most sensible people can see and hear.

There are no vocal backing tapes. Everything you see and hear is being performed live by the musicians and vocalists on stage.

I have no idea why Mr Turner has launched this foolishness, but, I ask that it stop now. It has no merit, serves no purpose and is a total waste of precious time.

No apology is necessary as I have no desire in any way, shape or form to have any communication with him. He should know better.

Next he’ll be accusing me of wearing a wig on stage."

David Coverdale

Lake Tahoe April 2009