WHITESNAKE leader David Coverdale responds to fan inquiries in the following message posted in the Forum section of the band’s website (whitesnake.com):

“'Morning, all...and what a lovely morning 'tis shaping up to be, here at Camelot...

My Lady of the Lake, busily working out... my son, constantly paging the house for assistance with this and that... (when did parents become 'slaves'???)... and the Coverdale Family, with our FAB helpers will be decorating ze 15 foot Christmas tree currently adorning our living room...

I will be assuming the persona of one Sir Edmund Hillary to attempt to place the Angel at the summit of the aforesaid Spruce )...

I am absolutely delighted you all appear to be enjoying the DVD teaser... and I promise you... the rest is pretty kick arse...

The only reason I chose 'Take Me With You' is that each of the guys gets some quality time in the song... (and it's not often a man gets to shake his big ol' maracas in public.. ahem)... Witches!!!... A 1,000 thanks...it's not often I get a break from your curiosity!!!...'Tis most velcome...

Jane... I believe I have had the pleasure... er... not of Mr Kennedy in person... tho' I do possess an assortment of his classical works... but, of ze Malvern Hills...

Kevvo... Agreed... and my absolute pleasure...

Mila... I think my career choice of being an 'electric' musician kind of says my preference... I do, however, compose the majority of my songs on acoustic guitars, or piano...and thoroughly enjoy acoustic music... I have a significant library of folk music...

Twirls... REALLY???... How time flies when yer kicking arse and having a ball!!!...

Antonella... I also enjoy Montaigne...

Outlaw... I have 'put the record straight' many times thro' the years... But, just for you... I shall regale you with the basic story again... There were many reasons I left the Deeps... Predominantly the cause was the substance abuse that had literally taken over the band... I can't say EVERYBODY was guilty, but, if I say who was innocent then it would obviously point at others... But, I was certainly a part of the unravelling of the extraordinary reputation of DP... and that is primarily why I left... I did not wish to be a part of destroying the legacy of Deep Purple... so, I left before more damage ensued...

Also, I valued my sanity... (yes...I do believe in Sanity Clause)... I was utterly exhausted in every possible way after 3 years of... you name it... I retired to my Mother's home, where over a period of a week, in between much sleep... I wrote my letter of resignation and delivered it to the Purple management, who at that time was administered by Rob Cooksey & Bruce Payne...

As far as the particular project you're describing, which sounds to me like one of the former managers of DP going beyond the 'scraping the barrel' albums they are so well known for...

The hardcore supporters of the band deserve better and more respect...

As I have repeatedly said the members of Deep Purple, certainly those from my time with Purple, have absolutely no say in the matter of these highly questionable releases... If we did 'albums' such as these would never see the light of day... I have no doubt that my performances are as described... Very likely compromised by drink & the assorted whatevers...

It was a most unhappy, unfortunate time and distractions such as these were greedily embraced... As Mr. Lennon so aptly said... 'Whatever gets you thro' the night..'

...It's sad to reminded of that time... Oh well... Onwards and Forwards, Lads & Lasses...

love and LIGHT... dC.”