Whitesnake cancel North American tour due to David Coverdale’s health issues

Whitesnake have been forced to pull out of a North American tour with the Scorpions, as well as cancel their own headlining dates due to health issues with frontman David Coverdale.

Making the announcement, Coverdale wrote: "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!"

He also issued a personal note on Instagram, adding that he was “deeply and profoundly sad” to be unable to tour.

The Scorpions released their own statement, saying: "We wanted to let you know that Whitesnake will no longer be joining us on our U.S. and Canadian Rock Believer tour. Nothing is more important than our fans and it was important to us that we keep the shows as scheduled.

“We wish Whitesnake all the best and look very much forward to seeing you and rocking with you all on tour along with Thundermother."

The German band have not announced whether a replacement for Whitesnake will be drafted in.

Watch: Whitesnake cover Deep Purple's 'Burn' in Prague on their farewell tour

These new cancellations are tied to the latest in a series of ongoing health issues affecting Whitesnake’s recent touring plans.

Guitarist Reb Beach missed four shows of the band's European tour after falling ill in June, and the band missed a festival show in Spain after drummer Tommy Aldridge also became ill.

More shows were cancelled due to Coverdale’s ill-health before all remaining dates of the European leg of the band’s Farewell Tour MMXXII were pulled at the start of July.

Coverdale had previously told Planet Rock that he would retire from touring once the band have completed their farewell tour.

Gallery: Whitesnake, Europe and Foreigner rock Cardiff

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• whitesnake
• david coverdale
• the scorpions