Whitesnake bassist Michael Devin leaves band after 11 years
The band have released a statement
Whitesnake have announced they have parted ways with bassist Michael Devin after 11 years.
Michael Devin joined Whitesnake in August 2010 replacing Uriah Duffy after his five-year tenure with David Coverdale’s band came to an end.
Alongside touring with Whitesnake for over a decade, Devin performed on the studio albums 'Forevermore' (2011), 'The Purple Album' (2015) and 'Flesh & Blood' (2019) plus the live albums ‘Made in Japan’ (2013), ‘Made in Britain/The World Record’ (2013) and ‘The Purple Tour’ (2017).
In a statement shared on David Coverdale’s social media accounts, Whitesnake said: "Whitesnake & bassist Michael Devin have decided to go their separate ways after an amazingly successful decade together…
"We all wish Michael every success in his life & all his endeavours. Apart from numerous tours, Michael applied his talent to studio albums 'Forevermore'... 'The Purple Album' & 'Flesh & Blood'. We sincerely thank him for being part of our journey & for all his exceptional gifts he brought to Whitesnake...
“God speed, Michael... Know we love you & will miss you...& we wish you well. Once a snake...always a snake...
"Whitesnake have secured a new bass player who will be announced very soon.
“Know we love you. We will miss you. We wish you well…”
Michael Devin’s departure is Whitesnake’s second line-up change of 2021. Back in July, the band announced that Dino Jelusick had joined their ranks as a second vocalist.
Shortly before Jelusick’s addition to the line-up, Whitesnake lynchpin David Coverdale defended the band’s “ever-revolving door” in an interview Planet Rock.
“In the early days with the band, we were really sniggering when Rainbow (members) would be flying left right and centre,” Coverdale told Wyatt.
“That was never really the plan. But the circumstances… I do have a clear vision of where I want to go. I invite people in who I feel can help take Whitesnake further, can indeed help them grow more (and) hopefully learn from me, I can learn from them, a mutual exchange.
“But some birds tend to s--- in their own nest. I’d rather encourage them to spread the wings and fly. So, I'm not interested in soap operas, I'm not interested in dramas.
“There's enough to deal with in a band and enough to deal with on the road, and I've got amazing guys (right now); mature guys who are superb musicians - live and in the studio - and great singers too.”
Wyatt added that despite the “mythology” around David that he may be “difficult” to work with, all former members of Whitesnake he’s spoken to, including Doug Aldrich and Bernie Marsden, have been lovely about him.
“This is interesting,” David replied. “For such a challenging reputation at times, the amount of people who… when people hear that there's a vacancy in Whitesnake, you'd be surprised who volunteers their work.”
Planet Rock's The Rocks winners 2021, including David Coverdale:
Best British Band
Thunder – WINNER
Massive Wagons – 2nd place
Those Damn Crows – 3rd place
Best British Album
Massive Wagons: 'House of Noise' – WINNER
Thunder: 'All The Right Noises' – 2nd place
Ozzy Osbourne: 'Ordinary Man' – 3rd place
Best British Single
Ozzy Osbourne: 'Ordinary Man' – WINNER
Massive Wagons: 'In It Together' – 2nd place
Those Damn Crows – 'Sick of Me' – 3rd place
Best International Album
AC/DC: 'Power Up' – WINNER
Foo Fighters: 'Medicine at Midnight' – 2nd place
The Dead Daisies: 'Holy Ground' – 3rd place
Best International Band
AC/DC – WINNER
Foo Fighters – 2nd place
Within Temptation – 3rd place
Best Worldwide Solo Artist
Myles Kennedy – WINNER
Ozzy Osbourne – 2nd place
Bruce Springsteen – 3rd place
Best New Band
When Rivers Meet – WINNER
Mason Hill – 2nd place
Scarlet Rebels – 3rd place
Greatest Live Band of All Time
Iron Maiden – WINNER
Queen – 2nd place
AC/DC – 3rd place
The Rocks Honours Award
David Coverdale - WINNER