Whitesnake performing their Farewell Tour MMXX11 with special guests Foreigner and Europe at The Motorpoint Arena Nottingham on Friday 20th May 2022



Images and Review by Kevin Cooper

Whitesnake are back on the road and they stopped off at the Motorpoint Arena on Friday night as part of their Farewell Tour. Front man David Coverdale has always been good at surrounding himself with some of the best musicians in the business and this tour is no exception with support from iconic rock groups, Foreigner and Europe.

Europe began the evening with an extremely accomplished and tight set which encompassed tracks from their decade’s long career which included a sumptuous rendition of Superstitious, Walk The Earth, and the more memorable bangers, Rock The Night and a feisty version of Scream of Anger.

Carrie, an 80’s ballad of the highest order was followed by the bombastic beat of Cherokee and with lead vocalist Joey Tempest swinging his mic stand around his head, they finished with their biggest hit, The Final Countdown, proving that they were an amazing opening act, which was only hampered by a very early start.

By the time that Foreigner graced the stage the Arena was filling up nicely. And from their opener, Double Vision, their arena experience just oozed from them. Taking this loyal crowd through a catalogue of their hits which included classics like Cold As Ice and Urgent which saw both Mic Michaeli on keyboards and drummer Ian Haugland take their spot in the limelight.

For their worldwide hit, I Want To Know What Love Is the Arena was lit up with mobile phone lights as the crowd belted out the words before their set was rounded off with the familiar strains of Hot Blooded.

David Coverdale has fronted Whitesnake since it was formed in 1978 and now he is hanging up his mic. Having been through a few members during its lifespan, this line up included seasoned regulars, Tommy Aldridge, Reb Beach, Joel Hoekstra and Michele Luppi as well as new members Dino Jelusick and Tanya O’Callaghan all serving to help him belt out the hits.

Opening with Bad Boys, the classics were also included. There was Slide It In, Love Ain’t No Stanger, Slow An’ Easy with a new song from their latest album, Flesh & Blood, Hey You (You Make Me Rock). There was a raucous Fool For Your Loving and fans favourite Here I Go Again which induced a mass sing along.

Those familiar with Coverdale have undoubtedly seen a decline in his vocal prowess over the years and Friday night was no exception. Up front and centre of an extended stage ramp, it wasn’t hard to see that there was a backing singer to help him out, but it mattered not a jot to this crowd. After all he has banked thousands of peerless performances in the past

Finishing the evening with Burn, Coverdale left the Nottingham stage for perhaps the last time to echoes of We Wish You Well, a sentiment readily endorsed by this crowd.