Whitesnake will tour the U.S. for the first time in twelve years this winter on a co-headlining stint with German metal's flagship, the Scorpions, beginning with a January 29th date in Jacksonville, Florida.

"We've been asked to do a lot of the glam packages and I've felt very comfortable in passing on them," says Whitesnake frontman David Coverdale. "As successful as MTV made us, it was very difficult for me to come terms with all that stuff, but of course when one sees those photographs there's no mistaking it, baby. But the stigma of that kind of aspect I don't feel is as compromising to a group like the Scorpions, who are a very entertaining rock band."

It will be a retooled version of Whitesnake that hits the road this winter, with drummer Tommy Aldridge the only holdover from the previous era of the group. Coverdale plans to record the first few shows with an eye towards releasing a live album, with set lists peppered with the likes of "Here I Go Again," and "Is This Love," mirroring those of Whitesnake's mid-Eighties heyday.

"It will be the same house of Whitesnake," Coverdale says. "Just redecorated and contemporized somewhat."

Whitesnake/Scorpions tour dates:

1/29: Jacksonville, FL, Sports Complex
1/31: West Palm, FL, Coral Sky Amphitheater
2/1: Estero, FL, TECO Amphitheater
2/2: Tampa, FL, St. Petersburg Times Forum
2/4: Pensacola, FL, Civic Center
2/5: Bossier City, LA, Century Tell Center
2/7: Grand Prairie, TX, Next Stage
2/8: San Antonio, Alamodome
2/9: Austin, Frank Erwin Center
2/11: Albuquerque, NM, Tingley Coliseum
2/12: El Paso, UTEP
2/14: San Diego, Cox Arena
2/15: Las Vegas, Mandalay Bay
2/18: San Jose, CA, Compaq Center
2/19: Sacramento, Arco Arena
2/21: Phoenix, Cricket Pavilion
2/22: Los Angeles, Universal Amphiteater
2/25: Denver, Magness Arena
2/27: Minneapolis, Target Center
2/28: Chicago, Allstate Arena

COLIN DEVENISH
(December 16, 2002)