DARKNESS singer justin hawkin weighed on David Coverdalependant vocal performances WHITE SNAKEof the current European tour which kicked off May 10 at 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland. The trek is charged as WHITE SNAKEfarewell tour, with Coverdalewho turned 70 last September, said touring has become “a very physically difficult thing for me to do at the best of times”.

Hawkinsa 47-year-old British-born rocker who currently lives in Switzerland, offered his assessment of Davidthe ability to sing through sound Youtube series “Justin Hawkins Rides Again” where he shares a mix of serious musician analysis and funny takes with his 133,000 subscribers.

After watching a video filmed by a fan of WHITE SNAKE performing in London earlier this month, Hawkins said in part (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET):”[David‘s] lost some power [in his voice]. This is the farewell tour, and I think that’s most likely why.”

As to whether he would recommend someone to go see WHITE SNAKE play on the current tour, justin said: “I think it’s just a matter of what you want out of a gig. If you want to go to a celebration of an incredible musical era with guys who actually helped define what this really means like… I would – I I mean, fuck I would I don’t care, ’cause I will be sitting there… I’m going to sing all these songs in the front row, hands up, having a good time. And it’s a farewell tour, so by nature it’s nostalgic. But I think if you expect to see David Coverdale in his pomp giving a vocal masterclass, this probably won’t be the right gig for you. But personally, I’d go, and I’d probably have a great night too. I think that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it? A great evening.”

He continued: “After the times we’ve had for the past couple of years…Ideally, even two years ago, David Coverdale probably would have been a better singer. Who knows how COVID affects us? We were just sitting in our homes screwing things up, and then suddenly expecting that… the machine would kick in and everything would be like it was. It does not work like that. But like I said, I’ll see you ahead. The next time WHITE SNAKE play anywhere near me, I’m there, and I hope you are too.”

Last October, Coverdale say it “Appetite for Distortion” podcast he originally planned to retire on WHITE SNAKEfrom the 2020 tour when he was 69 years old. “I thought it was the perfect age for the lead singer of WHITE SNAKE to call it a day,” he said. “But sadly, it was not to be, as we know; other events were in store. So now t-shirt designs don’t resonate so well for 70. But it’s mind blowing to me that I’m planning my farewell tour. And this is – make no mistake, this is the farewell tour. I am 70 years old. It’s a very physically difficult thing for me to do at the best of times. But it’s very important for me to reach completion and to express my gratitude and gratitude to all the people – the millions of people over the years – who have supported me for five decades, fifty years. It blows my mind – it really is.”

“Many of my peers and contemporaries are on their 20th retirement tour. I have no intention of planning that,” he clarified. “I have to explain, though – it’s me, just David Coverdalewho is retiring from touring at this level. WHITE SNAKE will still make plans. I’ve been writing music throughout COVID. I wrote some nice new ideas. I have ideas just in case jimmy [Page] wants to do anything – write about FaceTime, which is a foreign concept to him. But all the songs we can use for one WHITE SNAKE project. But the music of WHITE SNAKE continue to. This is the most important thing for people to know. I just stop touring at this level – that’s it.”

According Coverdalethere could very well be new music from WHITE SNAKE in the years following his retirement from the road.

“I have lots of ideas for WHITE SNAKE, so we could have another project there – I don’t know – without the pressure of having to go on tour,” he said. “We have such a strong fanbase, I think fans are going to buy the record with or without touring. It’s just emotionally for me to be able to go out there and do things. And also, you have to remember, we started this legacy series of box sets, similar to the 25th anniversary. And then in 2023, we have the 30th anniversary of COVERDALE/PAGEand the 50th anniversary of my arrival DARK PURPLE. Breathtaking. So it’s not like I’m retiring. [Laughs]

“Fortunately, physically and vocally, I still have the merchandise,” he continued. “As my wife reminds me, I was actually on tour until the spring of 2020, before the lockdown. And I was 68, and I’m still kicking ass. Of course, having an amazing band and an audience amazing and enthusiastic gives you that energizing look. It’s just that traveling is a challenge for me. But music is oxygen for me. I’m not going to go fishing or crochet; I’m definitely going to do projects. I’m lucky to have my own studio. It’s the best of a lot of worlds. And I have to thank the people in person around the world for helping me get into this position that I am in my life right now I don’t wanna make it through a video [on] social media: “Sorry we can’t hang out, but thanks for 50 years.” It would be heartbreaking for me.”

In September 2020, Coverdale underwent surgery for a bilateral inguinal hernia at the Renown facility in his hometown of Reno, Nevada. Three years earlier, he had had both knees replaced with titanium after suffering from degenerative arthritis. He later explained that he had so much arthritis in his knees that it hampered his ability to perform live.

Before the pandemic, WHITE SNAKE was on tour in support of his latest album, “Flesh & Blood”which was published in May 2019 via Frontiers Music Srl.