Whitesnake frontman DAVID COVERDALE has fired back at RAINBOW rocker JOE LYNN TURNER's accusations he mimes onstage.
In a recent interview with Spain's TheMetalCircus.com, Turner claimed he stumbled upon the rock legend's little secret during a festival in Finland last summer (08).
He said, "We were on the same festival (bill) as Whitesnake, and I couldn't believe he was using these tapes - for lead singing! Not just backgrounds, but lead!"
"I couldn't believe it, because he was always one of my favourite singers."
But now Coverdale has angrily responded to Turner's allegations in a statement issued to rock news website Blabbermouth.net.
He fumes, "I am shocked, very disappointed and surprised by Mr. Turner's misleading and completely untrue observations he felt it necessary to discuss in a recent interview. Whatever his motives, they are disturbing, to say the least.
"I do not 'mime' in concert. I never have and I never will. I am David Coverdale. My career spans almost 40 successful years and I have worked with some of the finest musicians in contemporary music and in all that time I have never pretended to sing to tapes when I am performing in front of a paying crowd.
"I have no idea how anyone who has seen me working live in concert, or is remotely connected to the music business, can even suggest such an odious thing. I have seen the purported video of me supposedly 'miming', and all I can say is he and anyone else who believes this nonsense should look more closely."
And Coverdale concludes his rant by adding, "I have no idea why Mr. Turner has launched this foolishness, but I ask that it stop now. It has no merit, serves no purpose and is a total waste of precious time. No apology is necessary as I have no desire in any way, shape or form to have any communication with him. He should know better.
"Next he'll be accusing me of wearing a wig on stage."