Whitesnake

Official statement confirms that he'd been battling cancer.

"The Ox and Chris, they were just breathtaking players," singer tells UCR.

"A genuinely funny, gifted man, whom I was honored to know and share a stage with," David Coverdale said of ex-bandmate.

Two-CD/Blu-ray set also features 'Stormbringer' demos, alternate track mixes, song-by-song commentary and more.

"Truthfully, I simply don't want to do anything at this time in my life that will open the door to regret," Whitesnake leader explains.

Decision follows dropping of several shows for various “health challenges.”

Get well soon!

Guitar virtuoso played on band's 1989 album 'Slip of the Tongue.'

The Darkness frontman says experience made him “vomit in my mouth – in a really good way.”

It wasn't until guitarist John Sykes added his "embellishments" that Coverdale realized it could be a Whitesnake song.