By Monk

Whitesnake have announced that they have recruited their first ever female member. She is Irish-born bassist Tanya O’Callaghan, who replaces Michael Devin, who left the band earlier this week.

Tanya O'Callaghan

Born in Mullingar, in County Westmeath, O’Callaghan has previously toured with rock ‘n’ roll alumni such as Dee Snider and Stephen Adler.

Welcoming “the Irish tornado” the band, frontman David Coverdale described the bassist as “a whirling dervish of a performer whom we feel will bring a fresh, new, exciting musicality and welcome energy to the band, both in the studio and onstage.”

Describing joining the band as “an absolute honour”, O’Callaghan said:

“This small town gal still pinches herself over the amount of legends I’ve had the joy to work, tour and record with over the past few years since I made the terrifying solo leap across the Pacific with no clue how everything would unfold. It’s been a wild ride and just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, who calls, only feckin’ WHITESNAKE!”

Whitesnake are due to undertake their farewell European tour next year, kicking off, appropriately, in Dublin on 10 May.