Former DEEP PURPLE/WHITESNAKE Manager Passes Away

July 10, 2006

According to Deep-Purple.net, John Coletta — former manager of DEEP PURPLE and WHITESNAKE — died on July 9, 2006.

Tony Edwards approached 35-year-old John, managing director of an advertising agency (in an office above his own),to help him launch DEEP PURPLE in late 1967. Coletta remained an integral part of the management of the band through the years 1968 to 1976, often touring with them. After the group split, the two managers set up their own operations but retained their interest in the band's back catalogue. John took on David Coverdale's WHITESNAKE, and managed them for many years. In recent years John lived in Spain, and was involved with concert promotion there until he became ill last year. He had also been working with Derek Lawrence on some record ideas. A photo of Coletta (center) with Jon Lord (then-DEEP PURPLE keyboardist) and Tony Edwards at the time of the "Concerto" in 1969 can be viewed at this location.

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