Born in Burnley, a small northern town in England steeped in coal-mining history, David Readman grew up in an environment where futures were often predetermined. Yet music ran just as strongly through his family. With a mother who sang and a grandmother who played piano, there was always a sense that David might follow a different path.
Leaving school at the age of fifteen, David worked a succession of jobs while music steadily took hold of his life. He gained early live experience on the local club circuit with bands such as Alander, Sixmyth, and Splatterpunk, before deciding to pursue music professionally. In 1989, he enrolled at Nelson and Colne Music College, where he learned the fundamentals required to become a professional singer.
A defining moment came during a camping trip, when after singing Led Zeppelin songs around the fire, a friend told him, “You should be making records.” Fired by new-found belief, David began sending demo tapes in response to adverts in the legendary UK music magazine Melody Maker. Auditions soon followed, leading to work with Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden), Thomas McRocklin, and a move to London with Misha Calvin.
On June 17th, 1994, David’s life changed forever when he flew to Germany to audition for European hard-rock band Pink Cream 69, following the departure of vocalist Andi Deris to Helloween. He won the audition and soon found the musical home he had long been searching for. A record deal with Sony Music followed in November 1994, and just days later David traveled to the United States to record his first Pink Cream 69 album, “Change,” in California.
Now based in Germany for over 30 years, now in Hannover. David has remained a powerful and respected voice in melodic and hard rock. Alongside his work with Pink Cream 69, he has continued to expand creatively through solo releases, including his second solo album “Medusa,” featuring the single “Shelter From the Storm,” available worldwide on all major streaming platforms and on physical CD.
In addition to his solo work, David fronts Whiteshake, a project celebrating the classic era of Whitesnake. On January 6th, 2026, Whiteshake released the single “Restless Heart,” further showcasing David’s unmistakable voice and deep connection to the melodic hard-rock tradition.
