Whitesnake released their twelfth studio album, titled "The Purple Album", on 15 May 2015 in Europe, followed by a North American release on 19 May. A collection of re-recorded songs from Coverdale's time in Deep Purple, the idea sprang from talks he and Jon Lord had about a possible Mark III reunion a few years earlier. After Lord's death in 2012, Coverdale discussed the idea with Ritchie Blackmore, but they were unable to come to an agreement on the nature of the undertaking. Coverdale then decided to move forward with the project under the Whitesnake banner. He described the resulting record as a tribute to his time in Deep Purple. The album reached number 18 on the UK Albums Chart, while in the US it peaked at number 87. On the Independent Albums chart it reached number nine. In its first week, the record sold 6,900 copies in the US. "The Purple Album" polarized critics. The Associated Press commended the band for breathing new life into the songs, while Dave Everley of "Classic Rock" called the record a "wrong-headed travesty of an album". Responding to the criticism, Coverdale proclaiming: "I've no space in my life for haters or negaters. [...] I owe those people nothing. Such opinions mean nothing to me." "The Purple Album" had been envisioned by Coverdale as potentially his last album before retiring. However, the process left him "revitalised" and eager to continue further.