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Bernie Tormé R.I.P.
Another death in the Purple family. Former Gillan band guitar player Bernie Tormé has passed away on Sunday, March 17.
His family issued the following statement:
Bernie Tormé passed away peacefully on the 17th March 2019, one day short of his 67th birthday, surrounded by his family. He had been on life support for the past four weeks at a London hospital following post-flu complications. Bernie will be remembered for dedicating his life to his music for five decades. He will be sorely missed.
Last November, Tormé released a double album called Shadowland, which we somehow failed to mention at the time. Recorded last year at Barnroom Studios, the album was the first release from Bernie’s new trio. It also featured guest appearance from Colin Towns.
Thanks to Blabbermouth for the sad news and to Jim Collins for the heads up.
Unauthorized copying, while sometimes necessary, is never as good as the real thing
What a sad day in Rock history.
March 18th, 2019 at 15:57RIP Bernie, I have fond memories of his fiery performances in the early days of the Gillan band.
March 18th, 2019 at 16:02That’s really sad news. I was a real fan of his work on the Gillan albums…May Bernie’s soul rest in Peace.
March 18th, 2019 at 16:03RIP ;;Bernie Torme;; May your Light BURN ;;Forever–In Rock and Roll– Taste !!!
March 18th, 2019 at 16:05R.I.P. Bernie
March 18th, 2019 at 16:10RIP…….Bernie.
March 18th, 2019 at 16:15Terribly sad news. Godspeed on your next journey Bernie.
March 18th, 2019 at 16:27May he rest at peace. Saw Gillan live in Rome for the, first time in my life and Bernie was the lead guitarist. He played effortlessly.
March 18th, 2019 at 16:30R.I.P. Bernie Torme
March 18th, 2019 at 16:34RIP 🙁
March 18th, 2019 at 16:41R.I.P. Bernie Torme 😔
March 18th, 2019 at 16:43eternal memory!
March 18th, 2019 at 16:46Rest in peace Bernie. So sad.
March 18th, 2019 at 16:48R.I.P
March 18th, 2019 at 17:09Sleep well Bernie 💓💓💓
March 18th, 2019 at 17:11One of my favourites. So sad. R.I.P.
March 18th, 2019 at 17:27Sad news for sure…… always hoped a good video of his short stint with OZZY would surface. He was an underrated guitarist with little publicity… RIP Bernie.. 🙁
March 18th, 2019 at 17:49R I P Bernie.
March 18th, 2019 at 17:52Condoglianze
March 18th, 2019 at 18:06The Reaper’s roll call continues.
March 18th, 2019 at 18:34Unfortunately, lots of us are at an age where our heroes ( musical & otherwise ) are passing on.
May Bernie rest in peace.
Sad news. Rest in peace.
March 18th, 2019 at 18:35RIP Bernie ! 🎸
March 18th, 2019 at 19:03sad news ! RIP Bernie
March 18th, 2019 at 19:04😢😢😢😢
March 18th, 2019 at 19:27Very sad – RIP Bernie
March 18th, 2019 at 19:32Rip.
March 18th, 2019 at 20:01Sad news indeed, Vale Bernie Torme. A wonderful guitarist, always was disappointed he wasn’t still in Gillan when I witnessed them live back in 1981/82. Same with
March 18th, 2019 at 20:08Huw Lloyd Langton from Hawkwind, missed him on guitar when seeing Hawkwind in 2001. A superb guitarist also! Both very under rated guitarists, flying under the radar from the mainstream spotlight. A shame they both weren’t appreciated in a more global sort of way. However, they leave a wonderful legacy captured in permanent time. RIP
No laughing in heaven Mr. Torme just heavenly riffs
March 18th, 2019 at 20:13Poor fellow, he died in much the same way my mother did, of pneumonia.
March 18th, 2019 at 20:29Bacteria gets into the lungs & weakens them, so they cannot function properly & requires a huge ventilator breathing tube through the mouth to feed oxygen to the lungs to prevent hypoxia.
A feeding tube is hooked up to the patient, as a substitute to normal eating/drinking.
Even without the breathing tube inserted, the ability to swallow, or gag reflex, is adversely affected, causing any food or drink to enter the lungs.
Nobody wants to live what’s left of their life in a hospital bed in those circumstances.
Deep sadness.
The great gods of rock and roll may pass but never die. They leave the human stage to rock the heavens forever. Till we rock again, farewell.
March 18th, 2019 at 23:04Fortunately saw Bernie last year live at the Sweden Rock Festival on June 8, 2018! R.I.P. and rock forever in heaven… :'(
March 18th, 2019 at 23:18I remember seeing Bernie’s first show with Ozzy at Madison Square Garden in New York. Randy had just died and being a big Gillan fan I knew he would do just fine and he was great. Even though he only did a handful of shows with Ozzy he was able to help keep the tour going. Rest in peace Bernie. By the way on a side note, UFO opened up for Ozzy on that tour supporting the Mechanix album. What a great night it was!
March 19th, 2019 at 00:33Bernie provided the spark that truly re-ignited Ian G’s career. Mr Universe, Glory Road & Future Shock are bona fide British hard rock classics, sadly under appreciated. A unique guitar maestro & hero who brought a contemporary punk feel to the the early Gillan band without ever reducing the music to mere heavy metal.
RIP, Bernie
March 19th, 2019 at 00:54RIP Bernie Torme. I will always remember fondly the sunny afternoon with my girlfriend in the summer of 1980 in downtown Vancouver when I heard Gillan’s Glory Road album playing in the local record store. Listening to Bernie tear it up on the fretboard just bowled me over. I bought that album right away and played it numerous times over the weeks and months that followed. For me he ranked up there close to Blackmore – what a guitarist.
March 19th, 2019 at 03:01R.I.P.
March 19th, 2019 at 05:38Oh My God !?… Great memories of concerts in ex-Yugoslavia 1979,1980,1981..RIP
March 19th, 2019 at 10:53Bernie was always humble and the most considerate Twitter friend .
March 19th, 2019 at 16:45His quite charm masked a fine mind.
Memories abide of his last gig at The Bellingham .
To be remembered.
See you on the other side, mate. ~RIP
March 19th, 2019 at 16:49May be beautiful laughings in Heaven dear Mr. Torme. Do rest in peace.
March 19th, 2019 at 18:49Hope you’ll have some laughs all the same, Bernie …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmX5n59fe2o
March 19th, 2019 at 19:46The Purple Family is getting smaller year by year…
March 19th, 2019 at 22:47R.I.P., Bernie
Bernie took part of one of the best underrated bands of rock: SILVER (with Gary Barden e.a.). Their first album (Dream Machines) means much to me (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QntT0nVu3Y).
March 22nd, 2019 at 06:42Que la Tierra te sea leve.
Would have been nice to have seen the Gillan band give it one more stint with this line-up, Where were you Ian? Torme was so underrated.
March 22nd, 2019 at 15:57Sad news.
Unfortunately never got o see him live.
Still love the GILLAN albums he was on
Well, heaven must be laughing now.
RIP Bernie
March 25th, 2019 at 22:06I’m a fan of his GMT stuff, too. RIP Bernie.
March 26th, 2019 at 08:45