It’s a sad day , I just read that Bernie Tormé passed away yesterday at the age of 66. He’s been hospitalized for the past month with double pneumonia and it said he died from complications from the flu. I first heard of him 41 years ago when the Gillan album Mr Universe came out. I have bought everything he has put out since then. I always referred to his playing chaotic beauty. I will truly miss his playing. RIP Bernie. I’ll be sure to crank up some Summerland , Wild West , Rocky Road To Dublin and many more this week.

RIP, Bernie. What a tough position he filled, replacing Randy Rhoads for a short period.

R.I.P.

I posted on FB about this today.

Really sad, as I knew he wasn't doing well lately.

He was so nice to me when I interviewed him for my book and we talked about Gillan, Ozzy and all his solo recordings and remained in touch here and there.

A totally great person and way underrated guitar player (which is why he was in the book.)

The details he told me about the Ozzy situation were fascinating and he was really thankful that I told him the way he pulled that off in such little time in such sad circumstances was no less than amazing.

A very humble guy,

He was born the day before St. Patrick's Day and died the day of, and he was Irish.

That's coming in and going out in style.

R.I.P.

R.I.P

RIP

Former Ozzy Osbourne and Gillan guitarist Bernie Torme died on Sunday, March 17th after being hospitalized last month for pneumonia. He passed away one day shy of his 67th birthday.

Torme rose to fame as the guitarist in Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan's solo band and for a brief time toured with Ozzy Osbourne following the tragic death of Randy Rhoads in 1982.

Torme was hospitalized in intensive care last month. Some one in his camp broke the news via Facebook in mid-February with the following post, "Bernie Torme is extremely ill in intensive care with virulent double pneumonia. We ask for your prayers."

His Facebook then revealed on Monday that the guitarist had died with a simple photo with the caption that read "Bernie Tormey 18.3.1952 - 17.3.2019."

Ozzy reacted with this, "What a sad day. We've lost another great musician. Bernie was a gentle soul with a heart of gold. He will be dearly missed. I send my sincere condolences to his family, friends and fans. Rest in Peace Bernie.?"

Bernie had also worked with Twister Sister frontman Dee Snider in the Desperado project and Dee took to social media to pay tribute to his former bandmate.

Snider wrote, "Woke up to find out my friend @Bernie_Torme has died. He was a guitar god who played with @OzzyOsbourne & Ian Gillan. We worked together for 3 years, writing over 100 songs for the ill-fated Desperado. I loved that man & today my heart is broken. RIP Bernie. Your guitar weeps."

He shared a here in a follow-up tweet that read, "In memory of @Bernie_Torme here is link to Desperado's 'The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter'. One of my proudest moments as a song writer (co-writer with Bernie). Just LISTEN to this man's playing in his memory...& the late Clive Burr's too. RIPBernieTorme".