Bernie Tormé

Bernie Tormé (born Bernard Joseph Tormey; 18 March 1952 – 17 March 2019) was an Irish rock guitarist, songwriter, record label and recording studio owner. Tormé is best known for his work with Gillan, as well as his brief stint with Ozzy Osbourne replacing Randy Rhoads. After two solo albums, he formed the band Tormé. He also became the lead guitarist of the band Desperado with Twisted Sister singer Dee Snider. From 2014 to 2018, Tormé released four solo albums.

Early career The Ranelagh-born Tormé was inspired by the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Rory Gallagher, and Gary Moore . He formed his first band at a young age. His first paid performance came when Don Harris, a 14-year-old drummer he played alongside when he was 17, secured a gig at the local Girl Guides' dance in Kilmainham in Dublin. Tormé then played in Dublin band The Urge in the early 1970s, before relocating to London in 1974, where he initially played with heavy rockers Scrapyard, whose bass player, John McCoy would later be re-united with Tormé in Gillan. Inspired by England's burgeoning mid-1970s punk rock scene, Tormé formed the Bernie Tormé Band in 1976.

In 1977 the band were asked to contribute two tracks to the Live at the Vortex album, "Streetfighter" and "Living for Kicks". He died on 17 March 2019, a day before he would have turned 67. He is survived by his wife Lisa Valder and their three children, Jimi, Eric and Tallulah, and his sister Cliodna Murphy.

Discography

Studio Albums

Bernie Tormé Band Live at the Vortex Vol. 1 (2 tracks contributed to compilation) (1977) I'm Not Ready (7") (1978) Bernie Tormé Band (EP, with Phil Spalding and Mark Harrison) (1979)

Bernie Tormé Turn Out The Lights (1982) – UK No. 50 Electric Gypsies (1983) Wild Irish (1997, a project with Anti-Nowhere League members Chris Jones and John Pearce) Punk Or What (recordings from 1977 to 1979, released in 1998) Flowers & Dirt (2014, double album) Blackheart (2015) Dublin Cowboy (2017, triple album) Shadowland (2018)

Tormé Back To Babylon (1985) Die Pretty, Die Young (1987) Demolition Ball (1993)

Bernie Tormé & the Electric Gypsies White Trash Guitar (1999)

Gillan Mr. Universe (1979) Glory Road (1980) Future Shock (1981)

Desperado Bloodied, But Unbowed (1996, rereleased in 2006)

René Berg The Leather, The Loneliness... And Your Dark Eyes (1992)

Silver (band fronted by Gary Barden) Silver (2001) Dream Machines (2002) Intruder (2003)

Guy McCoy Tormé (GMT) Cannonball (2006, EP) Bitter & Twisted (2006) Evil Twin (2008)

Live albums Bernie Tormé - Live (1984) Tormé - Official Bootleg (1987) Bernie Tormé/Electric Gypsies - Scorched Earth - Live 1999-2001 (2001) Bernie Tormé - Live Sheffield 1983 (2002) GMT - Raw - Live (2011) Bernie Tormé - Final Fling (2022)

Box Sets

Lightning Strikes: 1982-1983 (2023) Tormé: The Bernie Tormé Archives Vol 2 - 1985-1993 (2024)