Born in Dublin, Ireland, Bernie Tormé got his first guitar aged 11. "This was the dark ages: no-one told me which way round
to tune the the strings, so I spent the first six months with the strings the wrong way round. That probably explains something."As the late sixties turned into the early seventies, Dublin was a good place to be
an aspiring guitar player. The city clubs wailed to the sound of Rory Gallagher with TASTE, Gary Moore with SKID ROW, and Eric Bell with THIN LIZZY.
"It was great. I could go down and see all of them regularly, and
try to nick their licks."
It was at this time that Bernie Tormé put his first band together, playing supports to some of these now legendary names, as well as at venues all over the country.
We played in places you
wouldn't believe existed: where you were liable to be killed if you didn't play every single song in the top ten plus some obscure Country 'n Western track you've never even heard of. I got pretty sick of it: so I left
for London."
In London, Bernie formed a three piece band called SCRAPYARD, which at one point
included bass player John McCoy, whom he was later to play with in heavy rock giants GILLAN. SCRAPYARD eventually evolved into THE BERNIE TORME BAND, which included well known sessioneer Phil
Spalding on bass (later with Toyah, Mike Oldfield, B.E.F., Original Mirrors, among others): THE BERNIE TORME BAND got their first record deal at the begining of the punk era: they remain the only punk band on
record with a resident guitar hero.
The band toured the UK repeatedly, released two singles, and built up a considerable following. At about this time Bernie came to the attention of ex-DEEP PURPLE
singer Ian Gillan, and was asked by Ian to join his band shortly afterwards.
GILLAN with Tormé on guitar enjoyed widespread success, selling millions of records and touring extensively
throughout the UK, Europe, Japan, and the USA. They released three top ten albums, Mr. Universe, Glory Road, and Future Shock, as well as many chart singles, including
Trouble, New Orleans, Mutually Assured Destruction and No Laughing in Heaven. Future Shock reached no.1 in the UK charts in 1981. Never one to rest on his laurels, in
the summer of that year Bernie decided to quit GILLAN.
" It was time for a change: I was getting bored"
After his departure from GILLAN, Tormé toured and recorded with ATOMIC ROOSTER,
with Vincent Crane (keyboards) and Paul Hammond (drums), both of whom have since sadly died of drug overdoses.
In 1982 Bernie stood in temporarily for Randy Rhoads with Ozzy Osbourne's BLIZZARD
OF OZZ, following Randy's tragic death in an aircrash. Tormé was Ozzy's first choice as replacement, but he did not wish to join the band as a full time member.
At that time Bernie was already involved in forming the ELECTRIC GYPSIES. The band toured extensively during the early 80's, releasing three albums: Turn Out The Lights, Electric Gypsies, and Live.
Troubled with shifting line ups, this project eventually metamorphosed into TORME, with Phil Lewis ( ex-Girl, L.A. Guns) on vocals. TORME's live performances became
almost legendary throughout the UK, but major chart success eluded them. TORME released three albums : Back To Babylon, Die Pretty Die Young, and Official Live Bootleg.
Following the demise of TORME, Bernie worked in the US with Dee Snider (ex Twisted Sister) on his DESPERADO project, which also involved Clive Burr (ex Iron Maiden). He
also wrote material which appeared on Dee's subsequent WIDOWMAKER Blood 'n Bullets recording and also on the more recent Stand By For Pain.
In the early nineties Bernie released only one new album with singer Gary Owen (ex Samson), titled Demolition Ball.
