Former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Bernie Tormé dies at 66
Bernie Tormé, a former guitarist from Ozzy Osbourne, has died at the age of 66 after complications due to double pneumonia.
Tormé was recently hospitalized and put on a ventilator due to his complications.
Read more: Here’s how to enter the Hit Like A Girl drumming contest
News of the death of the Irish-born guitarist was posted on his personal Facebook page.
Drummer Mik Gaffney, who played with Tormé, wrote about his late friend online as well.
“He was loud, passionate, didn’t suffer fools but he was always a true gentleman,” Gaffney’s post reads. “I will miss our arguments about Irish whiskey vs Scottish whisky, I will miss him calling me a c**t, I will miss seeing that sparkle in his eye when he strapped his guitar on.”
Tormé was with Obsourne’s band shortly after Randy Rhoads’ death in 1982. The guitarist only played a handful of shows with the band before he opted to go solo.
He also performed with bands Gillian and Desperado, a project with Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider and Iron Maiden drummer Clive Burr.
He has recorded more than 24 albums over his career, his most recent being a double album Shadowland which dropped last November.
You can see how friends and musicians reacted to his death on Twitter below.
R.I.P @Bernie_Torme
A true original.
I’m proud that I got to call you a friend. pic.twitter.com/jSLh9xCMQj
— Ginger Wildheart (@GingerWildheart) March 18, 2019
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.
— Dee Snider (@deesnider) March 18, 2019
Sad to hear the news of the passing of @Bernie_Torme. Had the chance to see and photograph him in the Diamond back in 2010. Fantastic guitar player and all round nice guy. pic.twitter.com/0mRdpav2HU
— Marc Leach (@mleachphotog) March 18, 2019
RIP Bernie Torme (Legendario guitarrista de Ian Gillan, Dee Snider y Ozzy Osbourne) pic.twitter.com/HsTDgjp1DX
— Christian Acosta (@AcostaMzk) March 18, 2019
Our thoughts are with his family and friends.
See more: In memoriam: Musicians we lost in 2019
[envira-gallery id=”197439″]