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Bernie Torme

From: Dublin/London

Active: 1976-

Style: Hard Rock

Lineup:

Bio:

Metal/hard rock guitarist most famous for his stint in Ian Gillan's band from 1979- 1981, but that's just 2 and a half years in a very long CV. I can't believe there isn't a good website out there ?! I stand corrected, there is one (see links below).

Bernie's website contains much more information about his musical career. Here is a brief synopsis: Bernie began playing in his native Dublin most notably with a band called The Urge in 1974. He crossed paths with the early Boomtown Rats in this period. In 1976 he moved to London and formed The Bernie Torme Band, who were inspired by punk rock playing the same venues as many of the original punk bands and appearing on the Live At The Vortex compilation. They toured with the Boomtown Rats and supported bands like The Boys, Bethnal, Generation X and most significantly Gillan, who were soon to be in need of a guitarist. They were signed by Jet Records and released a couple of singles but basically the label did little to promote the band and they split in 1979 due to lack of progress.

Bernie joined Gillan for three albums (1979-81) and then Atomic Rooster for one ("Headline News" in 1981) and then toured with Ozzy Osbourne in April-May 1981, filling in for the recently deceased Randy Rhoads. Full details of these years can be found on Bernie's own site.

He recorded his debut solo album towards the end of his time with Gillan in early 1981 and then recorded as Electric Gypsies (1982-84) and Torme (1985-87) as well as under his own name.



Discography

Bernie Torme (solo 1976)

• The Hunter / Soul Sister
7" - Peter Collins Artist Management - PC 1 - UK - 1977 - no PS, 500 copies

Notes: Bernie's manager Peter Collins had worked at Phonogram and used his contacts to organise this single on a limited budget which must be considered promo only. A self-released single in keeping with proto punk era was Peter's idea. "Probably 500 pressed" according to Bernie but he is not sure. It was recorded at the Kinks' Konk Studio in Hornsea. The purple/lilac/blue-ish label has Peter Collins Management Records in large black letters and the artist name and song titles in a smaller font. The catalogue number is PC 1, not 01 624 5566 which was the office phone number! A rare item.



Bernie Torme Band (1977-79)

Lineup: Bernie Torme (guitars/vocals), Phil Spalding (bass/vocals), Mark Harrison (drums/vocals). Phil Spalding later in Toyah, Original Mirrors, B.E.F. among others. Mark Harrison later in the Nipple Erectors and Dirty Strangers.


• various artists - Live At The Vortex
LP - Vortex/Nems Records - NEL 6013 - UK - 1977
Recorded Live At the Vortex, 10-11 October 1977


• I'm Not Ready / Free
7" - Jet Records - 126 - October 1978 - PS


• Weekend EP
7" - Jet Records - 137 - 1979 - PS


• Punk Or What (1977-79)
2xCD - Retrowrek Records - RETRK104 - 1998
Previously unreleased songs and/or out-takes from 1977-79.


• various artists - Metallergy
LP - Jet Records - JETMP228 - 1980
Two unreleased tracks in the Jet vaults


Bernie Torme (solo 1979-82)

• All Day And All Of The Night / What's Next
7" - Parole/Fresh Records - PURL 5/FRESH 7 - 1979 - PS?

Notes:
With John DuCann (guitar), John McCoy (bass) and Paul Gunn (drums).



• various artists - A Fresh Selection
LP - Fresh Records - FRESH LP8 - UK - 1981


• The Beat // I Want / Boney Maronie
7" - Island Records - WIP 6586 - 1980 - PS, pink vinyl
With Colin Towns (keyboards), John McCoy (bass), Mick Underwood (drums)


• America / Chelsea Girl
7" - Kamaflage Records - KAM 5 - 1982 - PS
With Colin Townes (keyboards), Phil Spalding (bass), Nigel Glockler (drums)


• Turn Out The Lights
LP - Kamaflage Records - KAMLP2 - 1982 - some copies on white vinyl
CD - Retrowrek Records - RETRK101 - 199?

Notes:
With Colin Towns (keyboards/flute), Phil Spalding (bass), Nigel Glockler (ex Toyah) and Mark Harrison (drums).



Bernie Torme & Electric Gypsies (1982-84)

With Robert John Godfrey (The Enid) (keyboards), Everton Williams (ex Bethnal) (bass/vocals), and Frank Noon (Def Leppard/Stampede/Waysted) (drums/percussion)


• Shoorah Shoorah / Star / Search And Destroy / Possession
2x7" - Kamaflage Records - KAM 8 - 1982 - PS


• I Can't Control Myself / Black Sunday
7" - Zebra Records - RA 1 - 1983 - PS


• Electric Gypsies
LP - Zebra Records - ZEB1 - 1983
CD - Retrowrek Records - RETRK102 - 199?


Bernie Torme (solo 1984-86)

• Live
mini-LP - Zebra Records - MZEB3 - 1984 - inner sleeve
CD - Retrowrek Records - RETRK106 - January 2000

Notes:
With Colin Bond (ex Stampede) (bass) and Ron Rebel (ex Iron Maiden) (drums).



• My Baby Loves A Vampire / Lightning Strikes (live)
7" - Zebra Records - RA 2 - 1984 - PS
12" - Zebra Records - 12 RA 2 - 1984 - PS


• various artists - Kiss Yer Skull
LP - Conifer - ??? - 1986


• Back With The Boys (Best Of)
LP - Raw Power Records - RAWLP 010 - 1986


Torme (1985-87)

With Phil Lewis (ex Girl) (vocals), Chris Heilman (bass) and Ian Whitewood (drums).



• All Around The World / Come The Revolution
7" - Zebra Records - RA 5 - 1985


• Back To Babylon
LP - Zebra Records - ZEB6 - 1985 - inner sleeve, some copies on red vinyl
CD - Metal Blade Records - 73434-2 - 1989 - with 1 bonus track
• Star / T.V.O.D
7" - Zebra Records - RA 5 - 1986
• Star / Kerrap / T.V.O.D / Love Guns & Money
12" - Zebra Records - 12 RA 5 - 1986


• Die Pretty, Die Young LP+12" - Heavy Metal Records - HMRLP94 + 12HM95 - 1987
CD - Retrowrek Records - RETRK109 - 2002 - with bonus tracks

Let it Rock
The Real Thing
Ready
Sex Action
Ways of the East
Killer
Memphis
Louise
Crimes of Passion
Ghost Train

12-inch tracks:
All Around The World
Chain Gang
Mystery Train

CD bonus track:
Let it Rock (alternative take)

• Official Bootleg
LP/CD - Onsala Records - TL006 - 1987

Notes:
1-9 recorded live at the Clarendon, Hammersmith in April 1987



Bernie Torme (solo 1987-)

• Are We There Yet
LP - Heavy Metal Records - HMRLP 168 - 1991


• Demolition Ball
CD - Bleeding Hearts - CDBLEED2 1994
CD - Retrowrek Records - RETRK110 - 2003

Notes:
With Gary Owen (vocals), John Pearce/Mark Duncan/Richie Murray (bass) and Chris Jones (drums)



• Wild Irish
CD - Retrowrek Records - RETRK103 - 1997

Notes:
With John Pearce (Anti Nowhere League) (bass), Chris Jones (Anti Nowhere League/Heavy Metal Outlaws) (drums).



• White Trash Guitar
2xCD - Retrowrek Records - RETRK105 - 1999

Notes:
With John Pearce (Anti Nowhere League) (bass), Chris Jones (Anti Nowhere League/Heavy Metal Outlaws) (drums) Mark Harrison (additional keyboards), Rosa Belchen (violin) and Simon Jeffrey (tabla, percussion, harmonica). Guest: Dee Snider (lead vocal on Easy Action).



• Electric Gypsies - Scorched Earth
CD - Retrowrek Records - RETRK108 - 2001?

Notes:
with John Pearce (bass) and Simon Jeffrey (drums). Recorded live in the UK and Europe 1999-2001



Other projects:

The Hard (1979)

Bernie Torme & Phil Spalding

• The Hottest Woman In Town / I Know
7" - CM Records - ??? - 1979


• various artists - Metal Killers
LP - Kastle Killers - ??? - 1984
track: The Hottest Woman in Town


Gillan (1979-81)

tbd

Split Knee Loons (1981)

With Wah!Wah! Wahtkins [AKA Chas Watkins] (guitar/vocals), Cosmo Toons [AKA Colin Towns] (keyboards), Stix Hoypolloy [AKA John McCoy] (drums), and Ernie Orme [AKA Bernie Torme] (bass).

• Split Knee Loons EP
7" - Avatar Records - AAA111 - 1981 - PS


Atomic Rooster (1981)

tbd




Help!

We need your help to correct and/or complete this entry. If you can provide more information about this band, have scans, photos or any other memorabilia we can use, or spare copies of any releases, then please get in touch.




See Also:

External Links: bernietorme.com



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