Bernie Marsden, one of rock’s most iconic guitarists and former member of the band Whitesnake, died on Thursday (24/08) at the age of 72. The musician’s family said he died along with his wife Fran and daughters Charlotte and Olivia. “Bernie has never lost his passion for music, writing and recording new songs until the end,” said the family.
Former bandmate David Coverdale also paid tribute. “Woke up to the awful news that my old friend and former bandmate Bernie Marsden has passed away,” he wrote. “A really funny and talented man that I had the honor to meet and share the stage with.”
Marsden’s trajectory
Born in Buckingham, England in 1951, Bernie Marsden began his professional music career in 1972 with the band UFO. Before hitting fame with Whitesnake, he had already showcased his talents in bands like Paice Ashton Lord, along with members of Deep Purple and Wild Turkey.
In 1978, he co-founded Whitesnake with David Coverdale. The collaboration between the musicians resulted in an EP, five studio albums and a live album, which resulted in hits such as “Here I Go Again” and “Fool for Your Loving”, which bear their signature.
Despite the fame the band earned, Marsden faced financial challenges even during the prime of his career. “All I was making was a small monthly salary. It didn’t matter if we played 10 shows or 29 shows, the money was the same,” revealed the guitarist, pointing out Whitesnake’s management issues, which led him to break with Coverdale.
After leaving Whitesnake, Marsden formed and played in several other influential bands such as Alaska and The Moody Marsden Band. In addition, he has continued to develop his solo repertoire, which began during his days with Whitesnake. The guitarist’s star-studded list of collaborators also includes the likes of Robert Plant, Paul Weller, Jon Lord, Ringo Starr, Rory Gallagher, Jack Bruce and Warren Haynes, whom rock fans cringe to mention.
Very active on the music scene, the guitarist continues to record intensely. He has also released two albums in 2021 and another in 2022 as part of his LP series called “Bernie’s Inspiration Series”.
Last year, however, he began to suffer from health problems, underwent surgery and fell ill with acute dehydration.
“I guess I’m proud of everything that’s happened,” reads a quote on his official website. “After all, I just wanted to make a living playing the guitar.”
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Source: Terra
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