His family has announced that guitarist Bernie Marsden, who performed with the British rock band Whitesnake in the 1970s and 1980s, has perished at the age of 72.
The British musician passed away “peacefully” surrounded by his wife and daughters on Thursday.
Before pursuing a solo career, Bernie Marsden co-founded Whitesnake with David Coverdale and co-wrote songs including “Here I Go Again” and “Fool For Your Loving.”
Friday saw the release of an online statement on behalf of his family that read,
“It is with great sorrow that we announce Bernie Marsden’s passing.
“On Thursday evening, Bernie passed away peacefully with his wife Fran and daughters Charlotte and Olivia by his side.
“Bernie never lost his passion for music, writing, and recording until the very end.”
Whitesnake lead vocalist Coverdale stated that he was “honored” to perform alongside Marsden.
“Good Day…Bernie Marsden, an old acquaintance and former member of the Snakes, has passed away,” he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“My deepest thoughts and condolences are with his family, friends, and admirers. I was honored to know and share the stage with this sincerely funny, talented fellow. Rest in peace, Bernie.”
Coverdale also posted additional remembrances of Marsden on social media. Bernie Marsden was born in Buckingham and played in a number of ensembles as an adolescent prior to joining UFO in 1972.
Together with Coverdale, he co-founded Whitesnake in 1978, performing on the group’s début EP and first five albums.
Throughout this period, he recorded two solo albums: And About Time Too and Look At Me Now.
After departing Whitesnake in 1981, Bernie Marsden founded Alaska and released two albums in the 1980s before briefly forming MGM with Mel Galley and Neil Murray.
Bobby Kimball of Toto was also a member of the group. At the 2011 Sweden Rock Festival, he reunited with Whitesnake for the first time since 1981, becoming the only original member to perform with a later lineup.
Early in 2017, Bernie Marsden published his autobiography, Where’s My Guitar: On The Tourbus With The Snakeman, which detailed his musical voyage and included private, never-before-seen photographs from his career.
Bernie Marsden has collaborated with some of the finest rock and roll musicians of all time, including Robert Plant, Paul Weller, Jon Lord, and Gary Moore, outside of the recording industry.
Additionally, he was a member of Sir Ringo Starr’s All Starr Band.
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