On behalf of his family, it is with deep sadness we announce the death of Bernie Marsden. Bernie died peacefully on Thursday evening with his wife, Fran, and daughters, Charlotte & Olivia, by his side.
Bernie never lost his passion for music, writing and recording until the end.
It’s with great sadness I post this photo. I first saw Jeff when my band opened for the Jeff Beck Group in 1968. After that I soon realised his sheer genius, a genius that continued for all his life. Now he’s gone, the best of the best. I’m devastated. ❤️🎸❤️🎸
Recently found this in my personal collection. Two of the very best musicians, relaxing backstage in one photo, and what about those smiles!
Cozy Powell and Gary Moore at a Gary Moore Band gig, I think in London. So many memories. 🎸🥁❤️
This is the man who bought me my first guitar. My spectacular Dad recently passed away, he was 94. I’m posting this for the people who met him at my gigs, he had as many fans as me! He met many famous people, but always treated everyone exactly the same. Joe Marsden 1926-2020.
I’ve been overwhelmed today by all the amazing birthday wishes from everyone all over the world. Thank you all so much. 🎸❤️
I thought I’d show you this very appropriate t-shirt that I got from my daughter! 😂👍🏼
Hope you all have a great weekend.
Be safe.
BM
I’ve been astonished by the reaction to the potential sale of The Beast! But, I have had some constructive conversations with my family and they feel it should stay with me for a bit longer, and so I’ve withdrawn it from a possible sale… I hope this improves your moods.
BM🎸😂👍🏼
Today marks 20 years since the sad day we lost Cozy Powell.
I treasure the time I spent with him, always inspiring, never took any prisoners, and, yeah, he could play a bit! A giant in our business.
Photo from my wedding day, he was my best man! Miss you, Coz. ❤️😎🥁🎸☮️
Men of the World!
Without the influence of this man I’m not sure I would have ever been a pro. I spent a great afternoon with the one and only Peter Green last week, he’s in very good form.
He laid his hands on The Beast, too. More Mojo!
BM😎🎸❤️
Hi folks, I’ve been playing this fab guitar last couple of weeks.
It’s an ES-335 from 1964, BIG neck profile, I’m falling back in love with these guitars, especially with my 1961 Gibson Ranger GA-20! ❤️🎸❤️🎸
One of the first songs written together by David Coverdale and me. A belated thanks to you all for the birthday messages the other day. Means a lot. Be safe out there. 😎🎸❤️
At Abbey Road recently, I had the immense pleasure of finally meeting a hero of mine, Nile Rodgers! I was fortunate to record with Bernard Edwards & Tony Thompson of Chic in the 80s, which stands today as a real high point of my career. Meeting Nile completes the circle.
BM😎🎸❤️
40 years since the release of this gem of a record. Before being a part of Whitesnake I had experienced a pretty good career, but because of the Whitesnake fans, I’m saying this on social media in 2018!
This 1978 album started an amazing journey, and I’m still travelling!
BM😎❤️
Here’s a picture I’ve never seen before! With the Whitesnake Gibson twin-neck, around 1975/6. First used with Paice Ashton Lord, I still have it. 👍🏼😎❤️🎸
Today would have been Jon Lord’s 79th birthday. I can’t ever really explain what he meant to me. To travel, record and play with him just a few feet away was, and still is, unforgettable. He is very much missed by me and countless other fans and fellow musicians.
BM😎❤️🎸
Well! Here’s my card after my COVID-19 vaccination on Friday night at my local community centre. Incredibly well organised, efficient and friendly. Thank you to all the brilliant NHS staff. Don’t hesitate to get vaccinated folks - it’s key to getting gigs back on the road.
BM😎❤️
One year since the loss of this true legend.
We all still have his music, and what a legacy to leave, and I have my own memories to cherish.
I miss our times together, and his cups of tea, but I look back at my photos with a smile. 😎🎸💚
#PeterGreen
Here’s a shot of The Beast in 1975, only about a year after I acquired it. The cherry sunburst looking pretty intact, I’m still wearing Rory shirts!
Babe Ruth hotel room I think, thanks to Steve Gurl for the pic. 😎🎸❤️
So sad to hear of the passing of Malcolm Young. I have so many fond memories of him from my days on the road with AC/DC.
I always found him interesting and good company and he was the heart and engine of that great AC/DC show. My condolences to his family and AC/DC fans.❤️
Hi guys, here is another garden of guitars.
A random mix, Fender, Gretsch, Gibson and one of my treasured Sid Poole guitars. 😎🎸❤️
I’ll get another video out there soon, stay safe, especially after the weekend when some more contact is allowed here in the UK.
BM
Cozy would have been 75 today!
So many glorious memories of my playing with him. He was inspiring, funny and hugely talented, best man at my wedding as well!
Here we are on Top of the Pops, much lamented and missed, I can imagine his comments on being 75, unprintable… 😂🥁🎸❤️😎
Early days on the road with Whitesnake. I used this guitar a lot - a customised Ibanez Destroyer. It was the only ‘Explorer’ type guitar at the time I bought it, around 1976. I was with Babe Ruth at the time. I still have it now!
Huge thanks to the
@bmi
for this award, in recognition of over 8 million plays on US radio for Here I Go Again. 😎👍🏼🎸 It is much appreciated. Thanks to my girls Charlotte and Olivia for picking up the award for me. ❤️
Very pleased to be awarded another BMI milestone award for Here I Go Again, this time marking over 6 million plays on USA radio. Big thanks to the
@bmi
team, to
@sonyatvpubuk
and, of course, to DC back in the day.
BM 😎🎸❤️
Very proud to have been involved in this
@JBONAMASSA
album.
Royal Tea is a wonderful piece of work, and has jumped straight into the UK album chart Top 10 at No. 7 this week.
Huge congratulations to you, Joe.
BM 😎❤️🎸
#RoyalTea
Here’s a nice photo of me with Peter Green and Peter’s friend Paul earlier this month.
Peter is in good form, and he made me laugh a lot. I played some guitar with him, and Paul plays guitar with him almost daily which is very good to know. 🎸
A moment in time for sure, the big breakthrough album for us. Creativity was very high, the performances of top quality, and some great songs that have stood the test of time. 😎🎸❤️
A special memory of mine.
Donal Gallagher passed this legendary guitar to me at Buxton Opera House, Oct 1996. “Ladies & gentlemen, I think my brother would approve me.”
I was the first guitarist to play the Stratocaster after Rory’s passing.
I was incredibly moved.
BM😎❤️🎸
Happy New Year, folks. It’s guitar time! Here are three Gibson Les Pauls that are all connected… One old and two more recent!
L-R: CC8
#1
, The Beast 9-1914, and CC8
#300
What links them? And no, you don’t win one if you get it right! 😂❤️😎🎸
BM
Here’s a vintage Whitesnake pic, possibly taken in Japan, looks like the ‘Ready An Willing’ era. As ever, The Beast is doing all the work. 👍🏼😂
I pretty much wore a tour shirt every gig in those days, the merch company loved it!
Be safe folks, have a good week ahead.
BM😎👍🏼🎸
A very enjoyable birthday today with my family, and thank you all for your good wishes, including the Happy Birthday chorus at Birmingham Guitar Show! 🎸👍🏼❤️
Yesterday was the 39th anniversary of The Song!
I don’t remember it being a double A side!
Ironically, it was the very last song I recorded with Whitesnake, at Clearwell Castle. I was very pleased to see that this original version has over 100 million plays on Spotify! 🎸👍🏼❤️
Thank you all for your continued good wishes. I’m currently putting together some original tracks for the next album, and have been in and out of the studio recording. Very happy with how they’re sounding. 👍🏼🎸😎
Yesterday marked six years since we lost the Great Jon Lord. There aren't many like Jon, a true one of a kind, and my time working with him is one of the main highlights on my entire career. Hugely missed, but never forgotten.
BM🎸😎❤️🎹
Last night I saw the mighty Iron Maiden in Birmingham - a spectacular show!!
It was great to hang with my dear friends, Steve, Adrian, Nicko, Jannick & Dave Murray who I’d not seen for a long time.
Maiden were terrific - what a show. Come on you Irons!🎸🇬🇧🎸🇬🇧❤️
I was so sorry to hear of the passing of my dear friend Martin Birch.
Martin and I first worked together with Paice Ashton Lord in 1976, he then produced all the classic Whitesnake recordings and my first solo album. He really was the seventh member of the original Whitesnake.
A return of The Garden of Guitars. 🌳 I have some terrific guitars, all are dear to me, but a few have extra mojo!
Here is one of them, this is the guitar that graces the cover of the Whitesnake live album. It’s still played regularly I’m pleased to say.
BM 😎🎸
THE NEW ALBUM FROM BERNIE MARSDEN
WORKING MAN
OUT 24 NOVEMBER 2023
There has been a huge outpouring of loving tributes since Bernie passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on 24th August 2023.
Only a few knew that he had just completed a brand new album…
A Christmas activity for you all... Head to
@Selfridges
London store on Oxford Street and you’ll see some of my guitars in the windows!
Who’d have thought that in 2018 I would have a couple of Selfridges windows?
The world is full of surprises.
BM ❤️🎸😎🎁🎄
This ‘59 turns 59 in 2018!😎🎸
A very Happy New Year to you all.
Thanks to anyone who came out to see me this year, I’m always blown away by your support.
I’ll see you in 2018, a big year for historical reasons!
As ever, see you out there folks.
Best, BM❤️😎☮️💥🎸
Very proud to receive an award from
@bmi
, to recognise 5 million plays of 'Here I Go Again' on USA radio.📻
A proud moment! Good to catch up with some old friends.
BM 😎🎸
#HereIGoAgain
An unexpectedly emotional few days on the road playing the ‘Ready an’ Willing’ album ended triumphantly last night in Cardiff. Thanks to the band and, of course, to the fans. The Whitesnake choir is still loud and clear. Sweet satisfaction for all. BM😎❤️🎸
It has been 10 years since I met
@JBONAMASSA
at The Royal Albert Hall, so it was a real privilege to play with him there on Friday night. Thank you, Joe, for your friendship and for your talent.😎🎸
Photos by Laurence Harvey.
Today in 1970 James Marshall Hendrix passed away.
Jimi Hendrix’s music will be with us forever.
Each and every one of us guitar players are in his debt, old and new.
BM
The work’s getting harder here in LA, today I had to hang out with these guys - Steve Lukather, Doug Aldrich & Andy Timmons!🎸
Played The Ronnie Montrose last night with Doug & WS bassist Michael Devin. Thanks America, I always feel welcome here.
BM😎❤️🇺🇸🇬🇧
Thanks to you all for the birthday wishes yesterday. ❤️🎂🎸 Here’s a picture of a certain guitar I thought you’d like, courtesy of
@peachguitars
. It’s approaching its pension age, but looking good and sounding better. 😂🎸👍🏼
Very sad news. I never met Charlie Watts and yet he was a part of my whole life in music, from the early days of the Stones, his rock steady style and groove was pretty unique.
The Stones will continue, but will never be the same. There will only be one Charlie Watts. RIP. ❤️🥁
Hi folks,
I’m very excited to let you know that I have a new album out this week called KINGS. 👑🎸
My thank you to three influential Bluesmen - BB King, Freddy King & Albert King who have all been a part of my playing since discovering them as a teen.
I am lost for words when something like this happens. I know they’re just books on a shelf, but only guitar players from my era will know what I’m feeling so good about looking at this photo. Thank you to whoever at
@Waterstones
Maidstone who has just made my day.
BM😎🎸👍🏼❤️
The one & only BB King the day I interviewed him at Birmingham Odeon, 1978. He’s tuning up here, but he passed me Lucille shortly after this was taken. One of my great days for sure. This interview with BB can be heard at the end of the audiobook version of my memoir. BM😎👍🏼🎸
At Guitarpoint in Frankfurt. This must be the only store where you can see at least 10 original 1958-1960 Gibson Les Paul Standards. All in sunburst, 2 Gold Tops, 3 black Customs... Incredible.
I’ll be playing one of these in particular later on today - maybe a few more as well!
Thanks to my old friend Graham Oliver for this photo! Circa 1974, The Beast looks amazing, and you can spot the case on the left next to me. And some young bloke in the middle. 😂👍🏼🎸
It was great to spend time this week at
@AbbeyRoad
. The best thing about working there is bumping into people: some you know, some you’ve never met & some you get to know very soon. Was a pleasure to see
@garyjkemp
, Nick Mason & Guy Pratt whilst writing there with
@JBONAMASSA
.🎸