Oh Celtic Angel, it’s time to fly
Axe Victim, crying to the sky
On the Sabbath, with Demon’s Eye
All strung up, but too young to die
Celtic Angel is a tribute to Bernie Tormé R.I.P. 1952-2019, bandleader, guitarist, and songwriter for Ian Gillan and Ozzy Osbourne. I wrote the song in 2020 after first meeting Bernie by accident in 2010 at his studio, whilst recording a song for a friend. A friendship evolved and I was privileged to perform with this gentle giant on a number of occasions. Bernie reflected this in his own words on the cover of one of his albums after I spent some time with Bernie on his renaissance. It is the first time I’ve ever been credited alongside Arthur Brown and Twisted Sister and this is probably one of the pieces of feedback I shall treasure above all my professional work as a speaker and business consultant.
Celtic Angel reflects many of Bernie’s influences, with various nods and winks to Deep Purple, Jimi Hendrix, Ozzy Osbourne, Bill Nelson, and his infamous Big Muff effects pedal which Bernie used to push his Marshall amps over the cliff edge to ear-splitting volumes. Featuring sitars, guitars turned up to 11, and some soaring sonics that give a wink and a nod to the great man from the emerald isle. Although Celtic Angel was conceived in a basement, it is a truly global production, featuring artists from NYC to the North of England and Kent in the UK. We have two versions of the song available, a male and female vocal performance. Find them on iTunes, Amazon etc.
Celtic Angel is released worldwide with a contribution from sales to The Teenage Cancer Trust. We hope to bring Bernie’s music to the attention of the masses via his website which continues to breathe his spirit and passion for his raw unvarnished musicianship. We interviewed Bernie Tormé to learn transferable lessons from the world of rock ‘n’ roll for business leaders and entrepreneurs and you can find these at Music Legends.
What a sad day. We’ve lost another great musician. Bernie was a gentle soul with a heart of gold. He will be dearly missed. I send my sincere condolences to his family, friends, and fans. Rest in Peace Bernie.
—Ozzy Osbourne
I always enjoyed our time spent talking about music, business, philosophy, and politics. Bernie was so much more than a guitar player. Thank you for your time and patience with an apprentice.
—Peter Cook
