Just Giving page set up for guitarist Bernie Tormé in light of PledgeMusic woes

Bernie Tormé (Image credit: Kevin Nixon/Metal Hammer)

Last week, former Gillan and Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Bernie Tormé was rushed to hospital suffering from virulent pneumonia in both lungs.

On Friday, his family said there had been no improvement in his health and that he’d been placed on a ventilator.

They also reported that Tormé was still owed £16,000 from PledgeMusic which was due to paid to him back in December for his latest album Shadowland, and, as a result, he was unable to pay his musicians Mik Gaffney and Simon Morton.

Now fans have stepped in to try and help, with Andy Worthington opening a Just Giving page to help raise cash for the guitarist.

A statement on the page reads: “Here’s hoping us loyal fans can help Bernie and his family with short-term bills etc until we can hopefully see him on to the long road to recovery.

“You know Bernie, he would never ask but perhaps this time we owe it to Bernie and his family.”

The campaign is looking to raise £3250 and has almost reached its target.

In January, PledgeMusic came under the spotlight when it was revealed they were behind on payments to some artists, including Danny Vaughn.

Then last week, Queensryche issued a statement to say they were “bamboozled by the people at PledgeMusic” after it emerged that they too were owed cash, leaving them unable to fulfil orders for their new album The Verdict.

PledgeMusic has suspended services on all active campaigns for the time being and issued a statement on Friday saying: “We are deeply sorry for what you are going through and are working around the clock to resolve any and all outstanding issues."

Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent 35 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving to the e-commerce team in 2020. Scott keeps Louder’s buyer’s guides up to date, writes about the best deals for music fans, keeps on top of the latest tech releases and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more. Over the last 10 years, Scott has written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald newspapers, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.