Whitesnake lead and rock guitarist Bernie Marsden passes away at 72

Rock legend, guitarist Bernie Marsden who was known as le of hard rock band Whitesnake has passed away at age of 72 due to health issues.

news of musician's passing was announced by band leer and le singer David Coverdale, who confirmed that his bandmate and dear friend Bernie died on August 24, with his family members by his side.

Talking to social media, on August 25 night, singer wrote: “I’ve just woken up to awful news that my old friend and former Snake Bernie Marsden has passed. My sincere thoughts and prayers to his beloved family, friends and fans. A genuinely funny, gifted man, whom I was honored to know and share a stage with.”

Before joining Whitesnake, Marsden played in several bands such as UFO, Cozy Powell's Hammer, Babe Ruth and a few ors before joining Deep Purple members Jon Lord and Ian Paice's new band with singer Tony Ashton called Paice Ashton Lord.

But gig he perhaps became best known for came in 1978, when he formed a new band with David Coverdale and guitarist Mick Moody, originally named David Coverdale’s Whitesnake. band later changed ir name to simply Whitesnake.

Marsden was a member of Whitesnake between 1978 and 1982, during which time he appeared on band’s first EP and ir first five albums as well as a live album: ‘Snakebite’ (1978), ‘Trouble’ (1978), ‘Lovehunter’ (1979), ‘Rey & Willing’ (1980), ‘Live In Heart Of City’ (1980), ‘Come An’ Get It’ (1981) and ‘Saints & Sinners’ (1982).

As such, Mardsen was part of band’s classic lineup and performed some of ir most well known classics such as ‘Here I Go Again’ and ‘Crying in Rain’ and ‘Fool For Your Loving’.

Mardsen, though he was only part of group for a short time, proved one of its most influential members, and his style would go on to define much of what Whitesnake would do in later years.

Whitesnake is one of most influential hard rock bands of all time, known for combining hard edged hard rock riffs with blues melodies in a style similar to AC/DC, though h more in common with Led Zeppelin.

ir music also helped inspire bands such as Motley Crue, Bon Jovi and Guns’ N Roses. To date band has sold 100 million records worldwide, making m one of best selling bands of all time.