Irish guitar legend and frontman Bernie Torme, known for saving the day for Ozzy Osbourne when guitarist Randy Rhoads tragically died, as well as hits and tours with Ian Gillan (Deep Purple) and Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider is featured in a new Metal Express Radio interview.

With a new album, Flowers And Dirt, just released, Torme hit the road on his biggest tour in years. Mick Burgess caught up with him in Newcastle for a chat about his time in Gillan, touring with Ozzy at very short notice and his project with Dee Snider, as well as the making of his new album:

Back in March, Greece's Rockpages has released an exclusive interview with Torme. In the following excerpt he talks about his past with Ian Gillan and the band.

Q: Your career includes many and very significant collaborations. You are well known from the period with Gillan. What does Bernie Torme feel for this period among all the other collaborations of his career?

A: "Well... pride! When I joined the Gillan band I was unknown and by the time I left Ian I was a name in the industry. It was definitely a great band to be in. Ian was a fantastic guy to be in a band and I vividly remember our smooth collaboration. Ian never told anyone how to play and what to play. He let complete freedom to the musician and that's evident to all the Gillan releases. It was an extremely democratic band... possibly quite anarchistic band (laughs)! In the end, there were a lot of arguments about... everything really but all these things belong in the past and I'd be more than happy to have a drink with all the guys from that band... great guys, indeed! I don't think, though, that we will work professionally again as anyone has moved to different paths."

Read the full interview at this location.