In 2009 he reunited Bergen Blues Band and released a new album with a compilation of their best songs.
His greatest inspiration was, and still is, Muddy Waters, and in 1966 he initiated his first band 'Green Onions', playing blues and soul music.
He listened to most of the live bands in England at the time, and was himself "vagabonding" with his music and harmonica, and got his nickname "Hungry John".
In 1975 Bernes started the Bergen Blues Band together with Per Jørgensen (gitar), Edvard Askeland (bass), Kåre Sandvik (piano) and Frank Jakobsen (drums).
[1] Bernes started 'Hungry John and The Blue Shadows' in 1985, and in 2000 he initiated a long lasting collaboration with Mads Eriksen resulting in the album Travelin (2007) and Just What The World Needs (2010).