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04-23-2006, 11:45 AM
Greg Schmitt of Rock Eyez recently conducted an interview with legendary hard rock vocalist Joe Lynn Turner (RAINBOW, DEEP PURPLE, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN). A few excerpts from the chat follow:
Rock Eyez: As we all know, you were involved with three RAINBOW albums in the early 1980s, and then returned to join DEEP PURPLE for the underrated "Slaves And Masters" CD. What was your writing partnership with Ritchie [Blackmore] and Roger [Glover] like?
Joe Lynn Turner: "Roger and I were...I'd like to think...very close and had a lot of similar pacing and literature tastes. We were also into the same things... metaphysics, psychology. I think that is reflected in a lot of the songs we collaborated on. Working with Roger was great!"
Rock Eyez: It appears that Ritchie's been sequestered from the rock scene by his management for the last decade. Have you heard the BLACKMORE'S NIGHT material, [and] what are your thoughts on it?
Joe Lynn Turner: "I think Ritchie is very happy making this type of music. I also like it a lot. Ritchie always wanted to do material like this, so it is not forced on him in any way. Recently, I contributed vocals to a BLACKMORE'S NIGHT version of [RAINBOW's] 'Street of Dreams'. It's on their latest CD as a bonus track. It was really enjoyable to do."
Rock Eyez: Has there ever been talk of you and Ritchie reforming RAINBOW? Or even you touring as JLT's RAINBOW? Those songs deserve to be heard more frequently.
Joe Lynn Turner: "There is always talk and rumors. I would love to tour again with Ritchie if he decided to reform RAINBOW if it was for one show, one album or a whole tour. We worked well together and got along great. However, I know he is committed to BLACKMORE'S NIGHT and as I said, he seems very fulfilled."
Rock Eyez: You were heavily involved in the writing of what probably became the most commercially successful YNGWIE MALMSTEEN album, "Odyssey". What are your feelings on those days? Was it a positive working relationship, and would you ever consider rekindling it?
Joe Lynn Turner: "It was one of the best albums I ever made with anyone. I am very proud of the record. Great songs, excellent musicianship. It was one of the highlights of my career. It was a positive relationship in that we made some great music together and grew a lot in the process. Yngwie and I did work together later on 'Inspiration'. If Yngwie wanted to work, again it would depend on the situation, circumstances, etc."
Read the entire interview at www.rockeyez.com.
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My comment on this?
If it means getting Ritchie Blackmore back to being, well, RITCHIE BLACKMORE, I'm all for it.
I would prefer Dio, but with that, you have to consider the "original" Rainbow lineup...and Cozy Powell would be sorely missed...
With Turner, they could get Bobby Rondinelli back...or Chuck Burgi...or whoever, really...
Just as long as Ritchie, Roger and Joe were there, I guess pretty much anybody could be on keyboards and drums, probably wouldn't matter all that much...
Moreover, Turner could sing all of the Rainbow era (Dio/Bonnet/JLT/White) live, whereas with Ronnie it'd have to be exclusively Ronnie's material...
Tough call, but I'd love to see Rainbow together again, one way or another.
Rock Eyez: As we all know, you were involved with three RAINBOW albums in the early 1980s, and then returned to join DEEP PURPLE for the underrated "Slaves And Masters" CD. What was your writing partnership with Ritchie [Blackmore] and Roger [Glover] like?
Joe Lynn Turner: "Roger and I were...I'd like to think...very close and had a lot of similar pacing and literature tastes. We were also into the same things... metaphysics, psychology. I think that is reflected in a lot of the songs we collaborated on. Working with Roger was great!"
Rock Eyez: It appears that Ritchie's been sequestered from the rock scene by his management for the last decade. Have you heard the BLACKMORE'S NIGHT material, [and] what are your thoughts on it?
Joe Lynn Turner: "I think Ritchie is very happy making this type of music. I also like it a lot. Ritchie always wanted to do material like this, so it is not forced on him in any way. Recently, I contributed vocals to a BLACKMORE'S NIGHT version of [RAINBOW's] 'Street of Dreams'. It's on their latest CD as a bonus track. It was really enjoyable to do."
Rock Eyez: Has there ever been talk of you and Ritchie reforming RAINBOW? Or even you touring as JLT's RAINBOW? Those songs deserve to be heard more frequently.
Joe Lynn Turner: "There is always talk and rumors. I would love to tour again with Ritchie if he decided to reform RAINBOW if it was for one show, one album or a whole tour. We worked well together and got along great. However, I know he is committed to BLACKMORE'S NIGHT and as I said, he seems very fulfilled."
Rock Eyez: You were heavily involved in the writing of what probably became the most commercially successful YNGWIE MALMSTEEN album, "Odyssey". What are your feelings on those days? Was it a positive working relationship, and would you ever consider rekindling it?
Joe Lynn Turner: "It was one of the best albums I ever made with anyone. I am very proud of the record. Great songs, excellent musicianship. It was one of the highlights of my career. It was a positive relationship in that we made some great music together and grew a lot in the process. Yngwie and I did work together later on 'Inspiration'. If Yngwie wanted to work, again it would depend on the situation, circumstances, etc."
Read the entire interview at www.rockeyez.com.
***************
My comment on this?
If it means getting Ritchie Blackmore back to being, well, RITCHIE BLACKMORE, I'm all for it.
I would prefer Dio, but with that, you have to consider the "original" Rainbow lineup...and Cozy Powell would be sorely missed...
With Turner, they could get Bobby Rondinelli back...or Chuck Burgi...or whoever, really...
Just as long as Ritchie, Roger and Joe were there, I guess pretty much anybody could be on keyboards and drums, probably wouldn't matter all that much...
Moreover, Turner could sing all of the Rainbow era (Dio/Bonnet/JLT/White) live, whereas with Ronnie it'd have to be exclusively Ronnie's material...
Tough call, but I'd love to see Rainbow together again, one way or another.