Joe Lynn Turner in Brazil!
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Many stories to tell and show the world!
Cyrus Hiruma
Photo: C hris Marksbury 
When Joe Lynn Turner was called by Ritchie Blackmore to form Rainbow in the '80s, there was a radical change in the sound of the band, which entered into its phase of greatest commercial success. Even with the end of the group in 1984, Joe released the following year his first solo album, Rescue You, and performed as a vocalist for Yngwie Malmsteen in Odyssey (1988) live and work Trial by Fire: Live in Leningrad (1989) . The two albums had a fundamental importance in changing the sound of the guitarist, who launched into a more melodic and pop.
But the biggest challenge of Turner was still to come: to accept the position of lead singer of the classic hard rock band Deep Purple. After recording Slaves and Masters (1990), an extensive world tour began and even landed on Brazilian soil. After this tour, while recording The Battle Rages On, Purple and Joe parted ways. With more than ten CDs soils, Joe Lynn Turner still finds time for projects along with Glenn Hughes, guitarist Akira Kajiyama, Brazen Abbot, Mother's Army and others.
But the best is to know Joe Lynn Turner through his own words, after all, he is the owner of the voice! In this interview, the singer facts unpublished account of his career, and several curious opinions about his life and the musicians who worked beside him. Here's his exclusive interview.
Music Time: Your latest CD, Second Hand Life, brings a surprise to fans of Deep Purple, the band "Stroke at Midnight," which is a version of "One Man's Meat," from The Battle Rages On. Tell us history of this song, written by you, Blackmore and Jim Peterik (ex Survivor and Ides of March).
Joe Lynn Turner: Deep Purple and Ritchie brought Peterik as part of a plan to reach more fans, in a similar way as Aerosmith was at the time. Aerosmith was also a legendary band, classic rock, but they got a "new life" working with some songwriters which they had no contact in 70 years. Composers on the charts with hits or huge potential. Peterik is a great songwriter and this song came on one of the album sessions. When the Deep Purple recorded it, was not the sound that was intended to achieve. So when I wanted to do this solo album, Blackmore contacted and he gave me his blessing, basically said he wanted to see me make the music the way it should be done.
There is more material in The Battle Rages On with your participation? More compositions?
Yes, in terms of participation, no doubt. There are also some songs or segments of songs in the files that will probably never be released. Some of the compositions on the album that was released actually sound different from the way they were designed in the sessions I attended.
During his tour with Deep Purple, as was the atmosphere among the musicians? You felt at some point there was some strange movement in the wings? His departure from the band happened during the sessions for The Battle?
The relationship was great during the tour. We visited several countries feared that other bands due to the Gulf War. There was great energy in the audience watching. They felt grateful that we were not afraid to take our music to them. When I left the band, and they told me I should leave, you will hear different versions from different people. I left because I felt that there was a lot of jealousy going on, and this is not the best environment for a creative or successful business. I know some of the guys wanted to Ian (Gillan) back, to try to take the band to another level. I respected what they wanted, so I left.
During the shows on the tour of Deep Purple Slaves and Masters, you proposed a way of singing itself, included new vocal arrangements, changed the metrics of some verses. This caused a reaction in most regular fans of the band? How the audience saw Joe Lynn Turner of Deep Purple in front?
The changes, as I recall, were in our favor because the boys were really bored playing the same songs the same way on every tour. They wanted change, so do some medleys. Thus, most fans liked what he saw and heard. It seems that sometimes say that a minority did not like, and say it was more because of the vocals. After all, it is rare that these people criticize something they like, right? There are some hardcore fans of Deep Purple who are purists who only accept a single band with training, they thought I should not be part of the Purple. But I meet many fans of Deep Purple in the world today, and they are very cordial, support me. Thus, any negative criticism that you've heard is actually what a minority of people thought.
Talking about vocal technique, you studied classical singing? I heard comments in the media that you took classes with the teacher Pavarotti, right?
I'm not a singer with classical training, if that's what you mean. I worked with a great singing instructor named Marty Lawrence, who has coached countless vocalists, many names to mention now. He taught me the incredible technical and other skills that I still use a lot today. His son Don is also a teacher now as good as his father.
Soon after his departure from Deep Purple, his albums have become increasingly heavy, hard rock trends. This was a strictly personal choice or was motivated by his departure from the band?
It was a personal choice. Humor sometimes monitors what you're writing and recording. Soon after my departure from Deep Purple, threw Nothing's Changed, which is not hard or heavy. It has many influences Rhythm & Blues and in many ways is self-reflective. I entered a dark period with Slam, but that reflected what I thought and felt at the time. None of this has to do with my departure from Deep Purple.
In his solo album Hurry Up and Wait, there's a new version of "Too Much is Not Enough," Slaves and Masters. The idea was to improve the original version?
The intention was to do it the way it was supposedly designed to sound. The version of Purple undertook the original proposal. It was also made ​​a demo for the band The Law, Paul Rodgers, and I wanted the music to follow a direction closer to this recording.
Undercover on the CD, the song "Vehicle", originally recorded by the band Ides of March showed its most soulful. It was an influence of Jim Peterik or the roots of soul music is the deepest? I heard that you're a big fan of Otis Redding, right?
I'm a fan of Otis Redding and not only that, my early influences were deep down in soul and R & B. Recently, I sang the song at the last show of his band and Jim Peterik World Stage, was an amazing experience.
You want to go back to work with Akira Kajiyama and Al Pitrelli? In addition to all their work in hard and heavy rock, Pitrelli attended two albums of Asia. You heard these works, what you think? He is really a very versatile musician, is not it? What about Akira?
I hope so. I love working with both, but Al is really busy with other projects, such as TSO. He also works on a project with his wife. He is in great demand. I have not had a chance to hear their albums with Asia. Both are versatile musicians and multi-talented. I do not know if you know, but Akira played all the instruments on the album in which he and I recorded together.
And his duet with Glenn Hughes? We will have a third album from Hughes Turner Project?
I think it would be a great third album HTP, but now we are busy on other projects. Maybe someday. I love working with Glenn is always inspiring. 
Second Hand Life is an eclectic mix of music, a summary of his musical career and at the same time, a work that sheds new perspectives for the future. One song, "Blood Red Sky", attracted my attention for its epic style and reminded me of "Eyes of Fire", the Rainbow. Karl Cochran did an excellent job in this song, I would like you to comment.
Thank you for your kind words and analysis. The song was inspired by my trip to Turkey. I wrote a good deal there and then Karl arrived with his remarkable sound introduction in the Middle East and riffs. It is a favorite of the public from the new compositions.
Recently, a rumor about the return of the Rainbow. Do you believe in this possibility? Their participation in Village Lanterne, the Blackmore's Night, may be a harbinger of this meeting? Ritchie is more in tune with the guitar, turning slowly to the roots hard rock.
I myself am always hearing these rumors. As I always say, if Blackmore want to go back, I would be very involved. I have also heard rumors about Blackmore doing a heavier sound and using a little more guitar today. When I attended the Blackmore's Night, was purely a band project, was not discussed at a meeting of the Rainbow, although I loved the version they did for "Street of Dreams." (Editor's note: "Street of Dreams" is a rewrite of the song originally released on the album Bent Out The Shape (1983), Rainbow)
In his solo albums, you almost created a new "Rainbow". Doogie White, Paul Morris and Greg Smith were part of the Rainbow in the '90s. You had these musicians Ritchie Blackmore or was it just coincidence?
They were originally in my band. They asked me for permission to join Ritchie, which was a very sincere attitude of them. This shows how much we respect each other.
Yngwie Malmsteen is really a temperamental musician? Talk about your move in the band's guitarist.
All musicians can be temperamental, I think it depends on your territory, your field and your domain (laughs). He is a perfectionist in terms of knowledge in the area that works. Still, he is brilliant and the work we did together is incredible.
Agenda Brazilian tour:
June 24: Casa Brazil - Belo Horizonte
June 26: TBA-Campinas
June 28: Manifesto Bar - Sao Paulo
June 30: Bar do Tom - Rio de Janeiro
Official Home Page: Joe Lynn Turner
Joe Lynn Turner - MySpace
