The Joe Lynn Turner Interviews Part 1
Visit Part 2 here. The series continues with the HTP Interviews Part 1 here.
I befriended Joe Lynn Turner in 1992 because of my fanclub magazine DEEP PURPLE FOREVER that Iīve published in Sweden for a number of years. Joe is a great guy and over the years we talked on many occations and some of these conversations ended up (in part) within the pages of the DPF magazine. I realised that it could be great fun to go back to these interviews now and to present them all in running order, illuminating his career since 1992 as a result. Ofcourse, you will notice that Joe was pretty upset during the first interview, but he had just been fired from Deep Purple at that time in a rather nasty way so that is only human. As time passes, the music scene, lost in Nirvana Tartarus for a number of years, changes and his career picks up again step by step. If you are a major fan this is for you. If you are a Purple historian of sorts, this is for you too. Iīm glad to give you The Joe Lynn Turner Interviews here on Atlantis Online.
This split came as a huge surprise Joe. The last thing that I heard was that you were in Orlando, Florida, jamming on new material and trying out producers for the upcoming Deep Purple album. I didnīt expect this at all.
- You are not alone. At this point I donīt understand this myself. I donīt know why they fired me. We were recording in a studio in Woodstock when this happened.
So you were actually recording the followup to "Slaves And Masters"?
- Yes, we had been at it for a while and some of the songs were completed. I really wanted us to do the best album in a long time and I thought that we were getting there since some of the songs were so good. But to reach that goal you need to give everything that youīve got and Iīm sad to say that some of the guys in the band was very lazy. Jon Lord has not come up with an original idea in 10 years and that is just pathetic. It was a drag to get them to work, to get them to focus on the project. If I thought that an idea wasnīt up to scratch I would say so. I thought that I had the right to do that since I was after all a member of the band. Hell, I had done an album and a world tour with them. But it started to feel like an audition and that was just ridiculous. I think that the main problem in the studio was that they didnīt exactly know what they wanted to do. Ask the producer, Thom Panunzio, it was hell for him to keep it together. The last obstacle was that Ritchie said that he wanted to re-record everything. He said "The vocals sounds great but we need to get the band to sound better". I opposed this and said "Look, it would be stupid to begin from scratch again, I think it sounds great and if we need to re-record something we can do that later". I just wanted them to get on with it.
So Ritchie said that he was pleased with the vocals but not with the rest?
- That is what he said to me and this is one of the reasons why I have a hard time to understand this. The last time I saw Ritchie we spent an evening together just chatting about the band and the future. We sat there for 4 hours and he repeatedly said to me how glad he was that I was in the band. The next day I went home to meet my daughter and that is when the phone rang. It was our manager Bruce Payne and he told me that I was out. I couldnīt understand it but he didnīt give me any reasons. So I went back to Woodstock to pick up my things and by accident I runned into Roger Glover. I said "I hope that you know what you are doing because the only thing that can save you now is getting Ian Gillan back into the band again".
Do you know when all this took place?
- This was around august 17 or 18. But that is what happened so Iīm sure that you can understand that this is hard for me to get to terms with. And since Ritchie is the leader of the band, all the talk that Deep Purple is a democracy is pure bullshit, I have to assume that he was in on the decision. I think that he acted like a coward, letting the manager do it for him. If they felt that they had a problem with me in the studio, why not just say it, point out the problem. Maybe that could have helped. Now I can only assume what they were thinking. Maybe I was just too eager in the studio? I know that they didnīt like that very much. I presented a couple of songs to them that was written by a guy from Survivor. These songs sounded 100% Deep Purple. The others barely wanted to listen to it. I also believe that Roger Glover got annoyed at me, whether he wants to admit this or not now, for suggesting that the band should work with an outside producer. The band had not done this since the seventies. Bringing in Thom was partially my idea. I think that Roger may have felt that he was now reduced to just playing bass. But you know, to reach the kind of success that Aerosmith have now you need to be able to focus pretty hard on what you are doing. You need to see reality for what it is. Deep Purple didnīt want to do that. They seem to believe that they can record anything at all and the world will still fall to its knees and worship them. Those days are over. The world has changed and nobody wants to see that. Roger used to say "When we quit we are going to do it with a bang" but I donīt believe that they can anymore, I really donīt. We had an opportunity to build on the reputation with a strong second record but that didnīt happen.
What about the situation within the band? What did they talk about? Did they see the 25th anniversary as a possible last album and tour?
- No, that was not the thinking at all. It was just another record. I never heard them discussing to quit the band.
And you never heard Ritchie talk about a reunion of Rainbow?
- No, never. To start with, I really donīt think that Ritchie knows what he wants to do. If he wants to do Rainbow again he can forget about me, I can tell you that much. Iīve had enough of him. FY FAN(Joe swears in swedish!). He is not a very nice person. I have heard through a mutual friend that he actually likes me. So this person, who is upset about how badly this was handled, said "Why donīt you get Joe on the phone and tell him that you like him then?", but I guess he just canīt bring himself to do that. I think it is disgusting and I donīt want to work with these people any more.
So if Ian Gillan says no and they call you back...
- Deep Purple can go to hell. They donīt know what the hell they are doing and I actually feel sorry for them more than anything. Iīve had enough.
I know that royalties that should have come your way didnīt when Rainbow broke up, how did you fare this time?
- At the moment it doesnīt look very good. I really want to like Ritchie but I canīt, not when he treats me like this.
What have you heard about what they are up to since then?
- Originally, I heard that they wanted to get Ian Gillan back again. I find that hard to believe, I donīt think that he would be very interested in getting back with them. If he did he would be a ----- and that would surprise me. The last thing that I heard is that they have been rehearsing with an unknown from Connecticut, somebody a lot younger. That sounds so idiotic to me. I donīt know what they intend to do but I do know that the business people are very upset about the situation. I think the band is under a lot of preasure right now. But for their sake I hope that they get a good album out there and that the audience will like it, but I really canīt see much light at the end of the tunnel.
Tell me about the rehearsals for the "Slaves And Masters" tour. Were they open for suggestions to pick out classic stuff from the back catalouge that had not been played for a while, or was it like I suspect, that they just didnīt want to know?
- Sadly you are right on the money. I know that this must be painful for a guy like yourself, that have backed up the band so much, but the band is disconnected to the songs that they recorded in the seventies. They donīt remember it anymore and itīs too much like hard work to listen to it again, let alone to rehearse it. They donīt remember a lot of it anymore and they donīt want to rehearse any of it again. I wanted them to do "Pictures Of Home" but they couldnīt bother themselves to play it. I said "Come on, I was a big fan myself back then and I think I know what people would like to hear again", but they just ignored my suggestions.
So they basically donīt like to work anymore?
- No, they lack the motivation. Nobody plays on their spare time for instance. Take Ian Paice, he is probably the guy in the band that is the easiest to get along with, and I like him, but he doesnīt enjoy to rehearse, to work. And with that attitude you really canīt compete with todays music scene. There are many great musicians out there. They think that they can rest on the legend, that everything will take care of itself. I donīt think that that is a healthy attitude to have. Itīs removed from reality.
Did you record any of the shows for a possible live record?
- I think that we recorded a show in Singapore. But I really donīt know if this is ever going to be released.
What about any existing material that we may be unaware of? We know about "Fire Ice And Dynamite" and "Slow Down Sister", and Jon Lord has mentioned a song called "A Very Fast One" that supposedly exists?
- "A Very Fast One"? I donīt know what that could be. It might be a fast one that we recorded that is called "Heart Like A Hurricane".
Can you mention any titles from the final sessions?
- Yes, but I donīt know what is going to be used now. I actually donīt even care if they use any of my ideas or not. We had a blues song called "Bad Business". I wrote the lyrics to that one with Roger. We had a song called "Put Your Money Were Your Mouth Is" that reminds me of "Burn". It is possible that Deep Purple may use some of this stuff in the future, but I feel that I have the right to use it as well. We have to wait and see what will happen with this stuff.
I heard from photographer Michael Johansson that you spent some time with Yngwie Malmsteen earlier this week. Is it true that you are joining up with him again?
- Iīve tested the waters, helped him out with a few ideas. But Iīve not joined his band again and I donīt think that I will. He can be a little difficult. He is nicer than Ritchie, but...
Personally, I would rather see you finally make it on your own, with your own band. Something that you can control and take to were you want it to be. Thatīs what I would like to see.
- Thanks, thatīs exactly what I would like to do next. Iīve done some work with a few famous musicians now and thatīs were my heart is. I may be able to tell you more about this project next time you call me.
I want to tell you something now Joe. The Deep Purple club I have took a poll recently about your version of Deep Purple. This was done when you were working with them on the second album. I just want you to know that 89% of the members said that this version of the band should carry on for as long as you wanted it to.
- Wow! 89%! It would be nice if the band heard about that! That was really nice to hear. I mean, I know full well that we worked against the odds. I knew that we had to win a lot of people over into consider themselves fans again.
Exactly, and a bands reputation isnīt easy to cement. I have to admit to you Joe that I belonged to the sceptics when I originally heard that you had joined the band, but I had to accept the fact that "Slaves And Masters" is a very nice Deep Purple record. One of these records that invites itself to be played over and over. So I started to believe in the band again so I was really looking forward to the second album. I thought that you had established a new foundation for the band to grow from and my hope was that the second album could move the bands reputation another notch upwards on that scale. Therefore I am disappointed in their behaviour. But nobody can take what you did with Deep Purple away from you, you are part of the history now, and at least I hope that this will help you out in the future in a small way when you go out on your own.
- Thank you for those kind words, it is nice to hear a guy like yourself say so. Iīm so disappointed in all this myself, that Ritchie could say "The vocals sounds good but we need to change the rest" one day only to fire the singer the next day. It is hard to see the logic in that. I was kind of hoping that I could shock them into wanting to work hard again but I couldnīt. You know, Mötley Crue and Tom Petty visited us in the studio. They are fans and they came up to me and said "You sound great Joe, but the band...". That was my feeling as well so I really tried to inject some fire into it. Instead, the producer could hardly get anybody to join him in the studio when something was supposed to be done. My goal when we started was to make a better album than "Slaves And Masters", I donīt really know what they wanted. I donīt think they knew.
----- End of interview -----
The album that Joe talked about came out with new lyrics as "The Battle Rages On" in 1993.
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Your girlfriend told me, as we set up this interview a few days ago, that you were in chilly Buffalo and played a gig with CPR. How many concerts are we talking about?
- Oh, this is something that Iīm doing just because itīs so much fun. Iīm doing 7 or 8 shows with them. Just clubs. Al Petrelli is a friend so when he asked me if I wanted to do it I said yes. It was a great deal of fun.
I talked with Glenn Hughes recently and he said that after his blues album he wants to do his own thing now, which is ofcourse funk and soul type stuff. Would you consider to make such an extreme move yourself musically and if you did what would the music in question be about?
- Iīm glad for Glenns sake if he moves in that direction now because I know that that is what he has always wanted to do more than anything else. So that must be good for him. I have early influences myself, like Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye and Wilfred Pickett. It would be great fun to visit those early roots someday but at the moment I think I have 3 options, blues, hardrock and commercial pop & rock.
So what are you up to and what do you think is going to be your next move?
- Right now Iīm in a period in which the most important thing is to write strong new songs. That is my aim and it is what Iīm doing right now. I may put a band together and do some club gigs around april as the JOE LYNN TURNER BAND. It is nearly impossible to get a record deal in the traditional way in America now but if it happens it happens. Somebody might discover us? I would really enjoy to do a few festivals over in Europe as well if that came up. Just to meet the people and to get the profile up a bit. If we come over I want everybody to know that Iīm going to perform Deep Purple and Rainbow songs live, maybe even some Malmsteen stuff.
That would be great fun. I think that people would enjoy to hear for instance some of the old Rainbow songs again.
- I believe so. Nobody else is playing them, or have for a number of years. I did "Highway Star" with CPR the other night and the audience just loved it. We also did "I Wish" by Stevie Wonder, Hendrix "Little Wing" och "Superstition".
If you record a new solo album, how would it be different from the one that you did in the mid eighties?
- Probably very much different. First of all, I donīt work with the same people today as I did then. I doubt that I would do a lot of covers either. Not even by my earliest influences, I think that Michael Bolton has done enough of that (laughs).
Yngwie Malmsteen was quoted in a major swedish newspaper recently. He said that the reason that you did not re-join his band is that you are "mad".
- He called me mad? Well, I guess he may have issues. The last time we spoke I tried to say, between the lines, why I didnīt want to work with him again. But if he behaves like this I hardly think that I have to be tactful anymore. The truth is, I didnīt feel that his personality had evolved very much since the last time that I saw him, and I told him as much. He may well think that everybody that doesnīt want to work with him is "mad". I donīt know, but what does that tell you about him?
Have you been in touch with Deep Purples manager Bruce Payne since the split?
- Yes, Iīve heard that they are doing some mixes over in Los Angeles. One of the songs that Ritchie and I wrote are supposedly on the record, but I donīt know which one. Appearantly, Ritchie liked it so much that he didnīt want to drop it.
Wouldnīt it be great if they released a second album with yourself, consisting of the left over tracks and some live material from Singapore? Or maybe the very first jam, the version of "Hey Joe" that was recorded the minute you stepped into the room on your first audition?
- Yes, that would be great, but I really doubt that they will even consider such a release in a while. Certainly not until after the new record is out. Obviously they wouldnīt want anything to clash with the current situation. But yes, the opportunity exists and I wouldnīt be too surprised if they released a postumous album some day.
Are you in contact with John Norum at the moment?
- His new album is coming out here in the States now and I think that he would be interested in having me help him out with a few concerts here to promote it. But Iīm not sure if the timing is right, the plans should have been drawn up last year and not now.
Are you aware that people are saying that your health is not what it could be and that this is why Deep Purple fired you and also why you have not been visible in Europe for a while?
- What are you saying? This is so typical! This is how the media works, if you donīt have a high profile at the moment they start to make things up instead. I donīt want to make any interviews until I have something to say, to sell. I am healthy and I am working on new material. I will be more than happy to do a lot of interviews later on when I think that the time is right.
I would be glad to get a few interviews organised here in Sweden for you at that time Joe.
- I appreciate that. We can talk more about that later on. Iīll talk to everybody that wants to talk to me, no problem.
----- End of Interview -----
This interview took place 4 days after Ritchie Blackmores last show with Deep Purple.
- Rob Fodder, Ritchies personal assistant, called me up the other day. I know that Ritchie was in the same room. He said "Ritchie has got nothing but respect for you". I thought that it was a little strange that Ritchie would contact me right after his split with Deep Purple, I admit that.
So you know about all the talk that is in full swing about the break up of Purple now?
- I have heard some, I have heard that Ritchie thought that he had major problems with Ian Gillan. I think there may be three sides to this story, the bands version, Ritchies version and then the truth!
Is it possible that Blackmore did the album with Gillan and the tour although he didnīt want to...maybe he just wanted out?
- That could well be true. Rob told me that when Gillan came in they told him not to scream so much and to add a more bluesy feel to the vocals for what became "The Battle Rages On". I donīt think that Ritchie wanted to work with Gillan again. I think that the others may well have gotten together on the side and then they pushed me out to have a chance to get Gillan back.
So if this was a bit of a palace coup, then this may go back in time to when you were asked to leave?
- Isnīt that a very interesting theory? I have absolutely no reason to defend Ritchie but I think that he felt that he had to go along. They had already gotten the money and spent some so they must have felt that they had to go on. But I really donīt understand why Ritchie refused to go to Japan. I think that them showing up without him is going to shock them.
What do you think about a Deep Purple without Ritchie Blackmore?
- That would be strange. As long as he is in the band it will definetely work as far as the songwriting goes. I never saw Jon Lord present an idea. Ian Paice is more interested in the money than he is of the musical end result. Roger could come up with some good ideas. I donīt know, they did manage to carry on once before with Tommy Bolin, but that was back in the heyday. I think that Ritchie felt that he kind of had to carry the whole thing on his own shoulders. That the others kind of made a good living on his work. When he quit, maybe that was his way of saying "Screw you, I donīt need you!".
Maybe he has wanted to do something different for a long time?
- I think that may well be true. I read an interview with him in a tradepaper recently and in it he said that he considered to put Rainbow back together again. If he calls me Iīll let you know.
That would be good fun and ofcourse itīs up to you if you ever want to work with him again or not. What else is going on? What is happening with Mothers Army?
- The album is out in Japan and it is doing very well. Iīm trying to get it out in other parts of the world right now. Iīll talk to a major company about this next week. Other than that my priority lies with the JOE LYNN TURNER BAND, or the JOE LYNN TURNER ALLSTAR BAND that we may call it if we take it out on the road. We are in fact doing a gig every now and then. This has grown from something that really wasnīt all that serious to start with and we have done shows in Philadelphia, Detroit, a few in Long Island were Ritchie lives, and New Jersey. Everything that we have done has been within a five hour drive from home. This is happening basically because the people seem to really enjoy it.
Are we talking about the band as before, with Al Petrelli and so on?
- We actually replaced him recently. He got a break with a band called Widowmaker. Our new guy is called Karl Cochran and he is a very good player with a good feel for the roots of rock. He is a little bit like Zakk Wylde in that respect. We did a show yesterday and he was great.
How is the situation with the record companies in the States? Are they signing up anything but grunge?
- I see small signs of change. I think that hardrock will be back in favour again. The people are getting tired of the grunge thing. Sadly, not many that works on the labels in America knows what they are doing now. Most of them are just interested in finding bands that can copy already established bands well.
Glenn Hughes told me recently that he believed that it will only take a band like Journey to get a major hit now and it will all come back again.
I think so to. I spoke with Glenn over the phone the other day. I like him. Things may change in january. The companies will work with new budgets then. I met a woman yesterday that had bought the Mothers Army album on import for 40 dollars and that to me is an outrage, it shouldnīt have to be like that. Iīve co-written 4 songs for an album that will be out on EMI soon, the band is called Bloodline. It is a band that has been put together by sons from people in bands like The Allman Brothers and The Doors. Itīs pretty good. As for myself Iīm trying to get a deal for an album that is going to be commercial sounding, a little like Michael Bolton.
So your plate is pretty full Joe?
- Yes, and that feels good. Do you know what Iīve heard? I heard that Ritchie thought about playing my version of "The Battle Rages On" through the loudspeakers before the Deep Purple shows! So when it came down to it, he preferred my version of that album. He felt the disrespect of the others.
Towards the end he only communicated with the others through handwritten notes.
- That sounds like Ritchie! If he should reform Rainbow, I think that we could do a very good album together. The timing might be pretty good for it to happen. We have to wait and see.
----- End of Interview -----
The last thing that I have seen in the press is a live review with your band in Kerrang recently in which you got a very good thumbs up type of review. It was a piece about the Ray Gillen Tribute concert that took place in New York on february 9. Did you know Ray at all?
- Yes, I knew him, but it really was an awful night. Cold and smelly. The city had terrible weather and that caused a lot of problems. Some of the artists that should have been there couldnīt make it and so on. About 200 people braved the weather and came along for the show. I heard a rumour that Roger Glover and Colin Hart (Purples tour manager) was going to show up, but they never did.
Trapeze played a set, what did you think about them?
- I thought that they could have been better. The money should have gone to an aids foundation but I doubt that it amounted to much. Money was spent on getting guys over from England and so on. I think it could have been handled better. But there were some good bands there, like Enough Is Enough and Trixter, but we stole the show. No doubt about it.
There has been talk about Mothers Army going to China, any news regarding that?
- I will probably go to Japan this summer with Mothers Army and I want to bring my own band over and tour Asia with them. We know that the money will cover the expenses. We are talking about doing a few shows at the Hard Rock Café in Bankok and places like that.
Have you been in touch with Ritchie?
No, itīs been a while now. The last thing that I heard was that he is auditioning people in Long Island and that he wants to call his new band Rainbow Moon. I heard this from people who were at the scene 3 days ago. His new band will be called Rainbow Moon.
There has been rumours of a linkup between David Coverdale and Ritchie lately.
- Really? I never thought that they could ever do something together again. Not many wants to work with Ritchie more than once!
What do you think about Deep Purple with Joe Satriani?
- But is he a member now?
Tickets are out in Europe for another tour.
- I canīt believe that they are doing that. Ritchie Blackmore was Deep Purple. They can change a singer or a drummer without losing to much of the identity, but what on earth will it sound like if Ritchie is not there?
Do you think that Deep Purple has a future in the States?
- Honestly, no. Or maybe, if they reinvent themselves and comes up with something that is fresh. I mean, I hope that they will do well. But apart from Aerosmith, grunge is the only thing here now. You canīt get arrested.
Bobby Rondinelli is a member of Black Sabbath now. Have you been in touch with him since your days in Rainbow?
- Casual contact only. We have said "Hello" through mutual friends and so on. Is the Black Sabbath album good? Does he sound good with them?
Yes it is good and the album is great. Tony Iommi has often recruited people that has worked with the Purple family. Has he ever been in touch with you?
- No, and if he called me I would say "No" because Iīm not right for Black Sabbath. But I can understand that he gets in touch with people that have been in Rainbow or Purple since we do belong to the same "crowd", if you want to put it that way. I really like Tony Martin, I think that he is a very good singer and I really wish them all the best.
What do you think about Glenn Hughes working with Bruce Payne now?
- I didnīt know about that.
I thought that Glenn might have mentioned it at the Ray Gillen concert.
- No, and Bruce was not there.
Do you think that this will be a good partnership, do you think that Bruce is going to work (Joe laughs!), what do you think that he sees in Glenn Hughes?
- I donīt know, but Iīm very surprised. I can only say that I hope, for Glenns sake, that the partnership turns out to be a good one.
----- End of Interview -----
( Part 2 is up now and Part 3 is in fact Part 1 of the HTP Interviews)
