Interview: Joe Lynn Turner - Page 2

It all started in Nashville, Tennessee, a little more than 2 years ago. Some visionary entrepreneurs there wanted to get involved and we were brought down to film a DVD geared toward the corporate concert market (which is really huge in the USA).

How's the tour with them shaping up?

Well, we head to South America for several dates on December 2 and are there almost the whole month. So, the tour has not started yet. But, the dates we did in Iraq were amazing and life changing as I said.

The concert that was recorded in Germany contains many Rainbow moments and I think three solo tracks. Is it hard choosing from such an impressive back catalogue or do they tend to pick themselves?

It is EXTREMELY difficult. Everyone has different faves. We tried to do a good cross section of songs I hope will suffice everyone’s taste.

I loved your solo albums Second Hand Life and The Usual Suspects, are there any more in the pipeline?

Definitely. I have another Sunstorm disc I am working on later this month (October) and then will start on another solo CD.

Is there a particular album that you are proud of?

I am proud of them all for different reasons. They are like children. There is no way I can favor one or the other because they are all different. Like children that come from the same parents, though, they do have similarities as well.

This may sound naive but is it difficult to air new material for the first time live, not knowing the reaction etc?

Sure you’re always anxious how it will go over live. However in rehearsals if a song really sounds powerful and positive you almost have a 'sixth sense' that it will go over well. Some audiences like some things better than others. It depends on the country, city, lifestyle.

People will want me to ask about Sunstorm, which really went down well. How did it come about? Are there any more plans?

It came about through Frontiers Records. The guys there are real collectors and connoissers of the melodic rock genre and came across demos and other recordings of mine from the past. They wanted me to re-record these songs as well as have me do some other songs that really are more melodic and less metal. Some great writers were involved, like Jim Peterik, in the premier edition and he will come back for this sequel I am working on, as well as others. I am working on the next Sunstorm later this month, October, and am excited about the roster of songs.

Your voice sounds as great as ever, do you worry that one day it will start getting harder?

Article Author: Jeff Perkins

Jeff is a writer who lives in France. He writes CD/DVD box sets, music reviews and has had a book published about David Byron of Uriah Heep. He is 'busy' exploring the music of Europe with his wife Debbie and dog Dylan. It's Dylan that does the writing of course. …

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