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JLT plays for Russian Prime Minister

Joe Lynn Turner

Back in 1989, Joe Lynn Turner and Yngwie Malmsteen played over a dozen sold out shows in Leningrad and Moscow in Russia. Seventeen years later, the two were invited back to Russia’s capital by the Prime Minister for a performance for his cabinet and staff on Russian Independence Day (June 12).

It was an private show for about 75 people but the prestigious restaurant setting did not prevent the house from rocking! It also planted the seed for a reunion since Malmsteen and Turner went their separate ways shortly after those concerts in the late 1980s. JLT and Yngwie each did separate sets but the night capped off with a jam
session featuring both on the same stage. They did a couple Deep Purple songs and some more from their Malmsteen-Turner collection, including Dreaming off their 1988 release Odyssey.

According to Turner, this stint was also memorable because of what went on off stage:

I was treated like a king for a few days with lavish accommodations. I had a Mercedes limousine and driver on call to take me shopping or where ever I wanted to go. I was also humbled by the extravagant gifts people gave me because they had been touched by my music.

Fans of both artists know that the duo put aside their differences in 1996 when they teamed up for some Deep Purple cover tunes on Malmsteen’s “Inspiration” album. However, this was the first time both had played together on stage since the late eighties. Joe has since been to Russia many times recently and one of his trips included recording an album with Glenn Hughes and Russian politician Mikhail Men.

Turner described the night as, “Magical,” and said he did not rule out the possibility of working with Malmsteen again in the future. He said, “The ice (between Yngwie and I) has been broken.”

Thanks to Gustavo Solinas, JLT Argentina Fan Site for the info.



25 Comments to “JLT plays for Russian Prime Minister”:

  1. 1
    Mark Bee says:

    What are they smoking in Russia?

  2. 2
    Simon says:

    The stuff is called “slub” …
    Don’t be nasty, he’s a great singer …

  3. 3
    solitair says:

    These two puppets slaughtering Purple songs! Still playing material of the real big boys in lack of any major hits of their own. Lightning strike me if I ever would want to listen to it!

  4. 4
    Mark Bee says:

    He’s very average.

  5. 5
    Sami says:

    Joe Lynn Turner is A Great Singer, no matter what anybody says!!!He also has Mr. Blackmore’s respect and they still get along fine…so, think about that!!
    Besides, I still think Slaves and Masters is a great album(and so are Joe’s many solo records & collaborations with Glenn Hughes), and far better than
    for example House of Blue Light, Stormbringer & Bananas…

    Yngwie Malmsteen is a different matter though…overrated puppet.

    Peace to you all (open-minded) Purple People, have a good holiday’s.

  6. 6
    Bo says:

    Now STOP this “i dont like Joe” thing. He was. and STILL is a great singer. He did a great job with Purple, with a defferent sound. But the sound of Purple today is also VERY different, and not the sound I loved. I love Gillan and he IS the THE Deep Purple singer like Coverdale was a GREAT for those years when he was around with Purple. Joe did nothing wrong, and I will at any time love to see Joe in concert, just like I will love to see Gilland on a solo tour – more than Purple right now.

  7. 7
    Henrik Maymann says:

    – What is JLT known for, eh?

    How is his solo career doing?

    Running to Russia and playing Purple songs, eh?

  8. 8
    Henrik Maymann says:

    Let´s not debate this anymore, out of respect of the dead.

  9. 9
    Sami says:

    Thanks Bo, you said it like it is!!

    Joe is Great, but Ian Gillan is The voice of Purple…or Dixie Purple/Deep Dregs, as they are known today, the Gillan/Morse Band, maybe…out of respect of the dead…ARF ARF ARF!!!

    (Didn’t Purple Mk Morse played in Russia too…)

  10. 10
    peter chrisp says:

    Joe Lynn Turner has always been a great singer, he has released a number of solo albums, and 3 with Glenn Hughes too, has had stints
    with Deep Purple, Rainbow, Yngwie Malmsteen, his new album is a real gem. He may not sell millions, but he has had a great career, and it still
    continues to flourish. Although he tours Russia, Japan, Europe, so what.
    He may not be everyones cup ot tea, similar to the Sabbath story with
    a number of singers, if you don’t like the voice you can always listen to
    something else!!!!

  11. 11
    Kenny says:

    I think JLT is a great singer, but I also think Slaves and Masters is a disgrace of a Deep Purple album. I’d like to see him with Yngwie again though…

  12. 12
    Henrik Maymann says:

    I agree Turner has a great voice, but he is highly immature and that also shines brightly in his singing, so I wouldn´t call him a great singer.

  13. 13
    purplepriest1965 says:

    Altough I am a big fan of people like Dio, Coverdale, Gillan and so on………
    I love several albums with JLT.

    Unfortunately S and M could have been better but that’s alsobecause of the lack of great instrumentation. I mean, they were still misguided with synths, drumcomputers, etc.
    But several of his solo efforts like Rescue you, SLAM, Holy man, the Hughes Turner albums, ODYSSEY!!!!, the 3 RAINBOW albums are wonderful.

    Ofcourse he’s not Ian Gillan but :

    1) We all know Gillan has fucked up for many years and…….
    2) Gillan’s not Tom Jones either, har har har

  14. 14
    steve stewart says:

    REGARDLESS OF JLT SUCCESS HE IS STILL ONE OF THE BEST LEAD VOCALISTS OF ALL TIME.ANYONE WHO SAYS DIFFERENT HAS GOT THE TINNIST OF EARS JUST LISTEN TO RAINBOWS CANT LET YOU GO.THAT SHOULD PROVE MY POINT.IF THAT DOESNT,YOUR JUST JACKASSES.

  15. 15
    Cranberry says:

    Im surprised the Russian Prime Minister didnt send JLT and Malmsteen to a Siberian salt mine!! I understand thats what they do to criminals. Lets face it JLT singing DP has to be a crime!!

  16. 16
    Joanna says:

    Joe Lynn Turner and Yngwie Malmsteen played for the Prime Minister on the Independence Day. Hmmm… Couldn’t they give another show for common people as well? They are good musicians, I bet their fans people would be happy to hear them live. Why no Russian concert agency thought of them? It’s not fair.

  17. 17
    steve stewart says:

    hey cranberry clean the wax from your ears.joe lynn could sing mary had a little lamb and it would be a classic.

  18. 18
    Cranberry says:

    Hey steve stewart………………No ear problems here matey!!

    How many classic tracks can JLT actually claim are his own? Saying that how many riffs can Malmsteen claim are his own? They certainly belong together!!

    JLT sing DP, you have got to be joking……………..get your own career!!

    I hope they have packed a scarf and mittens, its cold in them there mines!!

  19. 19
    Sami says:

    Hi Everybody!

    Don’t be ridiculous, cranberry(are you English by any chance?!)…
    majority didn’t accept Tommy Bolin in the past, and now they/you are whining
    about Mr. Turner…HAHAA, they both have a significant history in Purple-land, SO GET OVER YOUR SILLY PURITANISM(or whatever it is, stupidity perhaps), AND GIVE TURNER A CHANCE!!HE’S A GREAT SINGER, you know!!!!of course
    he’s not that down to earth, or your every-man looking as Gillan for example is, but what’s wrong with a little bit of flash & showmanship…!?you must be English cranberry, because your SOOOOOOOO RESTRAINED(in your opinions!), arf arf arf!!!!!

  20. 20
    Cranberry says:

    Sami, Sami, Sami…………

    Get a grip!! A significant history in Purple-Land!! Ha Ha

    What you mean is JLT did ‘Slaves and Masters’, and Malmsteen copied some Blackmore riffs!!

    How well did JLT go down in ‘Slaves and Masters’? How long did he last? How successful was the tour? So what exactly are his credentials for singing DP?

    So I guess JLT had his chance…………………

    He should stick to his own stuff…………..problem is nobody would have heard it!!

    As for flash and showmanship……….you make me laugh!!

    Leather and lycra…………….Its called camp!!

    I may be English, but whats your excuse Sami? arf arf arf(?????)

  21. 21
    Rascal says:

    Hey cranberry,

    Its true JLT may not have been the best choice to replace Gillan. He may have not done anything reasonable since Rainbow. He may prance about the stage like a clown. He may like the odd bit of pvc.

    But cranberry, JLT and Malmsteen are entertaining………….just ask the miners in siberia!!

    Furthermore, it wouldnt be just your average ‘mitten’ either. It will be a jewel encrusted pvc mitten!!

  22. 22
    steve stewart says:

    hey cranberry
    the point ive been trying to make is that jlt is an incredible singer period.
    not that the dp album was a classic.listen to his vocals with glenn hughes on their htp records.BY THE WAY SUCCESS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH TALENT. I MYSELF AM ONE OF MY TOP FIVE DRUMMERS OF ALL TIME.
    BUT IM E-MAILING YOU INSTEAD OF TOURING THE WORLD.
    ARF ARF ARF.
    CHEERS FROM NEW YORK

  23. 23
    cranberry says:

    Hey Steve Stewart,

    Now Glen Hughes…….thats a different story………fantastic singer!! Different league to JLT altogether!!

    I myself am one of the finest spoon players in the world………….we should form a duo!!

    ARF ARF

  24. 24
    YngwieJR. says:

    They’re both great musicians, joe is really a talented singer, very warm voice…
    Yngwie is simply amazing, especially in the early years, and you find the proof on ODYSSEY!!!!!

  25. 25
    Henrik Maymann says:

    lol- no originality at all.

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