Interview with American Rock Star - Joe Lynn Turner
— You have a mixed family, dad is Italian and you have continued the tradition by marrying a Belarusian girl. Do you feel some kind of difference in views, tastes, mentality? Italians have hot blood, do you feel something like that in yourself?
— There are always differences culturally. But I find, being fortunate enough to travel around the world and see many different cultures, that they’re all pretty much similar on the basis. For example, her grandmother reminds me of my grandmother. Let’s talk music, music crosses over. Even the Russian traditional folk music sounds Italian. Melodic with minor keys. So to be honest, there are many differences yes. But I find that people are pretty much the same on ground level.
Hot blooded, yea. I’ve got temper, I’ve got passion — which I’ve learned to control by the way thankfully. But that’s all true. I find that the Latin cultures tend to be more passionate.
— How do you like Italy? Didn’t you want to move there? I hear that you wanted to move to Belarus for permanent residence?)
— Italy is an absolutely beautiful country, no doubt about that. It’s absolutely gorgeous. My mother was from Naples and my father Rome. Did I ever want to move there, sure, but fate has never given me the chance to just move there. As for Belarus, no I’m still a citizen of the United States. But maybe I’ll consider dual citizenship. And I really feel that, just philosophically speaking, if at all possible, you should visit other countries. You might have been born in one country but you might belong somewhere else. There’s lessons to be learned in your life if you do that.
I’ve lived in Japan for a little bit, enough to speak some of the language. I was fortunate enough to travel to these places and have the finance to stay for a while. And to me travel is the best education in the world. You can get only so much from history books.
As for Italy, they have the best food in the world. Of course I’m bias, but genuinely Italian restaurants are the most popular choice around the world.
— It is great that you are have been into sports since childhood, are you doing anything now, or are you short of time?
— When I was younger, I was always a smaller guy, but I gravitated more towards the sport of baseball, track, and horse-riding. I’ve been banging around the world for 50 years, I’m approaching 70, so I’m doing lighter exercises. But of course, I eat healthy and try to stay healthy and I don’t drink or do drugs. I’ve experienced enough of that in my time on the road; the 80s man, it was sex drugs and rock n roll.
I think physically I don’t look my age, that’s probably the olive oil in the Italian diet. But honestly, my wife helps keep me young too.
— Trailer for the movie «Moms» it’s Russian production, right? What are your impressions of this project? Why did you find it interesting?
— Yes, Mama is a Russian production. When I was asked to do it, I was a little bit reserved. But then I realised, this is significant to all ‘mamas’ around the world. So I went inside myself, and I’d just lost my mother a few months before, so I went for it. And you know, it got quite emotional. I don’t know what they did with it after, but I felt I could give an honest performance as I could empathise.
I think it’s about acting. If you’re a singer, you’re an actor. You have to act and feel them every night, which is difficult because it brings back emotions of the song. I know we all get to a point where you sing it and don’t feel it anymore, so you have to be careful. I always felt I could’ve gone into action, but music was my passion. And I feel I can act within it.
I remember one night, I was kind of feeling stale with it. And my wife said to me, you’re not feeling that. And I really think you’re cheating yourself and the audience. And that really changed my attitude with it, and from now on I really try to dig into it and find that place.
— You also starred in the movie Blue De Ville, was there any other experience in cinema and how do you feel as an actor in general?
— I think there’ a great story that goes along with that. The back story to that was they were looking at people like Bon Jovi, but they needed someone more devilish, so they asked me. There was a really cute blonde girl, who was up and coming at the time, that I quite fancied — and she fancied me. And I’m reading through the script and I see that there’s a love scene. I think to myself, «Yes, I’m really going to blow her doors off here, this is a chance.» And we would eat dinner on the set every night and there was flirtation, so here we go… We were shooting in Burt Reynolds tour bus, it was a flash thing with black, silver and red interior; really suiting my character Eric Fury’s persona. So we’re in the bed, and I’m all set for this, and before the cameras roll, she says to me, «I’ve been waiting for this all week,» and I turn to jelly. She fucking blew me out! I didn’t expect it, I thought I was in control. It was hilarious and such a life lesson, so much for my acing career.
— I read that you love books and read a lot about some esoteric things, about science, even about the UFOs. Tell us, what is your favourite book, writer, direction in literature? Why are you interested in such genres?
— When I was about 17/18 I graduated high school, and the next step was University, but I decided to take a year off. And in that year, the Vietnam War broke out. And of course, back in those days, we were all hippies and anti war protesters. And I decided to sign up to university, but they didn’t have a musical programme. So I was recommended to take English Literature as my main course of study, and the professor said, all of life is contained within the subject. And little did I know, this avenue would be so incredible useful in my career and I use the skills to this very day. From then it went into Shakespeare, then philosophers, psychologists and I took an interest in the paranormal. So I became a real avid reader, and I have to say during this Covid thing, I’ve read over 100 books on my Kindle. I have two Kindles in fact, reading 3 books at a time. I thought, well if I can’t tour I can spend my time reading and writing. So yes, Shakespeare and the classics. Now I like modern writers like Dean Coons and Dan Brown, I read books from the Stoics and philosophers, about psychology and human behaviour. I also read the Bible, because many things that are happening now are in the scripture. I studied the bible and Latin for 10 years, it may be a dead language, but that has given me the foundation for all other languages.
— Rock stardom is a heavy burden. What problems inherent at the peak of your popularity did you face and were able to overcome them, as we see?
— Well, what problems don’t you have. You know, it’s unbelievable. Actually, I have a song on the album called, Living The Dream, and it’s a tongue-in-cheek song to suggest is this all it is. It’s kinda like Tony Montana in Scarface, smoking a cigar and sitting in the tub saying, «is this all there is?» So anyway, some of the problems you deal with I would say it starts of with wrestling your own ego. I think a lot of people lose who they are, or don’t know who there are. You meet a lot of phony people and you start to realise who they really are, who you really are.
I wrote a song called Fame and Fortune years ago, and basically it says, «you become what they made you.» Everybody said you’ve changed in their eyes, but it really only brings you pain and sacrifice. I had to sacrifice family, divorce, money, and really you’re lucky if you come out a live.
It’s an education and a half, it’s an empty and open pit. The pitfalls are many, the problems are many and the education is astounding and eye-opening; it’s revealing to say the least. It’s nice if you can get to my age and look back on it.
— Tell us a little about your collaboration with Mikhail Men, do you communicate now?
— He came to a show in Moscow 2 years ago, and he wanted to do another album with me. But then I believe he ran into some political problems, let’s put it that way. I wish him well, he’s a wonderful guy. I loved doing the record with him and Glen Hughes. We had a wonderful time during the live shows and he’s a gentlemen to me. I can’t say a bad word about the guy.
— Which song you wrote is special for you and why or maybe it’s a whole album?
— On the Made in Moscow album, my favourite song was Forgive Her, it’s very personal. And I just saw a clip on YouTube and it flooded back all the memories. It’s a really great song about betrayal and love. I think we’ve all had that in one point in our lives and if you haven’t, then you have nothing to write about.
— What are you working on now, writing new music?
— Well absolutely. We’ve just mastered the new album. I was on the phone to Sweden just last night who have the final masters and they said it sounds like this is it. So it’s in the hands of Nuclear Blast Records now. So it will be out, I don’t know when. Because personally, I think there are so many albums out there and with restrictions on touring I don’t want it to die on the vine. But I’m eager to get something out there because it’s been a while since I’ve released anything.
Honestly, this album is a melodic metal album. It’s different for me but somehow it’s familiar. I think people will be surprised because I’m using different colours on the vocals and this is darker and I get a chance to act with different lyrics and vocal styles. A lot of it is political, and also personal.
— Plans for future tours and to Russia in particular?
— Yea, actually Russia was a planned tour, but I was recently advised — not yet! Because things are still settling down with Covid and politically, so it’s best to wait. Before the pandemic, we had over 60 dates planned, but it’s still not the right time. I absolutely appreciate Russia. To me I understand it, I understand who’s who. They have a special place in my heart really.
— What would you definitely never do?
— Sell out. I mean, to get to the top you have to sell out. I’ve had my chances to sell out and do what the elite want me to do. To become much more successful, much richer, much more famous and you literally have to sell your soul. But I’ve scoffed at it, kicked it back and I’ve been called a diva, difficult, all sorts of things. They’ve banned me from accessing all kinds of things, but I just refuse. It’s more important to me than that.
— What is your philosophy of life?
— I think that’s tough to really put into a few words. I’ll take it from Marcus Aralias, he was a stoic, he said, «what we do now echoes in eternity.» I think it’s very strong… and makes for a good song title don’t you think?
— What did rock n roll teach you and how did it influence your life and worldview?
— Absolute internal growth, in every way. Education, truth, lies, illusions that turn into revelations. To me it’s not just influence, it open up for me a path to journey this way. It gave me the chance to see life for what it is, what it really is and that’s precious.
The moment is all we have, so live in it — be present — just be.
— Favourite movie, actor, actress, TV series?
— My favourite male actor is Al Pacino. He’s the best. And then of course, actress is Cate Blanchett… and my favourite colour is black.
— A dream (maybe unrealizable), which has not yet come true, but is in your plans (if it’s not a secret)?
— Let’s see, a dream. I’m fortunate to say I have achieved my dream, to do this. The dream here is to be as good as you can be, to improve your life and yourself. And I think more importantly than that, my dream, is to have meaning to my life.
— How do you assess modern rock culture, do you like any of the young performers? How do you like the Eurovision winners, the Italians Maneskin?
— Oh, let’s just talk about those guys. I think they’re phenomenal, amazing really amazing. These guys have erupted now, and I think he is the new rock star, I’m afraid he’s going to be eaten up by this filthy business.
Here’s one of my favourite quotes that I think sums the industry up just perfectly, «The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. And there’s a negative side to it as well.» So that’s it, how fucking perfect is that!
So Maneskin, I hope they don’t get caught in that because they’re really good and really talented.
— What is the best stage in your career in your opinion and why?
— Now, I’ve survived. Honestly, it’s not about the peak of your career, playing the stadiums, 20,000 seater venues, it’s surviving. Coming out on the other side, after going through that money trench with the plastic hallways, with still the fire to create and write at the other side.
— If you rewind time back, would you change something in your career, for example, would you not become a member of this or that group and would you develop more as a solo performer?
Nah, I mean look things happen when they happen, because they have to happen. It’s not a coincidence. It all adds up to what is now. All the victories, the triumphs, the lows, the highs, I wouldn’t change a thing — no regrets.
— You once said that you want to do something incendiary like Motley Crue. You like this kind of crazy boundless rock and roll? What about that ‘Motley Crue’ lifestyle?
— Honestly, I don’t remember that, but if I did it was because I wanted to do something mindless. But what I really mean, is that they’re just doing stuff that’s rock n roll fun, they’re not exactly philosophers. I always tend to be a bit more deep and meaningful. I think I’d rather be more artistic, to be remembered for that not just a rock star or a writer, etc.
— Give advice to aspiring rockers what to look for. Advice from a legend on how to build a successful rock career?
— Run! Run! Run away! Get the fuck out, what are you crazy? Avoid the plastic corridors, the pimps… No, advice is hard to give. I think you have to be just a little bit insane. Passion, discipline, dedication and your own self empowerment. A passion that is endless, boundless.
— Describe yourself in just one word
— Tenacious.
— Say something for your fans and readers of the magazine in the end
— Well look, I have a long relationship with Russia. I said once, the people of Russia have a heart the size of the country. They’re really passionate, they’re loyal and they will go to battle for you. What I would love to say to them is that I miss them, I want to see them again soon. I want to thank them for the support and I really appreciate that. So stay healthy, don’t take any shit and I’ll see you again soon.