Comments on: The Great Rainbow Debate (Part 3): Tip-Top Turner

By: Andy DiGelsomina

Andy DiGelsomina — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 18:32:23 +0000

I think Joe Lynn Turner has a terrific voice, and he’s no slouch in the writing department. But I think he was a bad match for Blackmore. None of the Rainbow or Deep Purple material with JLT does much for me. Unlike most hard rock singers, Joe started getting better and better after he parted ways with Blackmore, and today he often sounds jaw droppingly powerful. Check him out with Brazen Abbot, or on Kostev’s “Nostradamus”. He sounds really good with Over the Rainbow as well. He’s definitely still class A rock vocalist material today. I just never “got” the ’80’s Rainbow, believe me I’ve tried.

By: Konstantinos

Konstantinos — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 19:52:24 +0000

I think you people are very narrow-minded. Geoff’s article is intended to be kind of humorous or something. I ‘m not even sure if he does believe that JLT was Rainbow’s best vocalist, he’s just playing his role which is defending JLT…just like the other two guys flew the flag for RJD and Graham Bonnet respectively…
In my opinion RJD had a unique voice, one of the best in the heavy metal genre. The albums the band released with him in the microphone must be their greatest in terms of quality and, let’s be honest, much more representing of the band’s trademark sound when compared to their JLT’s era counterparts.
Joe Lynn Turner, on the other hand, posseses a great voice -different than Dio’s but surely great- and is one of my favourite vocalists. His technique is astounding, you should check out his work with Yngwie Malmsteen as well. If youre asking me I may even prefer his voice to Dio’s but that’s another story!
Graham Bonnet was very good too, I love Down To Earth, don’t have much to say…
Doogie White is, again, great, maybe lacks a bit in personality compared to the other 3…The truth being said, Rainbow only had great frontmen.
My standings would be:
1.Ronnie James Dio / Joe Lynn Turner
2.Doogie White
3.Graham Bonnet (I like Down To Earth more than Stranger In Us All though!)

By: Andy DiGelsomina

Andy DiGelsomina — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:31:44 +0000

Joe Lynn Turner’s tenure with Rainbow is so indebted to 70’s Foreigner and Bad Company as to be hopelessly outdated. Granted, Joe wan’t entirely to blame, as the record company (and Blackmore) were pushing for a far more commercial sound than the eras preceeding.

The albums with Dio and Bonnet were way ahead of their time, in fact the entire Power Metal movement of today is heavily indebted to those eras. Bands like Dream Evil, Axel Rudi Pell, Symphony X, and hundreds more were influenced by those albums. My Metal Opera, Lyraka was impacted greatly by the albums from the debut to and including Down To Earth.

Ask how many bands today were influenced specifically by post-Down To Earth Rainbow, and you will come up very short.

All respect to Joe Lynn Turner, who became a far far better singer after his bid in Rainbow (and today is even better than that!).

By: broz

broz — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:20:59 +0000

ok joe might have been a wee bit journey or whatever but has a fine voice and some of the songs from that era are brillant surrender cant let u go miss mistreated etc but again like bonnet no match for dio u just cant kill the king

By: Ed Pidural

Ed Pidural — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 05:02:51 +0000

Hey Barfin,
Sounds to me like you’re in love with JLT. Do you have a poster of him on your celing over your bed? I thought so. You are delusional. JLT on his best day can’t hold a candle to Dio. And that is the undeniable truth!!!

By: ray dixon

ray dixon — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 15:51:43 +0000

Barton must have a short memory,in 79 he gave Down to earth 3 out of 5 stars in the Sounds paper.In early 81 he gave Difficult to cure 2 only.I don’t think he ever reviewed another Rainbow album after 81.So for him to make out JLT is the best Rainbow vocalist is bollocks.I have enjoyed them all,but prefer the Dio era.I have seen them live with Bonnet and Turner,but still nostalgic for the Dio years.Sadly Graham Bonnet only made the 1 album,they were good for at least one more…….

By: doc

doc — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:23:10 +0000

Rainbow have and still have great vocalists. Blackmore will attract good vocalists.
As for Dio being a great- I dont get it. Barton is on the money, JLT.
Dio- I cant wait for him to stop warbling sometimes and let Blackmore/Iommi/Aldridge rip out the solo. There we have it- Blackmores guitar is the best voice in Rainbow. Sorted.

By: john doe

john doe — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:38:17 +0000

First off GEEE-OFF the fucking name is JEFF. That’s J-E-F-F. And second, you’re a stupid know nothing, limburger stench, yeast infected, cottage cheese spewing twat. In a room full mongoloids, the mongoloids point at you and say, ” Look at the mongoloid.” Go eat a bowl o’ code brown.

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Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:14:20 +0000

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By: SML3000

SML3000 — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:19:03 +0000

Heaven & Hell ‘dull, clunky, old, doddery, decrepit, uninspiring’???? True, I wasn’t at Sweden Rock but I’ve seen H&H live before and they’re the last words I’d use to describe them! They’re bloody brilliant and blow away the competition, not only from their peers but from bands half their age! JLT was very good (as was GB) but he never got close to matching RJD, then or now!