Former RAINBOW and DEEP PURPLE singer Joe Lynn Turner has simply kicked off a six-date tour of Bulgaria with the the Bulgarian rock band AXAT. Dubbed “Rock & Roll Endlessly”, every cease on the trek sees Turner carry out a set of RAINBOW and DEEP PURPLE classics with the musicians from AXAT to shut out the night time.

Video of the September 11 live performance in Ruse, Bulgaria may be seen under (courtesy of the Fb web page of Krasimir Todorov).

Joe carried out with out his trademark wig dwell for the primary time this previous June on the Rock Orchestra Fest at Dinamo Nationwide Olympic Stadium in Minsk, the capital and the most important metropolis of Belarus.

The singer, who turned 72 final month, mentioned in 2022 that now was the proper time to lastly drop the hairpiece he has worn because the age of 14 after being identified with alopecia at three years previous.

Turner went public together with his new look in August 2022 in a collection publicity photos launched to advertise his newest solo album, “Stomach Of The Beast”. In a press launch for the LP, Joe mentioned that he began sporting the wig to take care of “emotional and psychological injury from merciless bullying in class.”

“In a method, it is a blessing and a curse,” Joe admitted. “I’ve nothing to show, and I can put on a wig — or not. I’m free to do what I would like. I am a grown man, and I am attending to be an older man.

“Many males on this enterprise finally come to the choice to proceed to ‘put on hair’ or shave their head which may be very trendy at present. Both method, it takes lots of private braveness. Assholes in highschool attempting to kick me round made me stronger and gave me the mandatory motivation and energy to rise above the remainder. Anger and ache are an amazing software. If utilized accurately, it might develop you to change into the very best model of your self. As an alternative of operating away, I used to be ‘hiding in plain sight.'”

In a current interview with Barbara Caserta of Italy’s Linea Rock, Joe spoke about what it has been like lastly ditching the wig in any case these years. He mentioned: “Properly, to begin with, I do not suppose I used to be prepared. And with the love, assist, understanding of my household and shut buddies, particularly my spouse, who thinks I am a lot sexier with out it, I simply mentioned, ‘, I am 71 years previous. I am not attempting to cover it from anybody. What the hell is the distinction?’ So with the change, with the transformation of my music, I made a metamorphosis bodily. And I mentioned, ‘Okay, right here we go.’ It isn’t a giant deal to me — it by no means was.

“But additionally, I believe the trade wasn’t prepared. I believe again then [in the 1980s], every thing was concerning the hair and also you had to slot in with the uniform. All people wears a uniform; everybody wears a fancy dress in life.

“So I believe now’s the time. Identical to a superb wine, you may’t make the wine come earlier than its time; it must ferment. And I wanted to ferment. I wanted to be extra robust emotionally, extra robust psychologically, extra mature, and I believe I’ve reached that time.

“And the upshot of that complete factor is, which is admittedly distinctive, is that if I wish to play a present just like the previous Joe Lynn Turner, I simply put the hair again on. And if I play ‘Stomach Of The Beast’, I take the hair off. Now, that could be a costume. And you recognize what? Bands like KISS, bands like SLIPKNOT, GHOST, they’ve the make-up, they’ve the masks, they’ve the hair, they’ve every thing. There is no huge take care of this. That is present enterprise. So what is the huge deal?”

Turner beforehand mentioned his choice to drop the wig in an interview in September 2022 with the “Rock Of Nations With Dave Kinchen And Shane McEachern” podcast. On the time, he mentioned: “It is completely liberating. To begin with, I will give somewhat background. It was an open secret. It wasn’t like I used to be attempting to idiot individuals or ever denied it or something. Actually, I by no means thought it was that essential, however sure, let’s consider haters, or no matter, these bigots, these bullies, they might at all times take a shot at me, which I at all times thought they have been simply fairly jealous, actually, to be trustworthy with you. After which it mentioned extra about them than it does me. That is not my type of individuals. What concerning the music? That is what’s essential.”

He continued: “I knew this was on my so-called bucket record earlier than I used to be gonna depart this planet. And whereas we have been making this document, I began to really feel, ‘One thing has to occur.’ And my companion, spouse, co-manager — she’s wonderful — she simply mentioned, ‘Now’s the time, man.’ And I mentioned, ‘, you are proper.’ Though I used to be trepidatious about it — after all, she would know naturally I’d be somewhat fearful, since you’re placing your foot in an unknown territory — she mentioned, ‘ what? When you’re your self, individuals love you extra.’ And she or he was rattling effectively proper. When you’re your self, individuals love you extra, since you come out and say, ‘That is me. I’ve bought nothing to cover. I’ve bought nothing to show. Take your pictures. Do what you’ve got gotta do. And hey, by the way in which, here is the document. Now what?'”

Alopecia areata is a illness that occurs when the immune system assaults hair follicles and causes hair loss. Hair follicles are the constructions in pores and skin that kind hair. Whereas hair may be misplaced from any a part of the physique, alopecia areata often impacts the top and face. Hair sometimes falls out in small, spherical patches concerning the dimension of 1 / 4, however in some instances, hair loss is extra in depth. Most individuals with the illness are wholesome and haven’t any different signs.

Alopecia turned a subject of debate within the mainstream media in March 2022 when actor Will Smith slapped comic Chris Rock on the Oscars ceremony. Will‘s spouse, the 50-year-old actress Jade Pinkett Smith, skilled hair loss as a consequence of alopecia and has at all times brazenly shared her wrestle. The confrontation came about after Rock made a joke, calling Pinkett Smith “G.I. Jane” in reference to her bald head, which she has beforehand defined is because of alopecia. The surprising incident noticed Will storm on stage to hit Chris following the offending remark earlier than returning to his seat and yelling “preserve my spouse’s title out of your fucking mouth” shortly earlier than he collected his greatest actor gong for his position in “King Richard”.

A couple of hours after Joe first posted his new images on social media, fellow ex-RAINBOW singer Graham Bonnet took to his Fb web page to share one of many photos and he wrote in an accompanying message: “Hello all. Graham right here. I am posting this picture of my buddy Joe Lynn Turner as a result of I used to be moved to tears at present once I noticed it.

“Joe exemplifies the that means of rockstar. His bravery is staggering. This trade is ruthless (particularly in our style),significantly in relation to hair. I nonetheless hear the story about Ritchie Blackmore posting a guard at my lodge door to maintain me from getting a haircut. BTW, that by no means occurred, though he was so pissed once I did go to the barber.

“However I digress…… I do not know if Joe will see this however I would like him to know the way proud I’m of him and the way moved I used to be at his honesty.

“You could have blazed a path at present, Joe. In case you are studying this, I would like you to know that I by no means realized what a phenomenal man you have been till I noticed this picture.”

Joe was the singer of RAINBOW between 1980 and 1984 and he sang on the album “Troublesome To Treatment”, which featured the band’s most profitable U.Ok. single, “I Give up”.

Throughout Turner‘s time with RAINBOW, the band had its first USA chart success and recorded songs that helped outline the melodic rock style.

1990 noticed Turner reunited with RAINBOW chief Ritchie Blackmore in a reformed DEEP PURPLE for the “Slaves And Masters” album.