Joe Lynn Turner hospitalised with “heart issue”

(Image credit: Getty - Bobby Bank)

Former Rainbow and Deep Purple vocalist Joe Lynn Turner has been taken to hospital in Belarus with a “heart issue”.

The news was first reported on RIA.ru, with the website saying that Turner had suffered a “myocardial infarction” – more commonly known as a heart attack – and was in a stable condition.

Vocalist Graham Bonnet later posted a picture of himself with Turner on Facebook with the caption: “My friend Joe was hospitalised in Minsk with a heart issue last night and myself, Beth-Ami and the rest of the Graham Bonnet Band wish him a complete and speedy recovery. We love you, Joe.”

There’s been no word yet from Turner’s camp, with the singer due to go out on tour from April 25 when he’s scheduled to play Gothenburg’s Sticky Fingers.

Last year Turner, who was with Rainbow between 1980 and 1984, criticised Ritchie Blackmore’s decision to reactivate the band with a new-look lineup, calling the move “not so much disappointing as it was shocking.”

He added: “Why would anyone of Blackmore’s iconic nature want to come out and not be as good as he can be?”

Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent 36 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in 2014 before moving into e-commerce in 2020. Scott maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, highlights deals, and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more. Over the last 11 years, Scott has written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from news and features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.