What Triggered Yngwie Malmsteen To Name Joe Lynn Turner ‘Backstabber’

When it comes to having problems with his collaborators, Yngwie Malmsteen isn’t one to easily back down, or, that’s how Graham Bonnet felt when the Swedish virtuoso ‘tried to kill him.’

Malmsteen also had other feuds in his past, and when he started working with Joe Lynn Turner in 1988, this collaboration would too end with yet another drama.

The pair first collaborated for Malmsteen’s ‘Odyssey’ and then for a live record, ‘Live In Leningrad’ in 1989. However, by the early 90s, this short-lived collaboration had fallen apart and the guitarist had started to openly criticize Turner.

During an interview with Classic Rock in 1990, Yngwie didn’t hold back as he slammed his former collaborator and explained why he felt Joe was a ‘backstabber’ and how working with him was:

“Near impossible, I would say. Very negative guy, he’s a great singer but his voice didn’t quite fit my music. I think he should join Foreigner or somebody like that… Joe liked to say things behind my back, it was a lot of backstabbing going on. It was a pain to deal with.”

Later in the chat, the rocker even revealed that he had fired Turner from his band, and when the host asked about the ‘freshly fired’ singer’s gig with Deep Purple, Malmsteen had a lot to say:

“To be honest, I don’t like that. Deep Purple is Deep Purple with Ian Gillan, that’s it. It’s Rainbow now, I think. But I wish him well, he’s doing his thing and I’m doing what I need to do. It was never meant to be. But I’d love to hear him sing ‘Child In Time.’ [laughs]”

Yngwie, however, isn’t the only guitarist Turner had problems with. The singer also had feuds in Deep Purple and Rainbow, as he still has a bitter relationship with Ritchie Blackmore.

You can check out here to read all about what caused the animosity between the two rockers and also read about how Ritchie didn’t invite Joe while reuniting Rainbow a few years ago.