Stone Cold (featuring Vivian Campbell)

Zoo Freaks, get ready for a wild ride as The Zoo Crew spins the soulful track "Stone Cold (featuring Vivian Campbell)" by Joe Lynn Turner from his 2016 album The Sessions. This cover of the 1982 Rainbow classic, originally sung by Turner himself, has a chilling backstory. In a 2023 Rolling Stone interview, Turner shared that the song was inspired by a near-death experience during the recording of Rainbow’s Straight Between the Eyes. While walking across a frozen lake to the studio with producer Roger Glover, the ice began to crack. They had to lie flat and crawl back to safety, shaken but unharmed. That night, amidst a snowstorm with icicles hanging outside the studio, Turner channeled the icy terror into the ad-libs at the end of "Stone Cold," creating a haunting vibe that still resonates in the The Sessions version.

The The Sessions rendition of "Stone Cold" is elevated by Vivian Campbell’s searing guitar work, a perfect match for Turner’s soulful vocals. According to a 2016 review by Get Ready to ROCK!, Campbell’s contribution gives the track a groove that hardens the original’s edge, making it a standout on the album. Turner, reflecting on the collaboration in a 2016 ZRockR Magazine feature, emphasized the authenticity of working with rock legends like Campbell, who’s known for his work with Def Leppard and Dio. The song’s inclusion on The Sessions, a compilation of Turner’s cover work, showcases his ability to breathe new life into classics, as noted in a DMME.net review that praised his vocal stamina and emotional resonance.

Joe Lynn Turner, born Joseph Arthur Mark Linquito on August 2, 1951, in Hackensack, New Jersey, began his musical journey far from the hard rock stage. Growing up, his grandmother’s love for country artists like Lefty Frizzell and Merle Haggard filled the house, but young Joe was drawn to the raw energy of Chuck Berry and Jerry Lee Lewis, as he recalled in the 2023 Rolling Stone interview. His parents gifted him a Galanti accordion as a child, but the arrival of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones made the guitar his true calling. By his teens, Turner was playing guitar and singing in local bands, inspired by the rock ‘n’ roll 45s spun at sock hops by his older cousins. His big break came in the late 1970s when he fronted the pop rock band Fandango, which toured with acts like The Allman Brothers Band and Billy Joel.

Turner’s career skyrocketed when Ritchie Blackmore recruited him for Rainbow in 1980. His soulful voice and melodic sensibility helped the band shift toward a more mainstream, AOR sound, leading to hits like "Stone Cold" and "Street of Dreams." After Rainbow, Turner collaborated with Yngwie Malmsteen on the 1988 album Odyssey and joined Deep Purple for 1990’s Slaves and Masters. Despite facing resistance from fans loyal to previous singers, Turner’s tenure with these bands cemented his reputation as a versatile vocalist. Since the 1990s, he’s released solo albums, worked with projects like Hughes Turner Project and Sunstorm, and remains a sought-after session vocalist, as evidenced by The Sessions.

Zoo Freaks can stay connected with Joe Lynn Turner through his official website, where you’ll find updates on his latest projects and a complete discography. Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and X for behind-the-scenes glimpses and tour announcements. Fans can also join the vibrant Joe Lynn Turner Fan Club on Facebook to connect with fellow enthusiasts and share their love for his music. For more fan-driven content, check out the Rainbow Fanclan Legacy, a site dedicated to Rainbow’s history, including Turner’s era with the band.