on the record with...
Jay Lewis
By Marianne Behm
(SugarBuzz Finland)
SugarBuzz Magazine
Photos by Marianne and Sakari Behm
Joe Lynn Turner pix from his myspace
Graham Bonnet and Joe Lynn Turner are getting ready for a tour in Finland and the bassist, Jay Lewis shares his thoughts about touring with these music legends.
Graham Bonnet is well known as the former Rainbow singer chosen by Richie Blackmoore to replace vocalist Ronnie James Dio in 1979. We all remember Rainbow hits such as "Since You Been Gone" and "All Night Long."
Later Bonnet co-founded the band Alcatrazz with Gary Shea. The band members were Yngwie Malmsteen (guitar), Gary Shea (bass), Jan Uvena (drums) and Jimmy Waldo (keyboard). Alcatrazz went on to get fame, especially in Japan.
Joe Lynn Turner was the singer for Fandango, Rainbow (1980-1984) and Deep Purple (1989-1992). He was also a songwriter and worked with Yngwie Malmsteen. Bonnet and Turner are also well known for their several solo projects.
Now we'll hear from Jay Lewis about his experiences and plans with Bonnet.
Hi Jay! Last year you had a fantastic tour with the legendary Graham Bonnet. I was lucky to see and experience one of your gigs -- your music was terrific with amazingly good sounds, and your band was very professional. How did you end up touring with this group, and how did you get the idea?
A: Daffy, our guitar player, got the idea of contacting Graham Bonnet about three years ago. After a few email conversations things started to look good, and it seemed like we could actually arrange a mini tour and Graham was quite interested. As things progressed, I helped with the translation of some details. Finally we came up with the dates, and we ended up playing three shows in Finland, one in Estonia and one in Sweden. A year after that, Graham came back, and this time we did eight shows, all of them in Finland.
What's the lineup for upcoming tour. You're the bassist of this fabulous group.. Who are the other members of the band, and what are their musical backgrounds?
A: We will have two drummers this time around, because of Lacu's conflicting tour schedule with Hanoi Rocks. The last two gigs that will feature Joe Lynn Turner without Graham, will have Mirka Rantala on drums. The guitar players are Daffy and Lamppari, ...boards we will once again have P.Kivinen. On this tour there we are also using background singers, Paivi Lepisto and Miina Mikkonen.
What are your feelings now about the upcoming tour, and what do you expect ?
A: I am real excited -- Graham Bonnet and Joe Lynn Turner together performing with us --WOW! ain't that something? This is a once-in-a lifetime situation, and I feel very proud that I can be a part of something like this.
That's great! We hear you're gonna play some Rainbow stuff. What other songs can we expect to hear?
A: We will do a couple of Joe's solo numbers, as well as some Deep Purple tunes, probably on the last two shows at least. Everything else will be mostly Rainbow material.
Cool! How has the response been from fans so far? Do you feel the band has been working together well as you approach the tour?
A: Yeah, I'm satisfied since the tour hasn't even started yet! The fans have been very emotional every year we've done this -- some guys have actually burst into tears during the first songs! And this is not romantic stuff to begin with.
Your songs do strike a chord with your fans, and I'm sure your fan base will continue to grow. Any plans for an album with this lineup?
A: Yes, we have actually completed the recording of nine songs for Graham, and the idea was that he would then sing them in his studio in L.A. This was long before we knew that Joe would also be touring with us.
What are your future plans with Bonnet after your upcoming tour? When you gonna be on the road again?
A:We have no immediate plans, but possibly something will surface later after we've discussed it after this tour.
Your tour season must be very colorful and packed full of action.Any crazy stories? Can you tell us one?
A: All the stories are way too embarrassing to tell, sorry. It's like The Three Stooges times two! Endless misunderstandings and awkward situations. Let's see what happens when Joe joins us...I've heard that he's a very funny guy with a good sense of humour.
Maybe we will be able to get you to share some stories when the tour is over! Ok, some personal questions.. What made you want to start playing the bass? Do you play other instruments?
A: I switched from guitar to bass because at that time there were just too many guitarists, and I felt that since I sang as well, this would be a practical move. I play keyboards,too.
I know you lived for a quite a few years in New York, so I suppose you've met several artists. Who would you really like to play with in the future if you have the chance? Is there any special artist?
A: I don't want that, and I have no need to do something like that... My favourite artist is Peter Gabriel, but I would be a nervous wreck if I had to actually get up on stage with him. Maybe jamming with Keith Richards is something I could handle after a few drinks, at least.
What kind of music do you listen to and what kind of music helps you be creative? When are you most creative?
A: I listen to everything basically, all the time. Anything can spark up creativity if you keep your channels open.
Well, your fans appreciate your talent and creativity! Thank you for your time, Jay. Wishing you all the best with your music career.
A: Thank you!