Rainbow

Band Interview in Japan 1984


Could you first please introduce yourselves and also let us know your musical background, musicians who you've been influenced by and how you got to join this band? Starting off with Chuck.

Chuck Bürgi: I play drums with the band, five foot nine. I grew up playing rock and roll in high school and played in a high school band, played a lot of club bands. I've been influenced by practically everybody from The Beatles to The Police, from Beethoven to Stravinsky and I got into Rainbow because of him [points at Joe Lynn Turner] and him [points at Roger Glover] because I've been playing on Roger's album. And the band needed a new drummer and having known both these gentlemen I was asked to come and play with the group. It's that simple.

Joe Lynn Turner: You forgot your likes, favorite color, food...

Chuck Bürgi: Blue and concrete.

Joe Lynn Turner: Hello, my name is Roger Glover and... no, actually Joe Lynn Turner, I sing with the band, that's vocals. I have a lot of varied musical backgrounds, I think I first heard music when I was somewhere in the womb of my mother. I came out with a guitar in my hand and it's been like that ever since. I got in the band because I had to pay Roger a lot of money to get in the band and he in turn gave the money to Ritchie or they split it, something like that. That's where he bought his new shoes and that's why I'm wearing these. It's been a fabulous experience and it's we're only friends, it's a rumor.

David Rosenthal: I play keyboards with the band, that's those black and white things. Musical background; lots, I've been playing all my life and I graduated from Berkeley College of Music and I played in numerous club bands. I'm influenced by everything from rock to classical and I play a lot of classical piano as well. I just woke up one day and was in the band, I don't have any idea what happened.

Roger Glover: Welcome to the Roger Glover show. This evening we'd like to take some time out, actually we have taken some time out.... what am I? A bassplayer? Extraordionary, producer, various backgrounds. I like sushi. That's all.

We heard that Ritchie doesn't like to be interviewed that much so that leaves a lot of mystery about him. What does it feel like working with Ritchie?

Roger Glover: I've probably worked with him the longest. I've known him for about 12 or 13 years now and he is probably one of the most difficult people I've ever had to work with, but that is also balanced by the fact that he's probably one of the most gifted people I've ever had to work with. So all in all and say it's been a pleasure even though he's a little odd. He is a moody guy but he's when you get to know him he's actually a very nice guy and the reason that I'm still with him is basically because I like him. He's not really such a stranger to us. I think in the eyes of the world, in the eyes of press and the media, he's presented as some kind of terrifying figure which is something that I don't think he takes any trouble to dispel. he kind of likes that I think.

I'm sure you well you've been here a few timeS, what is your impression in Japan? How has it changed over the years?

Chuck Bürgi: How much time do we have to answer that question? My impressions of Japan... I think the people are amazing, really kind, gentle, polite and it's a rare set of qualities to be found anywhere in the world and I think that has only been enhanced by my visits back here to Japan. So it's reinforced my feelings that the Japanese people are one of the nicest of any of the peoples that I've come in contact with personally in the world. I love the high-tech society and I like the video in the game arcades and Pachinko. I really haven't seen all that much of the actual countryside or the country outside of the cities that we play. So I'm actually waiting to see that aspect of Japan so I don't think I should comment any further because I really haven't seen any more of the society or the country in general in the cities.

David Rosenthal: I'd like to add that working with the Japanese crew and everybody that works for us is fantastic. They're very efficient, very hard workers and they're really a pleasure to work with.

And what about the Japanese crowd?

Joe Lynn Turner: I think they're very polite. They're sometimes too polite. It's interesting to note how different crowds react all over the world from Sweden to Japan. For example or the antithesis like Germany where they're all banging their heads going crazy. I would say that they're the crowd is a reflection of its of the society and it's their discipline yet, they feel a lot, they you can tell that they're right there. And for a place of the size of the Budokan to hear a pin drop at a rock concert is just... it can be very unnerving to abandon because we say are we are we going down well, are we you know being accepted? But once you you're here a few years in a row you start to realize that it's just love and respect and that they're right behind you all the way.

David Rosenthal: It's a great feeling that when you're playing that people are listening because nowhere else in the world does that happen.

Joe Lynn Turner: That's also the part of the reason I think we're using the orchestra because this is one place in the world where we can probably get away with that type of intellectual musical form.

Could we have a message from each of you to the fans in Japan?

Chuck Bürgi: Keep on loving the group and keep on supporting the band and keep on coming to the concerts.

Joe Lynn Turner: Keep on, keeping on. I'm looking forward to coming back again. It's always real hospitable and lovely here so who knows maybe we'll make a whole life of it.

David Rosenthal: I love it here also and as well looking forward to coming back and I love the food.

Roger Glover: I've been coming to Japan a long time and the thing that I've noticed is that the fans here are very loyal, probably the most loyal fans in the world. It's very difficult for a band to thank the fans for the support and the only way we do it is by by doing our best in the studio and on the stage. It's very rare that you get a chance to be able to say to the fans thank you very much but that's exactly what we mean. Thank you for making us feel very welcome.


© Japan TV 1984