JOE LYNN TURNER Joins Guitar Virtuoso MARCUS NAND For Cover Of BLUES IMAGE Classic

Joe Lynn Turner needs no introduction. Long before he launched his solo career in 1985, his years fronting Ritchie Blackmore's RAINBOW ("Difficult To Cure", "Straight Between The Eyes", "Bent Out Of Shape") established him among the most dynamic vocalists on the metal scene, an accolade that was only amplified by stints with DEEP PURPLE ("Slaves And Masters") and Yngwie Malmsteen ("Odyssey").

Clearly, Turner knows a great guitarist when he hears one, and Marcus Nand is no exception. Born in Spain and a student of flamenco guitar along with blues and rock, Nand has incorporated his diverse influences on such projects as the Los Angeles-based metal band FREAK OF NATURE, which featured WHITE LION singer Mike Tramp, and the world music-influenced rock band ZIROQ with famed David Bowie bassist Carmine Rojas.

Nand's first solo album, 2024's "The Traveler", was described by Forgotten-Scroll.net as "a PERFECT album" for anyone enjoying "sweet, harmonious, exceptional rock music." FOO FIGHTERS keyboardist Rami Jaffee raves, "Marcus knows how to write a song that feels truly rock and at the same time, truly worldly"; ALICE IN CHAINS' Mike Inez says, "He is a great example of a dedicated musician carrying the torch of his genre well into the future."

And still "Ride Captain Ride", the mighty fruit of this devastating partnership, leads both players into a whole new arena. According to the late songwriter Mike Pinera, the song was written "in about 15 minutes [and] we cut it right that day." It lifted his band BLUES IMAGE to international fame and, with close to 25 million Spotify plays to its credit, it remains one of the greatest rock standards of all time.

And one of the greatest Yacht Rock classics as well, which is what makes Turner and Nand's treatment of the song so fascinating, as it preludes one of Cleopatra Records' most highly anticipated albums of the year, "Yacht Metal - Yacht Rock Goes Heavier & Louder". Listen to the song here.

Nand has always loved the number. "I've been a big fan of Joe Lynn Turner for years, so getting the chance to play on this track was a real thrill," he said. "It was also a lot of fun to revisit 'Ride Captain Ride' — such a classic! I wanted to stay true to the spirit of the original while giving it a heavier edge without losing what made it special in the first place."

Turner added: "It was 1970 and 'Ride Captain Ride' was the big song...it went to #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart but was forever engraved in our lives. I played it in my cover band a thousand times.

"It was a real joy to do a new version for Cleopatra...a fun tune with a positive message...hope you enjoy it as much as I still do!"

Featuring contributions from Thor, Vinnie Moore, BULLETBOYS, Cherie Currie, URIAH HEEP veteran Mick Box, MEGADETH's Chris Poland, MANOWAR's Ross The Boss, VIXEN's Britt Lightning and another RAINBOW alumnus Graham Bonnet, "Yacht Metal" is guaranteed to uproot everything you have ever thought you knew about both the genre and the songs that sail on it. A lineup that also includes "Takin' It To The Streets", "Just The Two Of Us" and "You Can Do Magic".

Roman P-V - 2025-05-20 15:16:46