JOE LYNN TURNER 'Has Every Intention Of Returning To The Stage' Following Heart Attack

Joe Lynn Turner "has every intention of returning to the stage" once he has recovered fully from a heart attack he suffered more than a week ago.

The former RAINBOW and DEEP PURPLE frontman's hospitalization was first reported by the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti, which quoted the press service of the Ministry of Health of Belarus as saying that the singer's condition was "stable" after he was treated at a Minsk facility for "myocardial infarction," commonly known as a heart attack.

Joe's Finnish booking agent, Thomas Ståhl of Stahl Entertainment, later confirmed that the singer was "postponing all activities for the next few months" because he was "not allowed to travel or fly right now."

In a newly released statement on Turner's Facebook page, Joe and his wife thanked fans for their support and vowed to take "this unfortunate experience as a learning lesson in life."

The statement reads in full:

"Dear friends and fans,

"I would like to start with two great thoughts that would describe our state of mind:

"'My relationship with my body has changed. I used to consider it as a servant who should obey, function, give pleasure. In sickness, you realize you are not the boss. It is the other way around.' Federico Fellini

"'He who learns must suffer. And even in our sleep pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, and in our own despair, against our own will comes wisdom to us by the awful grace of God.' Aeschylus

"Thank you for being patient and so supportive through these hard days for us... We are truly humbled by the amount of love and concern that has poured from every part of the planet! It truly warms our hearts and inspires us to win!

"As many of you are aware by now, Joe Lynn Turner experienced a myocardial infarction last week. It happened without any prior warning signs... He is in the hospital, stable and in very good spirits. He will continue to receive medical care and full physical rehabilitation for several weeks and afterwards will take some time off to recover.

"We cannot always control what happens to us in this life, but can control how we respond.

"As a very strong personality, Joe has every intention of returning to the stage in the near future and is taking this unfortunate experience as a learning lesson in life... As a true artist, he tries to find motivation and inspiration in everything that he is going through to make his spirit even stronger... The pain he experienced has nourished his courage!

"Joe is being assisted by his wife and closest family members to ensure he is very comfortable and fully provided with the best!

"Please send your pure love and best wishes for his fast recovery. He lives and breathes through his music and his true loving fans! He is looking forward to being back on the stage with great anticipation.

"We will be keeping you posted and updated through his much-desired recovery.

"With love and thanks, Joe and Maya."

Joe was the frontman of RAINBOW between 1980 and 1984 and he sang on the album "Difficult To Cure", which featured the band's most successful U.K. single, "I Surrender".

During Turner's time with RAINBOW, the band had its first USA chart success and recorded songs that helped define the melodic rock genre.

1990 saw Turner reunited with RAINBOW leader Ritchie Blackmore in a reformed DEEP PURPLE for the "Slaves And Masters" album.

The 66-year-old singer is married to Maya Kozyreva, a lawyer from Minsk.