Ike Turner: 1931 - 2007

The Rolling Stones were long time admirers of the duo and a particularly lascivious Tina performance can be seen in the Stone’s road movie ‘Gimme Shelter’. It was while touring with the Stones that Ike noted the audience's enthusiasm for explosive R&B, and cashed in by recording Turner-ised covers of rock songs including the Beatles' Come Together and, especially, Creedence Clearwater Revival's Proud Mary. The latter became Ike and Tina's first US top 10 hit and their first million-selling single.

Sadly the seventies saw Ike’s long descent into violence. His drug taking and trouble with the law worsened to such an extent it’s alleged he was arrested 11 times in one year. His cocaine habit was legendary and it only worsened an abusive personality which had seen him regularly beat Tina throughout their marriage.  By 1990 he was in jail in California and reflecting on a life that saw him married an astonishing 14 times (according to his autobiography). In an interview with Variety Magazine he pronounced that he had spent $11m dollars on cocaine, before finally kicking the habit in prison. He also described seeing his father being lynched and outlined how he had been sexually abused by a woman as a pre teen.

His reputation worsened once more in the nineties with the release of the film ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It’ which cemented the public’s view of him as a drug crazed psychopath. Ike himself always maintained the portrayal was a gross exaggeration and regretted selling his image rights to the film’s makers.

Thankfully his later years saw his musical abilities recognised once more with Grammy nominations and acclaim for his live show. 2007 saw him pick up a Mojo Legend Award. Blur’s Damon Albarn who collaborated with Ike on his Gorillaz project and presented the award remarked: “There are a lot of misconceptions about this man. He is truly unique.”

A fitting comment perhaps on a truly flawed and controversial rock n’ roller.