Tina Turner‘s Untold Story: The Tenacious Queen of Rock ‘n Roll
Tina Turner is undoubtedly one of the most iconic figures in music history. Over the stormy course of her eight-decade journey, the "Queen of Rock ‘n Roll" has shown the world the awesome power of resilience, perseverance and boundless talent. Though much has been brought to light about her triumph over adversity, there are still many unpublished chapters left in Tina’s remarkable story.
Southern Spiritual Roots
Long before she was selling out stadiums and topping charts, Anna Mae Bullock was born in 1939 in the small town of Nutbush, Tennessee. Her family worked as sharecroppers on a predominantly white-owned plantation, and Tina spent long days toiling in the fields picking cotton. Turning to music for joy and comfort, Tina soaked up the soulful sounds of local gospel choirs and the powerful vocals of blues singers like her idol, Bessie Smith.
At just 16 years old, Tina’s mother Zelma departed the family permanently, prompting Tina to later recount, “I wanted to cry so bad. But I was more angry than sad ‘cause I couldn’t understand how a mother could leave her children." She moved to St. Louis to live with her sister, working odd restaurant jobs by day while spending evenings singing in black nightclubs. It was at one hot, smoky club where she first crossed paths with the explosive blues guitarist Ike Turner.
Turbulent Times
After singing backup vocals for Ike’s band for a period, Tina eventually stepped into the spotlight when she recorded the iconic track “A Fool in Love” which skyrocketed up the R&B charts. Under Ike‘s forceful direction, he renamed Anna Mae “Tina Turner” and together the two would captivate audiences as “Ike & Tina Turner,” belting out soulful rock songs like “Proud Mary” and “River Deep Mountain High."
But while their magnetic stage persona conveyed passion and joy, behind closed doors it was a different story entirely. Ike was controlling and abusive from the start, using manipulation and violence to sabotage Tina‘s confidence as the duo rose to fame. “He controlled me to the point where it was frightening…Frightening to the point where he didn‘t have to hit me. Just his words," she recalled in her 2018 memoir My Love Story.
In that same memoir, Tina detailed the traumatic night in 1976 Dallas when Ike mercilessly beat her face with a shoe stretcher before locking her in a hotel room with nothing but a bloodied gown. Though she managed to flee out the bathroom window in her state of shock, Tina would finally gather the courage to permanently leave Ike in 1978 shortly after an altercation where he violently struck her with a wooden shoe stretcher. With just 36 cents in her pocket and a gas station credit card, Tina embraced an uncertain future.
Phoenix Rising
Given her age and years removed from the recording business under Ike‘s clampdowns, music execs initially balked at the idea of a Tina Turner comeback album believing her to now be past her musical prime. But they had not yet been witness to the depth of her inner fortitude. In 1983, Tina captivated audiences by guest appearing on Lionel Richie’s “Running with the Night”, oozing a raw sensuality and vocal talent that defied her 43 years. This breakthrough set the stage for her full-on comeback a year later with the release of her fifth solo album, Private Dancer.
The album campaign sparked a full rejuvenation for Tina, reinventing her image under an edgy short wig while amplifying her unique blend of sultry pop, rock and R&B. Smash singles like “What‘s Love Got to Do with It” and “Better be Good to Me” earned critical success as the album ultimately sold over 20 million copies worldwide. Tina swept the Grammys with 3 wins in 1985, including Record of the Year. At the ripe age of 44, the Comeback Queen cemented her status as an global solo superstar.
Over the next 20 years, Turner unleashed hit album after hit album and dazzled fans with her legendary live performances across over 10 world tours. According to Billboard‘s Boxscore archives, Turner‘s 1996-1997 "Wildest Dreams Tour" brought in over $100 million dollars across 250+ shows. And still today with over 100 million albums sold, Tina reigns on Rolling Stone‘s list as the 8th highest certified female musical act in American history.
That’s Love, Tina-Style
After finally divorcing Ike in 1978, Tina famously swore she would never walk down the aisle again. But after nearly 3 decades together, she agreed to make things official with her loyal partner Erwin Bach. Though Bach was sixteen years Tina‘s junior, friends describe him as a grounding force of patience and care perfectly suited for the Queen‘s impervious spirit. "I wanted a happy life and simplified life, and I have it now,” Tina told Good Morning America.
The Musical Legend Decamps to Switzerland
Seeking peace and privacy away from the media glare, Tina relocated to a lakefront estate in Küsnacht, Switzerland with Bach in 1994. Complete with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Lake Zurich and an infinity swimming pool, the luxury property was reportedly purchased by the couple for nearly $77 million in 2022. Tina relishes in the country’s lush nature and tranquility, the perfect backdrop for her daily meditation practice rooted in Buddhist teachings.
Even in her 80s, the Queen admits she still battles bouts of insomnia tied to painful memories that resurface. "I still have that thing about darkness, about being unsafe,” she revealed in her memoir. Meditation has gifted her resilience against recurring nightmares and panic attacks. Oftentimes, Tina and Erwin will head to Paris for weekends of shopping, dining and attending musicals which she counts among her greatest joys these days.
The Queen Reigns On
Though the musical icon has tried to step back from touring and recording, she‘s the first to admit she just can‘t quit performing cold turkey. "I’m 80. I should be thinking about really relaxing,” Tina recently joked in an interview. In 2020 at age 80, Tina contributed vocals to Norwegian producer Kygo’s tropical house remix of “What‘s Love Got to Do With It", landing her back in the musical spotlight. The track earned her the milestone for being the first artist in UK history to chart top 40 hits across six consecutive decades.
Driven by an seemingly ageless energy, The Queen continues to take on passion projects spanning film cameos, Broadway musicals and even speaking her raw memoirs into an audio diary in her signature raspy drawl. Though she concludes, "I think I did enough. I think I did all that I could do. But I‘m still going. So, I‘m taking it easy,” it’s clear Tina Turner has zero intentions of slowing her roll anytime soon. After defiantly overcoming so much personal and professional adversity, she remains fiercely determined to thrive on her own uncompromising terms.