Later, Mr. Guitar Slinger

Ike Turner has played his last earthbound lick. People tend to overlook his contributions to popular music, basically because of Lawrence Fishburne's portrayal of him in that Tina Turner movie. For most people, if it weren't for that movie, no one would even know who he is ... was. Except for the occasional joke made in reference to his role as husband of the year. See what I mean?

Ike Turner led the band on what most people consider the first ever rock & roll record, "Rocket 88" recorded at Sun studios in Memphis, before Presley. The record was credited to Jackie Brenston, who did the vocals. This record also boasts having the quite possibly first ever recorded "fuzz" guitar, due to a broken speaker on Ike's amp. (My garage band Zip used to do it back in 1970, but we did it more James Cotton-style)

So years go by & Ike finds Tina, and starts hiring the numerous girls he named The Ikettes who WILDLY gyrate behind/along with Tina. They put all these purposeless dancers who occupy the stage with all these talentless pop singers to SHAME. And Tina simply CANNOT be contained and of course as we all know she eventually blows up big time. I saw The Ike & Tina Turner Revue, as they were then billed, in 1970 and 1971, and they were WAY hotter than any hippie rock band out on the road. Ike's band was unbelievably rock solid, and the sight of Tina & The Ikettes running/shaking/shimmying across the stage laid pussy boy Mick Jagger to shame (who simply CAN NOT DANCE unless you call his rooster pecking shit dancing). Unless they were experienced live, they pretty much were ignored by the general populus.

Ike was a Svengali, much like Phil Spector, who coincidentally produced a MASSIVE thing called "River Deep/Mountain High" for Tina, which sold zero records, and put Spector into retirement until he was saved by The Beatles. (By the way Ike was banned from the "River Deep" sessions. Guess only one nutjob at a time was legally allowed in Gold Star studios. I should check to see if Spector & Brian Wilson were ever there at the same time)

So yeah, he unfortunately beat his wife, which should not be excused, but John Lennon's spousal abuse of his 1st wife seems to get excused, I guess because he changed the face of music forever and ever. I'm just saying that Ike isn't the only one. He was a great musician, but all he is remembered for is beating Tina.

So anyway, you should check out some Ike & Tina Turner music. They did the original "Nutbush City Limits". But not the original "Proud Mary", but they might as well have. What are you waiting for? Get over to You Tube!