Tina Turner's Turbulent Journey With Ike Turner: Love, Abuse, And Survival

Let me tell you a story that’s both heart-wrenching and inspiring. Tina Turner, the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll, owes part of her introduction to the world of music to Ike Turner, her ex-husband. But their relationship? It was far from the glitz and glamour we often associate with music legends. The legendary artist behind "What’s Love Got to Do With It" and the late Ike Turner shared a relationship that was intense, dramatic, and, at times, downright brutal over nearly two decades.

How It All Began: A Musical Meeting in the 1950s

Let’s rewind to the late '50s, when Tina and Ike’s paths first crossed. It was 1956, and the scene was set at Club Manhattan in Tennessee. That’s where Tina, then known as Anna Mae Bullock, performed B.B. King’s “You Know I Love You,” capturing Ike’s attention. Ike, who was part of the Kings of Rhythm band, was immediately struck by her powerful voice. He saw something special in her, and that bond only grew stronger. By 1957, they had officially formed the Ike and Tina Turner Revue, setting the stage for what would become one of music history’s most iconic acts.

A Complicated Start: Love, Children, and Challenges

Now, here’s where things get a little complicated. In 1958, before Tina and Ike became a couple, she had a child with saxophonist Raymond Hill from the Kings of Rhythm. But life moves fast, and by 1960, Tina and Ike were romantically involved. That same year, Tina gave birth to Ronnie, her and Ike’s first and only biological son together. Two years later, in 1962, they tied the knot in Tijuana, Mexico. Tina didn’t stop there—she also adopted Ike’s two older children, Ike Turner Jr. and Michael Turner, from his previous relationship with Lorraine Taylor.

Read also:

Jenna Bush Hagers Life Beyond The Spotlight A Closer Look At Her Real Estate Journey

The Dark Side of Fame: Abuse Behind the Scenes

Here’s where the story takes a darker turn. As their marriage unfolded, Tina revealed in her 2018 memoir, My Love Story, that Ike subjected her to years of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. She recounted how Ike would demand she change her birth name, Anna Mae Bullock, to Tina Turner. When she resisted, the abuse escalated. “First, he was verbally abusive,” she wrote. “Then, he picked up a wooden shoe stretcher. Ike knew what he was doing. If you play guitar, you never use your fists in a fight. He used the shoe stretcher to strike me in the head—always the head.” The trauma was overwhelming.

The abuse didn’t stop there. In 1968, Tina reached her breaking point. In her memoir, she revealed that she attempted suicide by swallowing an entire bottle of sleeping pills. Miraculously, she survived. “I was unhappy when I woke up,” she wrote. “But I came out of the darkness believing I was meant to survive.” Her resilience in the face of such adversity is nothing short of extraordinary.

Finding Freedom: The Road to Divorce

Tina finally decided she couldn’t endure the abuse any longer. In July 1976, she filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. The legal separation was finalized in 1978, marking the end of a tumultuous chapter in her life. But Tina’s story didn’t end there. She found love again in the 1990s with German music executive Erwin Bach. They married in 2013 and have been living a peaceful, loving life ever since. As a friend of Tina’s told Closer Weekly in 2017, “After all the chaos, she’s made the life she’s always dreamed of.”

Remembering Ike Turner: Beyond the Turmoil

While their relationship was marked by pain and abuse, it’s important to remember Ike Turner’s contributions to music history. He was a pioneer in his own right, and his influence on Tina’s career cannot be denied. Keep scrolling to learn more about Tina’s late ex-husband and the legacy he left behind.