Ike Turner passes away

Ike Turner, the rock n roll legend and ex-husband of Tina Turner passed away today (December 12) in San Diego. He was 76.

Turner gained notoriety as Tina Turner’s violent and brutal husband when he was played by Laurence Fishburne in the movie, ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It’ a biopic of Tina Turner.

Ike Turner made what many consider to be the very first rock ‘n roll record ‘Rocket 88’ in 1951. He played guitar and piano on the track, and was the first to use fuzz guitar sounds on the song, sounds that were caused by damage to an amplifier.

Turner said the amplifier suffered rain damage while in the trunk of a car, this was contradicted by the song’s producer Sam Phillips who said the amplifier actually fell from the roof of the car, causing the distorted sound.

The song was written by Turner, but credited to Jackie Brenston.

Turner met 18 year-old Annie Mae Bullock in 1959, she would later marry him and change her name to Tina Turner. The pair performed together as Ike & Tina Turner , performing such hits as ‘Nutbush City Limits’ and ‘River Deep, Mountain High’, produced by Phil Spector.

The pair divorced in 1976 and Tina went on to forge a hugely successful solo career.

--By our New York staff.
Find out more about NME.