Since its emergence as a genre of music in the 1950s, rock and roll most often associated with men.
But Tina Turner has proven time and time again since the late 1950s until her retirement in 2009 that the ladies have something to offer when it comes to guitar music as well.
In fact, in a new interview with The protectorthe Brownsville, Tennessee native reiterated her desire to be considered the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll when asked how she would like to be remembered.
Now, at age 83 and living with her husband in Switzerland, Turner (née Anna Mae Bullock) is opening up about her personal life and career, including her celebrity crush, one of the most legendary rockers of all time.
‘I was always in love with Mike Jagger‘ she said of the iconic Rolling Stones frontman, whom she met while performing with her ex-husband as the Ike & Tina Turner Revue in the 1960s. “I loved it when we toured with the Rolling Stones.”
Stone crushing: Tina Turner, now 83, says she’s “always had a crush on Mick Jagger”; the pair introduced themselves at the July 1985 Live Aid concert in Philadelphia
Turner has always been attracted to rockers like Jagger and David Bowie, but in an interview with Baz Bamigboye for the Daily Mail in June 2017 she insisted that her relationships with the two superstar frontmen were always platonic, calling them “the brothers I never had.”
‘We never slept together; and they never approached me, because I think they somehow saw me as a role model,” she further revealed.
The retired singer, dancer and actress went on to say that she and her backup dancers taught Jagger many of his signature moves that he’s been using on stage for decades.
‘Mick wanted to dance – and I was a dancer – but he never gave me credit! He said his mother taught him to dance. But we worked with him in the locker room, me and the girls, and we taught him Pony’, an old dance move from the 1960s.
“I had a different kind of collaboration with David (Bowie), and it was more about the singing,” she said of the Ziggy Stardust singer-songwriter.
While performing as Ike & Tina Turner Revue, the group became one of the most sought-after R&B and soul acts in the US in the 1960s with hits such as River Deep – Mountain High and A Fool in Love.
And by 1966 they had the opportunity to join the Rolling Stones as opening band on their UK tour.
Mick, Keith and the rest of the Stones reportedly enjoyed performing with them so much that they invited them to join them on their 1969 US tour.
Eventually, Turner would break away from her ex-husband and attempt a solo career, releasing four albums between 1974 and 1979.
Their History: Turner first met Jagger in the mid-1960s when her band Ike & Tina opened Turner Revue for the Rolling Stones
Queen rocker: And while she maintained a relationship over the years with legendary rockers like Jagger and David Bowie, it always remained platonic
By the time the 1980s came, she was widely regarded as a nostalgic act, performing primarily in US hotel ballrooms and clubs.
Turner would reconnect with the Stones for a few gigs as opening performer in 1981, including a duet with Jagger on Honky Talk Women.
Just over two years later, she dropped her cover of Al Green’s Let’s Stay Together, which reached several European charts, including number six in the UK and number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100, and number one on the Hot Dance Club Songs.
Building on the hit single, Let’s Stay Together would be added to her next studio album, Private Dancer, which eventually became the catalyst for one of the biggest revival of her career, propelling her to superstar status as a solo artist.
Riding the wave of success from the album’s other hits, such as What’s Love Got to Do With It, Better Be Good To Me and the title track, Private Dancer reached number three on the Billboard 200 and number two in the UK, en route to a 5× Platinum certification in the United States, while selling over 10 million copies worldwide.
Turner retired in 2009 after the huge success of her latest tour – Tina!: 50th Anniversary Tour – which took her across North America and Europe from October 2008 to May 2009.
“I got on that plane… I took a deep breath and said, ‘It’s over.’ I really felt like it’s over,” she said CBS’ Gayle King in June 2019 of her retirement from singing and performing.
In the new interview, Turner was asked what makes her afraid of getting older, to which she replied, “Nothing.” This is life’s full adventure and I embrace and accept each day with what it brings.’
And while she immediately and confidently wanted to be remembered as the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll, the It’s Only Love star continued to reveal that she also wants to be known “as a woman who showed other women that it’s okay to look it up.” to strive. for success on their own terms.”
Sharing the Stage: Turner eventually opened for the Rolling Stones as a solo artist several times and performed with Jagger many other times over the decades, including at New York’s 4th Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall Of Fame induction in January 1989
Life Story in Music: This April marks the fifth anniversary of the premiere of Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, still running at London’s Aldwych Theatre; she can be seen at the promo event for the musical in London in October 2017
April marks the fifth anniversary of the premiere of Tina: The Tina Turner Musical.
The hit musical based on her life story, in collaboration with Phyllida Lloyd and Stage Entertainment, is booking performances through spring 2024 at London’s Aldwych Theatre.
Turner has sold over 100 million records worldwide and is one of the best-selling artists of all time.
Her many accolades include receiving 12 Grammy Awards, including eight competitive awards, three Grammy Hall of Fame awards, and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award,