Ike Turner, who became more famous for abusing drugs and beating up his wife Tina than for helping create rock ‘n’ roll, died Wednesday morning at his suburban San Diego home. He was 76.
A free spirit who was also a shrewd businessman, Turner lived the kind of life that rap wanna-bes can only write about.
He was married at least four times - some reports say up to a dozen - and he had at least four children, a number he never precisely clarified.
He missed his own induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991 because he was in prison on drug charges.
In New York in 1986 to play a comeback gig at the old Lone Star Cafe, he was asked how much cocaine he used.
"No more than the average executive," he replied.
He was a no-show on stage at the Lone Star that night.
His image in later years was largely shaped by Lawrence Fishbourne’s menacing portrayal of his character in the film adaptation of Tina’s autobiography, "What’s Love Got To Do With It."
Tina charged he beat her repeatedly and that she finally escaped in 1976 when she feared for her life.
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