R.I.P Tina Turner

Tonight [Wednesday] the sad news broke that legendary singer, entertainer and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Tina Turner has passed away at 83.

A statement from Tina’s family confirmed the news today:

“Tina Turner, the ‘Queen of Rock’n Roll’ has died peacefully today at the age of 83 after a long illness in her home in Küsnacht near Zurich, Switzerland. With her, the world loses a music legend and a role model.”

An additional message was posted on Tina’s official Facebook page:

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tina Turner. With her music and her boundless passion for life, she enchanted millions of fans around the world and inspired the stars of tomorrow. Today we say goodbye to a dear friend who leaves us all her greatest work: her music. All our heartfelt compassion goes out to her family. Tina, we will miss you dearly. (© Peter Lindbergh)

Rod attended a concert from Tina at the Ritz in New York in October 1981, where she performed three of Rod’s songs, much to his delight. After the show, he went backstage and invited her to sing ‘Hot Legs’ with him at Saturday Night Live the following day, which was also the very first appearance from Tina at this show. Rod and Tina also attended a Saturday Night Live cast party at Studio 54 this night. In December, Tina was invited by Rod again, to join him at his L.A. Forum concert, which was broadcasted via satellite worldwide. Tina was introduced from Rod as..”Another big event” and prompted her to come on stage, where they performed two songs together. At the end of the concert, Tina (and also Kim Carnes) joined Rod once again on stage for the duet ‘Stay With Me’. All three songs were released on video and LP the following year. After her tour with The Rolling Stones a few weeks earlier, it’s the second big step to Tina’s comeback. The next collaboration between Tina and Rod was nine years later with the single It Takes Two.

Rod and Tina covered the Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston hit ‘It Takes Two’ in 1990 and released it as the lead single from Rod’s album ‘Vagabond Heart’, and it was also included on Tina’s greatest hits compilation ‘Simply The Best’ the following year. Both, the song and the video were also used for a Pepsi advertising campaign. The live b-side track Hot Legs (without vocals from Tina) was taken from the album Absolutely Live. The single was not released in America.

R.I.P. Tina Turner