Keith Richards has penned a tribute to his longtime friend Tina Turner, who died earlier this week at 83.
The 79-year-old Rolling Stones guitarist and Turner had known one another since Turner’s early days of performing with her late husband, Ike.
The duo performed together from the early sixties until the mid-seventies. Ike and Tina divorced in 1976, and Ike died in 2007.
Ike and Tina were integral to The Rolling Stones’ live tours in the early seventies.
They would open for the band on their 1969 tour of the United States, later remembered mainly for the deadly performance at The Altamont Speedway Free Festival on December 6th, 1969.
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Ike and Tina’s opening performance for the Stones’ Madison Square Garden concert would later be featured in the “Gimme Shelter” documentary, released the following year. (via The Blast)
Mick Jagger And Ronnie Wood Pay Tribute To Tina Turner
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Richards’ tribute comes a few days after his bandmates Mick Jagger and Ronnie Wood’s respective tributes; original Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts died in 2021.
Jagger posted a series of photos of Turner, taken in the 1960s and 1970s, on Instagram. He also included two pictures of the duo performing together in the 1970s and ’80s.
The 79-year-old’s tribute read, “The passing of my wonderful friend Tina Turner saddens me. She was truly an enormously talented performer and singer. She was inspiring, warm, funny, and generous. She helped me so much when I was young, and I will never forget her.”
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Wood’s tribute included backstage photos taken more recently, featuring Turner spending time with his young children.
Wood wrote, “🙏💕God bless you, Tina, the Queen Of Rock And Soul and a dear friend to our family. Love and prayers to Tina’s family, friends, and loved ones #tinaturner @tinaturner.”
Richards Shares Photos Of The Duo Through The Decades In His Emotional Tribute
I am so saddened to hear of Tina’s passing. There is so much I would like to say about her but feel I am at a loss for words. She was the most wonderful and warm person with whom I’ve been friends since the early 60’s. She was one dynamic performer I ever have known. She had a… pic.twitter.com/lWzq6enxUC
— Keith Richards (@officialKeef) May 26, 2023
Richards’ tribute included a series of photos of the duo together throughout the years, from the 1970s until the 2010s. Also, it had a black and white shot of Turner by herself, taken around her beloved “Private Dancer” era in the 1980s.
The “Happy” singer’s tribute wrote, “I am so saddened to hear of Tina’s passing. There is so much I would like to say about her, but I feel I am at a loss for words. She was the most wonderful and warm person with whom I’ve been friends since the early ’60s. She was one dynamic performer I have ever known. She had a great voice and a beautiful feel for a song. I will miss her forever! My deepest condolences to her family. Rest in Peace, Tina!.”
Countless celebrities, including Beyoncé and George Takei, have commemorated Turner’s death.
Beyoncé commended Turner’s strength and resilience and thanked her for the infinite ways she paved the way for many performers throughout the decades.
