A polarizing figure in music, no doubt. Make "Come back to Ike Turner" jokes if you will.
I got to see the man four times last year during the Gorillaz residency at the Apollo Theater. Here's what I wrote....
Only in New York is where you'll see Ike Turner and Shaun Ryder on the same bill. I withheld my urge to yell, "Come back to Ike Turner baby!" The legendary musician and beater of Tina Turner comes out at the end of the song in a wild ensemble, it looked like pajamas with Roy Lichtenstein comic strips printed on it. The man is 74-years old and he stills slay on the piano. He's almost like Jerry Lee Lewis in that he adds plenty of flourishes while banging away on the keys using his foot and backside. The man can still play, so I don't blame the Gorillaz crew for inviting him to guest on the album and having him appear for the shows.
After I wrote that, a member of Ike Turner's band showed him the post and it was relayed to me that he appreciated the kind words. That was awesome and strange at the same time.
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