Customer Reviews

Takin' Back My Name: The Confessions of Ike Turner

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I find "Takin' Back my Name" a funny title for this book. Admittedly, Ike owns up to all his faults and doesn't hold back much, but that only leaves you feeling like all the things you've ever heard about Ike Turner over the years are true.

The commentary is laughable as it defends Ike who admits to "marrying" 12 or so times, beating and mentally tormenting Tina (about whom he can't muster anything really bad to say), snorting coke, smoking pot, smoking crack, carrying guns, and more.

His recollections are all over the place, and he actually tries to make it sound like he had everyones best interests in mind throughout everything. For the things even Ike can't defend, he simply says he was young and didn't know better.

A favorite moment was when Ike actually suggests that considering his financial situation, Tina should go on the road with him for one last farewell tour. After all the years of cheating, beating and drugs he still can't understand why she wouldn't want to!

Through all this though, and despite the fact that Ike could be recollecting 1963 in one sentence and 1974 in the next, it is an interesting rock n' roll bio from someone who is arguably a hall of famer.

Ike & Tina are my favorite duo of all time, so this was a must read for me - but even if they aren't your favorite band you'd enjoy the smattering of other celebrities and unbeleivable stories in this book.

I gave it five stars because forgetting his faults (I know...), Ike Turner does deserve some recognition as half a legendary rock duo, and also because this book is very entertaining and hard to put down.

Let's hope with the proceeds Ike is doing something productive.

This book was very interesting and real from the begining until his relationship with Tina. Ike was definitly an important part of the history/creation of Black Music/Rock 'N Roll. That's why I give his book two stars.

However, when Ike starts to discuss Tina, it gets confussing. One needs to take notes in order to keep up. He's constantly contradicting himself and blaming Tina for his actions. That's an abuser. I've found that you have to take whatever Ike Turner says with a grain of salt. Over the years, either on tv, print media, Tina's book, then his own book, Ike's story is always changing. It's gone from he only slapped her, he only hit her once, to he never hit her at all. However, the story from Tina (and others) has always been the same. There are definitely two sides to every story and the movie "What's Love" totally had some facts mixed up, but Ike needs to get one story and stick with it.

I was also disappointed with the contribution by Little Richard. I was confused because since I've been alive, this man (rock music's own Richard Simmons) has argued and insisted that he is the "architech of rock 'n roll". Hey, no argument here. But suddenly, Ike Turner writes a book and Little Richard now says that Ike is the architech. And Ike did record what is considered the first rock record, "Rockket 88". What really got me though was when Little Richard insulted Tina. Is it me, or is that unprofessional? Ike is always saying that he has nothing against Tina, but he allowed these insults to be printed in his autobiography-in which he claims that he has no career because of her. Will it ever end?

I would recommend this book only if you have nothing else to read and you've borrowed it from the public library. However, there are several other books on the history of Rock music/Black music that are much better.

I have to start this review clearing a few obvious things. First, most people are aware that the film WHATS LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT does have inaccuracies, and yes, there are two sides to every story, BUT...

That out of the way, I read much of TAKIN' BACK MY NAME with my mouth open in disbelief. Ike IS recognized as a pioneer in Rock-n-Roll, no denying, and of course we should take that into account, but genius does not justify the monster that even he admits that he was. For those who credit him for admitting it, its really hollow praise- I mean, he had NO CHOICE but to admit it- if he tried to deny it, he would have countless witnesses to the abuse, adultery, drugs etc. who would tear him to shreds!

As a read, this is definitely fascinating, although frustrating in its context and confusing in its narrative (Ike is apparently not a slave to chronology). He seems to contradict himself at various points, and even seems a bit out of touch at other times (does he really think Tina would reunite for a reunion tour??? The Supremes couldnt even do it, and Ike thinks that Tina's gonna??? LOL)

My main problem was the subject matter- it is so difficult to have compassion for the author, even in light of his declaration of mistakes. If you can get past it, you may enjoy this book...

PS. for the prior entries who ridiculed Tina for staying with Ike so long, have you even considered the possiblity that she may have been fearful of what he might do? Its much easier to make that statement if you're not actually in the situation...

I, like most people, learned much of what I knew of Ike Turner from his eighth ex-wife Tina's autobiography, I, Tina. From that time to approximately 1997 I had an ongoing fascination with finding out more about often reclusive Turner. Takin' Back My Name fills in many of the gaps left by Tina's book and by interviews that have focused more on his relationship with his wife than with his life and career. Contrary to other reviews of this book which appear on this site, Turner is not illiterate or unfamiliar with the English language -- nor is the book full of mis-spellings. It was co-authored by Nigel Cawthorne, a British journalist and printed in the United Kingdom where the spellings are "proper English". When sent here to the United States, the publisher did not deem it necessary to change over spellings of words like "tyre" or "recognise". For those looking for an in your face, honest examination of Ike & Tina, look no further. Pay close attention to the fight that takes place in Texas the prefaced Tina's departure. It takes checking out both books to get a clearer understanding of what made Ike and Tina Turner both spectacular AND volatile.

Turner is an old man now, with a selective memory, a jumbled narrative style (less his fault than his co-writer's and editors') and a past so sick with brutality that he'll never own up to it, so don't expect him to. He is also one of the three or four most important figures in early Rock 'n Roll composition, promotion, and performance. For me, the information he provides on the latter is invaluable, engaging, and moving. His character is besides the point, which I suppose is what he deserves. But his major contributions to a great genre of American music can't be ignored.

This is a very unusual book. There is the early Ike Turner of Clarksdale and Sun Studios and Modern Studios of California. A fascinating look into the birth of rock and roll.

Then there is the Tina era and a no holds barred portrait of Ike's desires as a man. Fame, substance and women. It is reminiscent of the Miles Davis autobiography as the courage to acknowledge his desires and actions is everpresent.

Finally is the Tina fiasco cleanup. I admire Ike for writing this book. He is not takin it lying down. He is affected by the experience but does not whitewash it. And he feels he has not been dealt with square.

At times the narrative is unconvincing. But I think it is healing his spirit to write his book. There is goodness and devil in everyman and Reading this one reminds me of the devil in me as well as the goodness in Ike.

And lastly do not miss the Little Richard introduction. Unbelievable!!!

Turner is an old man now, with a selective memory, a jumbled narrative style (less his fault than his co-writer's and editors') and a past so sick with brutality that he'll never own up to it, so don't expect him to. He is also one of the three or four most important figures in early Rock 'n Roll composition, promotion, and performance. For me, the information he provides on the latter is invaluable, engaging, and moving. His character is besides the point, which I suppose is what he deserves. But his major contributions to a great genre of American music can't be ignored.

He was an influencial musician yes. He did a lot for music yes. And that is admirable. But it doesn't change the fact that he was and most likely still is a woman beater. In this book he tries to justify it. And that's not right. I think his music is great, but I don't care how great it is, I will never have any respect for him because he thought women were just objects for his amusment. And he obviously still does. He may have learned something from his hard earned experiences, but not enough. I feel sorry for any woman who ever dates or marries this man. Tina Turner did the right thing in leaving him, and she has more strength than he ever will.

Well, let me say this, if you are a Tina Turner fan like I am, then you will have to put your faithfulness to the side to read this book, because there are always two sides to a story.

The first thing I want to say is Ike tried to use Tina's style in telling his side of the story. I guess he figured, "if she could do it, I can too". And this style did not do him justice. It made him look like a low life womanizer, don't give a hoot about life and that everyone is picking on him or was/still out to use and get him. I feel that he could have gotten another co-writer or a contributer to help write his side of the story.

I did not like this book, because they jumped from one year to another and back to an earlier year and left the reader wondering what happened in between. The book really got confusing.

Second, Ike did admit that he did hit Tina, he said he did not abuse her, but he hit her. I do believe that he did not abuse her until after he became addicted to cocain. And I a glad to see that he apologize for his actions.

I think that he should have stayed away from the movie "What's Love Got to Do With it", and focus more on answering questions in her book "I, Tina" because it was obvious (if you read the book), that the movie was somewhat ficticious.

I wanted his book to go into more details on his life with Tina, though I know that he had a life before and after her and I wished he could have shown more pictures. I think he was too detailed in his child hood sex life. He should have just told who and how he lost his virginity and not described how it felt. When he did this, I felt I was reading porn.

He could have given a little more detail on why him and Ann Thomas seperated. I also wanted to learn more on his relationship with his children's mother (Lorraine) and also, touched on his relationship with Little Richard, Gladys Knight and other R&B artist he toured with at the Apollo, the Howard Theater, etc.

I don't think the book deserves 4 stars because of its writing style, but I gave it four stars because of his efforts to "Get the Record Straight".

One read of this book,and you'll know exactly why Tina left him.All he does is brag about all the women that he has had sex with.That seems almost more important to him than the music.Don't get me wrong,Ike is an important figure in music history,and I read this book to get his side of the story,but he sure didn't give me much reason to believe his version of events over Tina's.Still,this is an interesting book for those interested in early rock'n roll.(After all,Ike did record "Rocket 88",considered by many to be the first rock'n'roll song.)