From the archives: Tina Turner in Montreal

Article content material

Tina Turner, who died Tuesday at 83, carried out a number of occasions in Montreal. Here’s a number of our tales about her, together with interviews and live performance evaluations, from our archives.

Article content material

She’s a box-office smash after years as a legend

Article content material

By John Griffin, July 20, 1985

Richelieu Park in east-end Pointe Aux Trembles is not any jewel of nature, even at the very best of occasions, however the evening of Might 23, 1982, was particularly brutal.

Excessive winds and a bitter, icy rain solely confirmed what many already knew; La Grande Virée the outside music pageant that had opened on the positioning that weekend was doomed.

Nonetheless, some 600 courageous and silly folks huddled in opposition to the climate late into Sunday night, ready for Tina Turner.

Nobody would have blamed the volcanic American singer for both cancelling her present or performing in a snowsuit. As an alternative, she got here on in her conventional next-to-nothings and spent the subsequent 90 minutes producing the one warmth of the whole ill-fated pageant.

Article content material

…

Right here was the girl chargeable for Mick Jagger’s stage savvy, the girl who screamed the ’60s traditional River Deep, Mountain Excessive, the girl who with ex-husband Ike had fronted probably the most well-known soul revues in historical past; right here she was with no file contract or an actual future within the enterprise she’d helped create.

…

Turner held a press convention Thursday in Montreal’s 4 Seasons Lodge, and the native pack of media hounds greeted her with an ardor they often reserve for uncompromised rock ‘n’ roll survivors and cultural phenomena just like the Beatles. Turner certified on each counts.

She entered carrying a striped shirt, vest and a pair of pin-striped short-shorts on her million-dollar legs, gave a cheery “hello” to the troops, accepted roses from the tour sponsors, Pepsi-Cola Canada, and settled right down to the enterprise of being Tina Turner image to 2 generations of decided girls.

Article content material

Article content material

She talked about Newfoundland, the place she and her band spent 10 days getting the present tour collectively away from the prying eyes of the press.

“It was excellent to begin there. No distractions,” she stated. “And the folks have been very hospitable. The band and crew performed baseball, and I attempted to maintain my head into the present.”

She laughed a deep, wealthy chortle when requested about shifting from St. John’s to the eyes of the world at Philadelphia, eyes that have been probably riveted after Jagger yanked off her skirt throughout their duet of his music She’s the Boss.

“As soon as onstage, I virtually forgot in regards to the dimension of the live performance. It was so huge and I’d been watching all of it day so I tended to overlook in regards to the tv and performed for the those that have been there within the stadium. Something extra would have given me the jitters!”

Article content material

And the bit with Jagger wasn’t completely sudden? “I used to be properly ready, simply in case,” joked Turner.

…

The remainder, after all, is historical past, and far of it rides on Turner’s popularity as rock’s premier emotional, bodily, sexual dwell feminine act.

“Individuals pay their cash to return and see me,” she says when reminded of Parc Richelieu so many lifetimes in the past. “It doesn’t matter how many individuals there are. I’ve to carry out. It’s what I do.”

Beautiful Turner heats up Discussion board

By Garry Steckles, July 20, 1985

Sober reflection was hardly the order of the day when Tina Turner returned to Montreal final evening and, within the course of, turned the Discussion board right into a meltdown zone.

However as Tina sang and shimmied and hundreds of followers roared their approval, there was extra trigger for satisfaction than merely being at an ideal pop live performance.

Article content material

Her rollercoaster success of the previous 12 months and a half is proof that there’s, sometimes, some justice within the loopy world of rock and roll.

Tina desires to say goodbye to rock ‘n’ roll

By Lucinda Chodan, Aug. 27, 1987

Tina Turner on stage is the closest factor to a perpetual-motion machine rock ‘n’ roll has.

Tina Turner on the phone is lower-key, with a drawl that comes from Nut Bush, Tenn., the place she was born 47 years in the past, and a rasp in her voice that comes from almost three stable a long time of touring.

…

“In two years, I’ll be 50 years outdated, though my docs say I’ve the organs of a 35-year-old. It’s a swish method of bowing out, as a result of I’m not gonna be a rock singer all my life. That’s a tough life, all that touring and performing. It’s simpler being an actor. All you need to do is present up on the set after which go and settle for the awards,” she stated, laughing. Then Turner turned severe once more.

Article content material

“I believe David Bowie and Mick Jagger and me confirmed those that you might nonetheless be youthful previous 35 or 40. You possibly can’t actually evaluate your self to anybody of the identical age – it simply relies on how you’re feeling. It additionally relies on what you do. I by no means did medicine. I by no means smoked. I simply began to drink wine and champagne about 10 years in the past. I haven’t achieved something to tear my physique down.

“Individuals take a look at me up on stage in that quick skirt and that crimson lipstick they usually assume: ‘You have to be livin’ a hell of a life.’ But when I used to be residing a hell of a life, I wouldn’t be capable to do what I’m doing. I similar to that type of singing. It’s totally different for singers who put on elegant robes and all that. It simply was by no means my type.”

Photos of Tina: A real rock survivor exhibits the way it’s achieved

Article content material

By John Griffin, Aug. 28, 1987

Possibly it was out of some want to seize her secret of everlasting rock ‘n’ roll youth. Possibly as a result of, as she heads in direction of her half-century, she says this mammoth world tour could also be her final. Possibly it was simply to recollect being within the presence of a real survivor.

…

It was extensively reported just a few years again that Turner was retiring from the rock area, however she insists she by no means truly stated she was quitting.

“All of that acquired a bit distorted by the press,” Turner stated throughout an interview yesterday in a downtown resort. Turner was right here as a part of a promotional tour arrange by her new file firm to drum up curiosity within the album, tour, and film.

“They didn’t write what I stated. I stated: ‘I needed to retire. I needed to enter appearing.’ And in order for you one thing and it doesn’t occur, after all, you need to stick with what you do in your safety. It’s a enterprise.”

Article content material

…

That constructive perspective is the primary cause Turner doesn’t thoughts nonetheless strutting round rock phases on the age of 53.

“Some persons are shocked that, at my age, I nonetheless need to do rock ‘n’ roll. However what do I care about age?

“In the event you begin serious about one thing as an impediment, you’re not going to get wherever. It’s important to be constructive about it.”

Nonetheless, she hopes she received’t be touring the world belting out What’s Love Bought To Do With It 10 years from now.

“When the time comes, I’m certain I’ll discover one thing else to do,” says Turner. Appearing is a spot the place you’ll be able to develop outdated gracefully. However I can’t see a feminine being on stage and being horny as an outdated girl.”

Tina Turner torrid, tireless; At 53, veteran rocker is Discussion board crowd’s personal dancer

Article content material

By Brendan Kelly, July 5, 1993

You don’t go to a Tina Turner live performance for the music — even when she does have as many class hits as every other veteran rocker.

You don’t go to see Tina Turner for the choreography — even when she has the very best legs and a number of the steamiest dance strikes in all of rock’n’roll.

No, you go to see Tina Turner as a result of she is likely one of the final real, larger-than-life characters in rock and that’s precisely why the 7,000 followers on the Theatre du Discussion board final evening exploded with wave after wave of thunderous applause the second Turner strutted down an enormous, metal staircase to take centre-stage.

Turner has legs: Richie’s no slouch, both

By T’Cha Dunlevy, June 11, 2000

She sat down for a piano-accompanied, R&B rendition of the Beatles’s Assist, with its acquainted opening, ”After I was youthful, a lot youthful than right now, I by no means wanted anyone’s assist in any method.”

Article content material

One will get the impression that the resilient Ms. Turner nonetheless doesn’t want anyone’s assist and will have carried issues as simply on her personal. Certain, the flashing lights, smoke, fireworks and dancers made for good spectacle, however it additionally took away, just a bit, from the marvel on the centre of all of it.

However Turner has constructed her title on her fiery, action-packed, marathon performances. So, although she could also be getting on in years, slowing down isn’t one thing that might even cross her thoughts.

Turner shows spunk, sass, class

By T’Cha Dunlevy, Dec. 10, 2008

It’s Turner’s first tour in eight years. That actual fact, mixed together with her superior age, made this one thing particular. However the main girl had extra in retailer. She got here out with each ounce of spunk, sass and sophistication we have now come to anticipate from her.

Article content material

She stacked the chances in her favour, starting together with her entrance. Standing provocatively atop a platform raised 30 ft above the stage, legs unfold (and prominently displayed), excessive heels, trademark mane and look of defiance, she launched into Steamy Home windows because the platform descended.

It was equal elements theatre and music efficiency, and Turner has at all times had a little bit of each in her act. Her hearty wail carried a lifetime of music, whereas her very presence – stage presence, charisma, effusive power – is an irresistible weapon of mass seduction. Individuals love her, are in awe of her. She is aware of it; she works it.

…

However whether or not she was singing her personal songs or different folks’s, traditional soul numbers or chintzy ’80s ballads — it didn’t matter. And whereas the particular results have been good, she didn’t want them. The facility was within the efficiency, historical past and superb endurance of a real musical icon, nonetheless in combating kind.