Takin' Back My Name: The Confession of Ike Turner

Rating:
Summary: He Survived.
Review: Ike Turner is considered by many to be one of the most influential musicians of his time. Following the allegations of abuse by Tina he has also become one of the most despised. His talent was quickly forgotten, or worse ignored. I first bought this book out of curiousity wondering whether he would have a hope in [heck] of defending himself. The truth is this book doesn't really excuse anything Ike has done, but goes a long way in explaining some of his actions. Ike was exposed to so much sex and violence at such a young age it is possible to understand sometimes why he behaved the way he did. It would have been far easier for him to just lash out and blame Tina for everything or insist she was the one lying ....I for one admire him for admitting to as much as he did knowing it wouldn't do much to enhance his character. There in a certain humanity in that and a dignity that only comes with experience. Nobody least of all Ike is denying the pain he's caused Tina, his kids or anyone else,in the past. But any decent open-minded person can see he has his own pain to deal with and i think that is what he's trying to do here. Even at such a late stage in his life he is finally learning about real love and success. Tina was given her break, a second chance to build a new life and career away from her past, all Ike wants now is his chance to do the same thing. Should anyone deny him that?. Good Luck Ike i hope things work out for you.

Rating:
Summary: "Takin' Back My Name" Hardly Ike
Review: In this sad excuse of a memoir Ike Turner tries and tries and tries to convince us that he is a good person. WRONG! Instead he comes off as a psychopathic obsessive fool who ruined the best thing in his life when he destroyed his relationship with the wonderful TINA. He also jumps back and forth with his opinion on TINA but hey who cares? We must remember that HE BEAT HER UP and like the old saying goes "A leopard cannot change its spots" or to quote Marlo Thomas on "Friends" "once a cheater always a cheater" Take that, Ike.

Rating:
Summary: He got BALLS!
Review: Its easier to hate Ike Turner with his devilish features and never ending cursing,than to stop for a moment and think about the fact that he is self-thought music genius without education,a guy who somehow managed to escape dangerous and racist American South and built a career in a business where white managers call the shots.Responsible for 26 musicians in his group,providing them with salary and job,no wonder he was a bossy character who waved his gun on every step - he HAD to be tough otherwise he would be eaten alive.Forever marked in public consciousness as a bad guy of rock and roll,Turner never had a chance to say his side of the story - nobody would listen anyway.I firmly believe that nobody could be evil: there has to be black and white shades in every character and the reason why we do things we do.The point of this book is not "his" or "hers" truth - its the same story seen from a man's and woman's point of view.Reading this book could be fun,because one can almost hear Turner's voice as he boast about drugs,women and more drugs - he is not apologising because he enjoyed every moment and he was surrounded with people who enjoyed his generosity with drugs and money.That they all left once he fall deep from grace was a hard lesson.Surprisingly,he never said a bad thing about his ex-wife and admire her strenght - that he never cared about her feelings and reasons why he found her crying on the floor alone was very typical for a black man of his generation and background,he simply thought that money he gave her for shopping was enough to keep her happy.Unfortunately author of this book is very ignorant about Turner's importance in early Rock And Roll and feels obligated to interrupt Turner's monologue with his own stupid,patronising remarks and comments - such a fascinating character deserves better writter.Little Richard's passionate preface showes much more understanding and pity he didnt wrotte the whole book himself,knowing Turner much longer from a Stone Age of Rock.This is not a book for a fanatical fans of Tina Turner who despise Ike anyway (forgetting that she stayed with him for 18 years,so he could not be SO evil - after all he took her up from Nutbush,Tenesee and made her a international star),this is a book for anyone who THINKS and wonders were there maybe some more things that didnt fitt Disney-produced movie.Good luck Ike,I hope this is not the sad end of your life and career - perhaps people would understand you better one day posthumously and recognise your importance in music.

Rating:
Summary: Is he really "Taking" Back his Name????
Review: Oh where do I start? I decided to read this book because I was obsessed with the movie "What's Love Got to Do With It". I just wanted to see what Ike had to say. When I first opened the book and began to read Little Richard's foreward I was immediately taken aback. There were so many spelling errors. For instance, he spelled tires "tyres". I thought it was me so I continued reading, only to find that Ike did the exact same thing. You would think that the editor would have caught words like organiser and kerb. Ike talked about his relationship with Tina and he switched back and forth. It was very confusing. In one part he said that he was proud of Tina. The next chapter he said that he was upset with her and that she had lost her "blackness"; or that she forgot where she came from. (And oh by the way how are you not black anymore? *lol*)
I thought that it was wonderful that he claimed his demons in this book. That he owned up to be a avid drug user. However that was it. If you want to hear about almost every sexcapade that Ike Turner ever had, the hole in his nose, and how he made everyone a big star, this is your book. However if you want to get a book that explains what really happened purchase I, Tina. Otherwise you will shake your head in disbelief and giggle often!!! Did he take back his name? I think Not!!

Rating:
Summary: Is he really "Taking" Back his Name????
Review: Oh where do I start? I decided to read this book because I was obsessed with the movie "What's Love Got to Do With It". I just wanted to see what Ike had to say. When I first opened the book and began to read Little Richard's foreward I was immediately taken aback. There were so many spelling errors. For instance, he spelled tires "tyres". I thought it was me so I continued reading, only to find that Ike did the exact same thing. You would think that the editor would have caught words like organiser and kerb. Ike talked about his relationship with Tina and he switched back and forth. It was very confusing. In one part he said that he was proud of Tina. The next chapter he said that he was upset with her and that she had lost her "blackness"; or that she forgot where she came from. (And oh by the way how are you not black anymore? *lol*)
I thought that it was wonderful that he claimed his demons in this book. That he owned up to be a avid drug user. However that was it. If you want to hear about almost every sexcapade that Ike Turner ever had, the hole in his nose, and how he made everyone a big star, this is your book. However if you want to get a book that explains what really happened purchase I, Tina. Otherwise you will shake your head in disbelief and giggle often!!! Did he take back his name? I think Not!!

Rating:
Summary: LIES AND MORE LIES
Review: OK I MADE THE MISTAKE OF BUYING THIS BOOK AND I COULD BELIEVE WHAT I WAS READING. I THINK THAT IKE IS TRYING TO MAKE ALL TINA FAN BELIEVE THAT TINAS BOOK IS A LIE IN IT SELF. BUT I DONT THINK SO BECAUSE WHAT REASON WOULD TINA HAVE TO LIE ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS. SO TO CLOSE THIS REVIEW I WANT TO SAY "TAKE IT FROM ME THIS BOOK IS NOT WORTH 1 RED CENT".

Rating:
Summary: Ike's not a nice guy!
Review: 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.)

Rating:
Summary: Just borrow it from the library...
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Raw and inside the music business
Review: 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!!!

Rating:
Summary: Not "Rocket 88," But Then What Is?
Review: 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.