Tina Turner Wanted to 'Go Away' Following Abusive Marriage until 2nd Husband Became Her Pillar

The world says goodbye to the legendary Queen of Rock, Tina Turner, but no one has a clue about the obstacles the "You're Simply the Best" singer had to face on her way to true love and happiness with her spouse of 37 years.

The world is mourning the passing of Tina Turner, the legendary singer known for her powerful voice and incredible stage presence. Behind her iconic hits like "What's Love Got to Do With It," Turner's life was a testament to resilience and the indomitable human spirit. Throughout her journey, she faced immense challenges but managed to rise above them, leaving an indelible mark on the world of music.

Tina Turner's Years of Despair and Abuse

While the “Proud Mary” hitmaker cheered up her fans with inspiring songs, her own life was full of pain, and she didn’t always feel loved. In the 2021 documentary "Tina," the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer candidly discussed the relentless media attention surrounding the abusive relationship she had with her late ex-husband, Ike Turner. The constant reminders of the violence she endured led the Rock Queen to retreat from the spotlight in her later years, seeking solace away from prying eyes.

Once Turner even wanted to "just go away" to escape fame. "When do you, how do you bow out slowly? Just go away?" Turner pondered in the documentary, revealing her struggle with the lingering effects of post-traumatic stress disorder caused by years of abuse. She bemoaned the perpetual headlines about her painful experiences during her 16-year marriage to Ike, who gave her the moniker "Tina Turner" and passed away in 2007. "I wasn't interested in telling that ridiculously embarrassing story of my life," Turner admitted in the film. “But I felt that’s one way I can get the journalists off my back.”

Turner described her life with Ike as "living a life of death," a haunting portrayal of the psychological and emotional toll the abuse took on her.

"The story was written so I would no longer have to discuss the issue," Tina shared, highlighting her intention to put the painful past behind her. However, the constant reminder of her traumatic experiences continued to haunt her.

Turner revealed that being at her lowest she even wanted to end her life.

"I don't love that it's always talked about. I made a point of putting the news out... so I could go on with my life," the singer confessed. "But this constant reminder is not so good. I'm not so happy about it."

In the documentary, Tina Turner bravely disclosed chilling details about the abuse she suffered at the hands of her first husband, Ike, even while carrying a baby. She vividly recalled:

"I laid there with a swollen head, thinking, 'You're pregnant and you have no place to go.'"

Turner revealed that being at her lowest she even wanted to end her life. Turner described her life with Ike as "living a life of death," a haunting portrayal of the psychological and emotional toll the abuse took on her. Turner's journey was marked by a challenging childhood as well.

Growing up, she faced an abusive father, prompting her mother to eventually leave him and move Turner to live with her grandmother when she was just 11 years old. Despite the hardships, Tina Turner managed to transform her pain into strength and overcame the odds. "I'm a girl from a cotton field that pulled myself above what was not taught to me," Turner proudly declared.

Tina Turner's True Love: A Beacon of Hope and Healing

In the midst of the darkness and despair that consumed Tina Turner's life, a beacon of true love emerged, offering her a lifeline of hope and healing. Erwin Bach, her husband, who was 27 years her junior and by her side until her death, played a pivotal role in rescuing her from the depths of her pain and empowering her to reclaim her life.

Tina Turner met Bach, a record label executive at EMI, in 1985. The connection which sparked between them was instant. Recalling the very moment when they first met, The Queen of Rock said that she fell for Erwin at first sight. "My heart went bu-bum. It means that a soul has met. My hands were shaking. And Roger said to me, 'Tina, you ride with Erwin,' and I wanted to go, 'Yay!'" she recalled. “Erwin was in my thoughts for the next two days,” Turner gushed in her biography.

However, it was not love at first sight for Bach. Still, Bach revealed that their relationship was built on a profound love for each other, emphasizing that their connection thrived on a solid foundation. He shared:

“It's love. It's something we both have for each other. I always refer to it as an electrical charge. I still have it. Even though when I left her two hours ago, I still have that feeling. It's in my heart.”

Following Turner's decision to retire in 2009, she faced a series of health challenges, including intestinal cancer and a stroke. In December 2016, the legend learned that her kidneys were only at 20%.

At this critical juncture, Erwin stepped in, saying he "didn’t want another woman."

Even throughout Tina Turner's health struggles, Bach stood by her side. Reflecting on her journey in her memoir, Turner wrote, "Only the transplant would give me a good chance of a near-normal life. But the chances of getting a donor kidney were remote."

According to her memoir, Turner wanted to die as her prospects of survival seemed bleak without a kidney transplant. She revealed,

"I couldn't eat. I was surviving but not living. I began to think about death.”

At this critical juncture, Erwin stepped in, saying he "didn’t want another woman." He expressed his desire to save his wife. The singer wrote:

“Then he shocked me. He said he wanted to give me one of his kidneys.”

Less than two years before Tina Turner’s passing, her husband bought her a fairytale $76 million house in Switzerland. They intended to utilize the house as a “new weekend retreat in the immediate vicinity.” Tina Turner and her husband Erwin found peace in their paradise-like estate, saying that they “feel very comfortable in Switzerland.” Turner revealed that Europe was more “supportive” of her music than America. Moreover, her “success” and love were there.

As Tina Turner took her last breath in her lakeside home in Zurich, Switzerland, after a prolonged illness, the world lost an incomparable talent. She will forever be remembered as the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll," a true icon who defied adversity and left an indelible legacy. Her fans continue to visit her home, paying homage and leaving flowers to honor the timeless legend who will always be "simply the best."