Tina met at the TV-Special Hollywood Nights Olivia Newton-John’s manager Roger Davies and asked him to manage her. Roger wasn’t sure, but after he attended one of her concerts at the San Francisco Fairmont Hotel, he agreed to work as her manager. Tina told him, that she would like to do a Rock’n Roll show like the Rolling Stones, so Davies advised her to drop her band, her style and most of the songs she did before and remodeled her show into a rock showcase. The new show started in San Francisco in March 1981 and continued the following three years with slightly different setlists all over the world.
Also in 1981, Roger booked Tina for the first time for some shows at New York’s most legendary night-club The Ritz, which was a massive success. At the beginning of 1983, Tina performed again at The Ritz, which resulted in a recording deal with Capitol Records and Tina’s comeback single Let’s Stay Together.
Regions: All over the world
The Band: Kenny Moore: Piano, Vocals / James Ralston: Lead Guitar / Annie Behringer: Dancer, Vocals / Lejeune Richardson: Dancer, Vocals / Jack Bruno: Drums / Bob Feit: Bass / Chuck O’Steen: Keyboards, Vocals
Setlist
- Kill His Wife (Foolish Behaviour)
- Cat People (Putting Out Fire)
- Tonight Is The Night
- Hot Legs
- Get Back
- I’ll Be Here Where The Heart Is
- Honky Tonk Women
- Crazy In The Night
- River Deep, Mountain High
- Nutbush City Limits
- Givin’ It Up For Your Love
- Nightlife
- Jumping Jack Flash
- It’s Only Rock’n Roll
- Shake A Tail Feather
- Key Largo
- Help
- Acid Queen
- Take A Little Pain
- Rock’n Roll Widow
- I Want To Take You Higher
- Proud Mary
- Music Keeps Me Dancin'
- Hollywood Nights
The Ritz
In January 1983, Bob Gruen took photos from Tina’s show and backstage and spoke to New York’s Voice Magazine. David Bowie was there that night, and Keith Richards came too; Jerry Brandt was the one who brought the Rolling Stones to America, so it was no big thing for Richards to show up. He was also friends with Tina because she and Ike had opened for the Rolling Stones in Europe in the sixties.
Tina's Ritz show was fantastic; she was obviously back to being Tina Turner the star, doing what she knew how to do best: entertain. I don't know how to describe it, but she was more experienced being on her own at this point. The audience was totally with her; their energy was in the palm of her hands, or rather her legs. This was the beginning of her career comeback. Whenever there was a big show at The Ritz, the afterparty at Jerry's office would get pretty crowded. There was a side room, which is where we all ended up with Tina, Bowie, Keith, Patti Hansen. Everybody was so happy. I remember Tina trying to pour the champagne for David Bowie. He was nervous about it splashing on him, and Tina wasn't really a drinker. This was all about celebrating. — Bob Gruen in Voice Magazine 1983
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones had a great influence on Tina Turner's career. First in 1966, with the success of River Deep - Mountain High in England, Ike & Tina were invited to perform with them as an opening act for their UK tour. Three years later, they asked Ike & Tina again to open their American tour in November 1969, which gave them a higher profile among young rock audiences.
After the split from Ike, Tina worked on her solo career with her manager Roger Davies and covered many of their songs in her concerts. In 1981, The Rolling Stones were on tour in America to promote their current album „Tattoo You“ and invited Tina once again to open for three dates at the Brendan Byrne Arena in East Rutherford from November 05 - 07. Beside her own set as an opening artist, she duetted also with Mick Jagger on one song.
- Proud Mary
- Hollywood Nights
- Help
- Honky Tonk Women
Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart attended a concert from Tina at The Ritz in New York in October 1981, where she performed three of Rod’s songs, much to his delight. After the show, he went backstage and invited her to perform with him at Saturday Night Live the following day, which was also the very first appearance from Tina at this show. Rod and Tina also attended a cast party at Studio 54 this night.
In December, Tina was invited by Rod Stewart again, to join him at his L.A. Forum concert, which was broadcasted via satellite worldwide. Tina was introduced from Rod as „another big event“ and prompted her to come on stage, where they performed two songs together. At the end of the concert, Tina (and also Kim Carnes) joined Rod once again on stage for the encore. All three songs were released on video and LP the following year. After the tour with The Rolling Stones a few weeks earlier, it’s the second big step to Tina’s comeback.
- Get Back
- Hot Legs
- Stay With Me
SNL: October 3, 1981
Concert: December 19, 1981
Venue: The Forum, Inglewood (USA)
Chuck Berry
Tina Turner was a special guest in 1982 at one of Chuck Berry’s concert at 'The Roxy' on Hollywood’s famous Sunset Strip, where she joined him for one song live on stage. Additionally, she also appeared at the end of the concert for the final with the whole cast, dancing around. The concert was released in 1983 on the Live At The Roxy home video and the duet was also included into the 3 CD set The Many Faces of Tina Turner in 2018.
- Rock’n Roll Music
- Finale
Date: January 01, 1982
Venue: The Roxy, Los Angeles (USA)
Producer: Jack Malstead, C.D. Haifley
Release: 1983 / 1989 (LaserDisc)
Label: VPI / Image Entertainment
Format: VHS / LaserDisc
Alright, rock’n roll… rock’n roll. At this time ladies and gentlemen, we gonna bring the fabulous… the fabulous – you hear me? – the fabulous Tina Turner! We gonna do for you a little number that you might know … — Intro from Chuck Berry