Takin' Back My Name: The Confessions of Ike Turner [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

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.

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.

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...