Rating: 
Summary: SHEENA OF THE JUNGLE
Review: BY OWNING UP TO THE MISTAKES HE MADE IKE TURNER HAS REDEEMED HIMSELF. I'LL ADMIT I'VE ALWAYS BEEN ANNOYED BY THE POSTURING
TINA BANDWAGON RIDERS. BUT LITTLE RICHARD SETS IT STRAIGHT WHEN HE SAYS ABOUT TINA "SHE KNOWS MY NAME BUT SHE DON'T CALL ME."
GIVEN THE TIMES OF THE "TINA ERA" IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A PRUDENT
CAREER MOVE TO PLAY THE ABUSED SPOUSE- IT APPEARS SHE AND HER PUBLIC RELATIONS MACHINE DID THIS-
HER TIMING WAS PERFECT & SHE BUILT QUITE A CAREER OUT OF IT.
IT WAS QUITE THE FASHION-EVEN DID A DUET WITH MICK JAGGER-
BUT A ONE TRICK PONY. BEAR IN MIND HER ENTIRE SCHTICK WAS DESIGNED DOWN TO THE LAST WARDROBE DETAIL BY IKE TURNER (HIS FANTASY BEING "SHEENA OF THE JUNGLE" THE 1940'S FILM CHARACTER)-AND AS OLD IKE SAID- "SHE KNEW WHAT I WAS LIKE-WHY DID SHE STAY AROUND SO LONG?"
WHAT I LIKED BEST ABOUT THIS BOOK WAS THE SLANG USED REMINDED ME OF THE GHETTO TALK OF MY YOUTH. AND THE EXPERIENCES IKE REMEMBERS ARE NOT THAT UNUSUAL FOR THOSE OF US THAT HAVE SEEN THE BOTTOM RUNG OF THE LADDER. THE MAN HAS AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF TALENT AND CONTINUES TO BE A MAJOR INFLUENCE. THIS BOOK SERVES AS A PRIMER AND INSPIRATION FOR ANYONE SURVIVING-INTACT-COMING OUT OF THE URBAN JUNGLE AND BEING THROWN INTO THE BUSINESS JUNGLE-WITH ALL ATTENDANT STRESSES AND PAINS- ALL THE VIOLATIONS- ALL THE HEARTACHE OF DISLOYALTIES - AND THEN BEING THROWN BACK INTO THE BOTTOM AGAIN-NOT IN ANONYMITY-BUT UNDER THE SCRUTINY OF THE WHOLE WORLD- AND THEN BOOTSTRAPPING YOURSELF -FOR A THIRD TIME!!!!!!!- THIS MAN UNDERSTANDS SURVIVAL-
WELCOME BACK, IKE-
Rating: 
Summary: ...
Review: First, I would like to say that this book is not for everyone. In the end, Mr Turner says that a lot of the way he learned to get along in life was because of charisma. I found myself not able to stop reading the book. No, I do not think that he is such a great person, but there is something in the childlike naivity and honesty he has to offer. Without judging him, who among us is great. Ike Turner is someone I have met before, at parties, at events, in many cases the life of the party. In some cases, the party itself. What else did he offer anybody than entertainment. The real lesson is his description of jail and the hard time he had to serve. Those kind of graphics should speak loudly to anyone who cares about freedom...and staying clean.
Rating: 
Summary: I thought I respected him, but now I don't
Review: He definitely was not served life on a silver spoon. I don't begrudge him with the way he views everything as anti-Black, or anti-Ike because I'm sure I would feel same way if I had a life like that.
I still think he was one of the best band leaders we've had. One of his viewpoints is something I noticed as a teen. You walk into a record store and the white groups are in the Rock section and black groups are in Soul or R&B even though they are often indistinguishable. Ike is recognized as recording the first song that was called "Rock and Roll". His records were never in the Rock section of the record store. It is a shame, I expect the problem still exists today.
The book isn't very well written. It gets mired in the details, goes on and on and on and on, and has some sections that are in extreme poor taste in my opinion. I found myself skipping ahead. I don't appreciate a book that I can't share with my teenage sons. I don't think they add to the story, and they certainly don't leave me thinking that Ike's name needs taking back. I see why Tina left him now.
I've recently read a Kiss biography and a Rolling Stones biography. I love music, I love stories about the music business, but the business is full of rot and ruin. I'm done with biographies of musicians!
Rating: 
Summary: He may be an influencial musician but.........
Review: He was an influencial musician yes. He did a lot for music yes. And that is admirable. But it doesn't change the fact that he was and most likely still is a woman beater. In this book he tries to justify it. And that's not right. I think his music is great, but I don't care how great it is, I will never have any respect for him because he thought women were just objects for his amusment. And he obviously still does. He may have learned something from his hard earned experiences, but not enough. I feel sorry for any woman who ever dates or marries this man. Tina Turner did the right thing in leaving him, and she has more strength than he ever will.
Rating:
Summary: The REAL Ike Turner...And Just Who You Expected
Review: I find "Takin' Back my Name" a funny title for this book. Admittedly, Ike owns up to all his faults and doesn't hold back much, but that only leaves you feeling like all the things you've ever heard about Ike Turner over the years are true.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.
Rating:
Summary: The REAL Ike Turner...And Just Who You Expected
Review: I find "Takin' Back my Name" a funny title for this book. Admittedly, Ike owns up to all his faults and doesn't hold back much, but that only leaves you feeling like all the things you've ever heard about Ike Turner over the years are true. 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.
Rating: 
Summary: Wow...a baffling read...
Review: I have to start this review clearing a few obvious things. First, most people are aware that the film WHATS LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT does have inaccuracies, and yes, there are two sides to every story, BUT... 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...
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating Character
Review: I read this book with great interest. If you love rock and roll, you should be interested in the life of the man who wrote Rocket 88 and who invented Tina Turner. The book is a provocative, balls-out character study of a complex, violent, multi-faceted musical genius. Places the Disney over-simplification of this individual in frightening context -- Ike's been trying to tell his story all these years. He lacks the idiom of standard English -- and so it's difficult for most people to make him out as anything more than a violent bogey-man. But he's far more -- and the contribution he made to rock obliges us to understand his background, his feelings and his violent complexity. It may be good to hear his side -- he's penitent, but not ashamed. Let's not forget -- he was hopelessly addicted to cocaine during much of the time he committed many of his most egregious sins. And, -- let us not also forget that he is a legend. There would be no Tina Turner without Ike. She would still be in Nutbush eating strawberries.
Rating:
Summary: SHEENA OF THE JUNGLE
Review: I, like most people, learned much of what I knew of Ike Turner from his eighth ex-wife Tina's autobiography, I, Tina. From that time to approximately 1997 I had an ongoing fascination with finding out more about often reclusive Turner. Takin' Back My Name fills in many of the gaps left by Tina's book and by interviews that have focused more on his relationship with his wife than with his life and career. Contrary to other reviews of this book which appear on this site, Turner is not illiterate or unfamiliar with the English language -- nor is the book full of mis-spellings. It was co-authored by Nigel Cawthorne, a British journalist and printed in the United Kingdom where the spellings are "proper English". When sent here to the United States, the publisher did not deem it necessary to change over spellings of words like "tyre" or "recognise". For those looking for an in your face, honest examination of Ike & Tina, look no further. Pay close attention to the fight that takes place in Texas the prefaced Tina's departure. It takes checking out both books to get a clearer understanding of what made Ike and Tina Turner both spectacular AND volatile.
Rating:
Summary: The Two Halves That Make A Whole
Review: I, like most people, learned much of what I knew of Ike Turner from his eighth ex-wife Tina's autobiography, I, Tina. From that time to approximately 1997 I had an ongoing fascination with finding out more about often reclusive Turner. Takin' Back My Name fills in many of the gaps left by Tina's book and by interviews that have focused more on his relationship with his wife than with his life and career. Contrary to other reviews of this book which appear on this site, Turner is not illiterate or unfamiliar with the English language -- nor is the book full of mis-spellings. It was co-authored by Nigel Cawthorne, a British journalist and printed in the United Kingdom where the spellings are "proper English". When sent here to the United States, the publisher did not deem it necessary to change over spellings of words like "tyre" or "recognise". For those looking for an in your face, honest examination of Ike & Tina, look no further. Pay close attention to the fight that takes place in Texas the prefaced Tina's departure. It takes checking out both books to get a clearer understanding of what made Ike and Tina Turner both spectacular AND volatile.
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