"The world may view Erwin as Tina’s 'younger man, but the truth is that, at heart, he’s really 60 and I’m 16,'" Tina Turner wrote in her memoir.
Iconic singer Tina Turner, known as the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll," embraced her aging and was unfazed by the fact that she appeared older than her husband, Erwin Bach, who was 16 years her junior. Turner, who passed away at the age of 83 in May this year from natural causes, married Bach in 2013 after ending her abusive marriage to Ike Turner, per Celebretainment.
In her memoir, My Love Story, Turner shared her thoughts after the first time she slept with Erwin. "Thus began my love story with a man who was 16 years younger than me," she wrote. She further explained, "But that was never an issue in my mind, then or now. The world may view Erwin as Tina’s 'younger man,' but the truth is that, at heart, he’s really 60 and I’m 16." Turner emphasized that age was irrelevant in their relationship, stating, "He’s always been an old soul. And he’s much more mature than I am, he thinks ahead and exercises caution, while I’m more likely to leap without looking. In any case, at 46, I didn’t look older than Erwin, who was 30. I never think about the age difference. I don’t even feel I need to work at looking pretty in bed – I’m past that. What’s love got to do with it? A lot!"
Tina Turner's affection for Erwin grew after enduring years of abuse from her former husband, Ike Turner, who passed away in 2007. However, it took Erwin some time to determine if they were meant to be together. Eventually, Erwin asked her if they were a couple, to which she responded with eagerness and a desire to be with him. Turner shared, "I was already head-over-heels in love with him. For the first time, I felt that I was truly in a relationship. This is how it's supposed to be, I told myself. One day, he asked me in his charming German way, ‘Are we together?’ – meaning, ‘Are we a couple?’… I just wanted to be with Erwin more and more," she revealed in her autobiography.
Tina Turner's wedding dress was gorgeous—and so is the story of her 30+ year romance with Erwin Bach. pic.twitter.com/JCckTHLcXL
— Oprah Daily (@OprahDaily) July 16, 2019
After marrying Bach, Tina Turner suffered a stroke, and four years later, she faced kidney issues. In a remarkable act of love, Bach donated one of his kidneys to save her life. Turner initially urged him not to proceed with the operation, concerned about the risks he would be taking for the sake of her few extra years. "He was a young man. Why should he take such a risk to give an older woman a few extra years? What if he had a problem someday with his remaining kidney? ‘Darling, you’re young. Don’t, don’t, don’t interfere with your life. Think about your own future,' I urged", she said. “But Erwin had made up his mind. ‘My future is our future,’ he told me.” This selfless act deepened their bond and commitment to each other.
References:
https://books.google.co.in/books/about/My_Love_Story.html?id=O52nDwAAQBAJ&redir_esc=y
Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Jacopo Raule
