Erwin Bach donated one of his kidneys to her in 2017, when she suffered kidney failure.
Editor's note: This article was originally published on July 1, 2022. It has since been updated.
Trigger warning: This article contains graphic details of abuse that may be distressing to readers.
Tina Turner is known for her incredible voice and fierceness on stage. The 83-year-old icon aka the "Queen of Rock and Roll" became a force to be reckoned with, over decades. However, many fans were shocked when they learned that the legend suffered abuse at the hands of her ex-husband, manager, and band partner at a time when such things were never openly discussed, reports Vanity Fair. Even to this day, the singer has nightmares of the violence she endured from Ike Turner. He would beat her before sex and then force her to go out on stage and perform. They married in 1962 but the relationship was tumultuous and ultimately ended in 1976. Two years after the separation, the couple divorced.
Tina's story is a tale of healing and triumph. It's also a story of believing in second chances; she had the chance to experience love again and this time, it was real, true love in the arms of a music executive, Erwin Bach. The pair first started dating in 1986, a decade after leaving her abusive first husband. According to PEOPLE, in her book, Happiness Becomes You: A Guide to Changing Your Life for Good, she wrote, "Falling in love with my husband, Erwin, was another exercise in leaving my comfort zone, of being open to the unexpected gifts that life has to offer. The day I first met Erwin, at an airport in Germany, I should have been too tired from my flight, too preoccupied with thoughts of my concert tour, and in too much of a hurry to get to my hotel to pay much attention to the young music executive who came from my record company to welcome me. But I did notice him, and I instantly felt an emotional connection." She continued, "Even then, I could have ignored what I felt—I could have listened to the ghost voices in my head telling me that I didn’t look good that day, or that I shouldn't be thinking about romance because it never ends well. Instead, I listened to my heart. I left my comfort zone and made it a priority to get to know Erwin. That simple first meeting led to a long, beautiful relationship—and my one true marriage."
Tina Turner's husband Erwin Bach (16years younger) who she married in 2013 after dating for 27years gave her one of his kidneys last year. pic.twitter.com/VcvQcX31S2
— Wale Gates (@walegates) November 26, 2018
Despite being 16 years younger, their chemistry was undeniable. Bach also proved that he had a heart of gold when he donated an organ to save his wife's life. When she suffered kidney failure and was in need of a life-saving transplant, Bach stepped up and donated one of his kidneys to her, in 2017. "I'm happy to say that, thanks to my beloved husband, Erwin, giving me one of his kidneys, the gift of life, I'm in good health and loving life every day," Turner wrote. "I'm also thankful that I've not only survived, but thrived, so that I can pass on to you this book containing precious gifts that were given to me—the greatest gifts I can offer."
July 14, 2013 Tina Turner married her longtime boyfriend, record producer Erwin Bach. A few years later, he gives her 1 of his kidneys when she needs a transplant. #Music #Wedding pic.twitter.com/KcwmK9oW3e
— Music Beat (@MusicBeat5) July 14, 2021
References:
https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2021/03/tina-turner-ike-documentary-real-life
Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Jacopo Raule
