Rock and blues legend Ike Turner died Wednesday at his San Marcos, California home. He was 76.
Turner was born Izear Luster Turner, Jr., in Clarksdale, Mississippi where he began his career as a Mississippi disk jockey and later a bandleader, finding success with the group The Kings of Rhythm with the hit, “Rocket 88″ in 1951. While on the road, the band adopted a revue format for live performances and used the band to try out new talent, among them a virtually unknown young singer named Anna Mae Bullock, who became a solid act in the revue during the 1950’s. Turner and Bullock would later move in together when Bullock found herself pregnant by another member of the band. The couple eventually married and in 1958, Anna would became known the world over as Tina Turner.
Together the pair toured across the country and became a successful duo in the 1970’s, toured with the Rolling Stones and had a hits with their songs, “Proud Mary” and “Nutbush City Limits.” Eventually, the couple separated in 1975 and Tina would later claim that Ike both physically and mentally abused her, revealing that her husband was a control freak who was addicted to cocaine and who would often burn her with cigarettes during their marriage.
According to the Associated Press, toxicology tests have confirmed that Quiet Riot lead singer Kevin DuBrow died of an accidental cocaine overdose.
The Clark County Coroner’s Office released the official autopsy report on Monday.
The 52-year-old DuBrow was found dead in his home in Las Vegas on November 25th. At the time, police said they did not suspect foul play and there was no sign of forced entry to the home.
Colin Farrell and Cillian Murphy attended the funeral for Geraldine Meyers O’Keeffe, 50, the mother of fellow film star, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, in Ireland on Friday. O’Keeffe died Tuesday morning at Mercy University Hospital in Cork, following a short illness.
Jonathan Rhys Meyers, his three brothers, his girlfriend, Reena Hammer, and his father, John O’Keefe, as well as Farrell and Murphy, attended the service at St Joseph’s Church in Glanmire, where the Rev. Noel O’Sullivan described O’Keeffe as a “loving, caring mother, who would go out of her way to help people,” The Evening Echo reported Friday.
“She was a small woman, with a big heart,” O’Sullivan said. “No words of mine can soften the grief felt by her family at this time. While it is hard for them to see beyond her death, in time they will find consolation by asking Geri to help them, and they will find she will be helping.”
Following the service her remains were interred at St. Catherine’s cemetery in Kilcully. Rhys Meyers was tearful as he asked the crowd of mourners gathered in the church to give his mother a round of applause:
“She was the best mum a son could ever have. It is a very sad time. At a time like this it is traditional to have a moment of silence. But anybody who knew my mother would know she hated silence. So I ask you all to stand and give her a round of applause.”
Australian rock group INXS is marking the 10th anniversary of former lead singer Michael Hutchence’s death with tributes on the band’s web site, inxs.com.
“Michael will always be remembered as a young, vibrant, gifted and passionate person,” drummer John Farriss wrote on the Internet site. “Michael will live on through his brilliant melodies and lyrics…I feel proud that INXS can continue to play the music he helped create.”
Farriss’ brother, Andrew, said he missed Hutchence’s sense of humor, intelligence and smile:
“To his fans he will always be a legend, but he was also an open-minded, stylish and compassionate man who took his friendships seriously.”
The famed INXS frontman died 10 years ago yesterday, on November 22, 1997, at the age of 37 in a Sydney hotel, where a coroner determined the cause of death was suffocation by hanging.
