'NICE AND ROUGH'

TWO years after her death at the age of 83, Birmingham is getting to celebrate the extraordinary life and talents of American singer Tina Turner.

- ADRIAN CAFFERY

Tina was heavily involved in the creation of this musical seven years ago, insisting that it be about the journey, rather than the destination, which was rock and roll superstardom in her mid-40s.

That inspiring journey involved racism, sexism, maternal desertion and extreme violence at the hands of Ike Turner, who first spotted Tina's talent and made her the frontwoman of his blues band.

At times, the beatings dished out on stage can be a hard watch, but all credit to David King-Yombo whose portrayal of Ike is unnervingly accu-

rate, if the documentaries I've watched are anything to go by.