Tina Turner, the ‘Queen of Rock’ tribute: Watch some of her best live performances

The world went into mourning upon the news that the ‘Queen of Rock’, Tina Turner had passed on Wednesday 24 May 2023. The singer from a “one-horse town” in Tennessee became a legend twice over, reinventing herself after breaking up with her musical and romantic partner Ike Turner in 1976 to make a comeback as a solo artist in the 1980s. She was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice, in 1991 and again in 2021.

Over her career that spanned six decades she became the voice behind a number of songs that topped the charts, played on the radio, television and in the movies. However, it was onstage that her powerful voice truly came alive and her energetic dancing completely electrified. While there are just too many great performances to recap in just one article, here’s glimpse of some of the most memorable.

‘Shame, Shame, Shame’: Duet with Cher 1975

Tina Turner appeared Cher’s tv variety show on CBS 27 April 1975 where the Queen of Rock and the Queen of Pop performed a rendition of ‘Shame, Shame, Shame’.

‘Proud Mary’: Ed Sullivan Show 1970

Just about everybody who was anybody appeared the Ed Sullivan Show, and the performance put on display by TNT Tina Turner shows just how much of an influence she would have on future generations of female singers.

‘Proud Mary’: with Beyoncé 2008 Grammy Awards

One such individual who she inspired was Beyoncé, who along with Tina Turner performed ‘Proud Mary’ at the 2008 Grammy Awards.

‘River Deep Mountain High’: Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame - 1989

Tina Turner began performing with Ike Turner in 1960 and they managed to get a number of songs into the upper top 100 Billboard Hits. However, they weren’t inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame until 1991. Two years earlier though the Queen of Rock, performed with a number of the assembled greats at the induction ceremony of Phil Spector. She ended the performance with ‘River Deep Mountain High’ which he had produced with “The Wall of Sound” and turned it into one of Tina Turner’s classics.

‘State of Shock” and “It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll (But I Like It)’: with Mick Jagger Live Aid 1985

Live Aid was one of the biggest concert events in history with artists playing in Wembley Stadium in the UK followed by a second concert at John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia. At the end of his set from JFK, Mick Jagger called Tina Turner out on to the stage to perform with him ‘State of Shock” and “It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll (But I Like It)’. With two such dynamic performers it should come as no surprise, it is considered one of the great performances of all time.

‘The Best’: Sydney 1993

‘The Best’ came in at No 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1989 and that same year Tina Turner partnered with the Australian Rugby League to promote the Winfield Cup. She would do so until 1995 and her music would become the soundtrack of the NRL and the pseudo-anthem that changed the perceptions of the sport. Her performance at the 1993 Grand Final in Sydney is up there as one of her most inspiring performances.