Bob Gruen is an American author and photographer, best known for his music photographs, working with major artists such as John Lennon, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Elton John and Tina Turner.
Gruen credits Ike Turner with starting his career, as he first saw Ike & Tina Turner perform at Madison Square Garden during the Rolling Stones' American tour in 1969. In 1970, Gruen took photographs of the duo performing at the Honka Monka nightclub in Queens. He showed Ike the photos and was invited to join them on their tour. Gruen developed a friendship with the Turners and shot the first cover for their album Nuff Said.
Bob bought a Sony Portapac video recorder, which filmed in black & white and with mono sound. Weekdays they were in Ike’s Bolic Sound studio or filming Tina and the kids in their home. Weekends they went on the road to various shows. Later, Ike bought a 16mm film camera, so they could make color footage.
Bob continued to take pictures also from Tina solo after she separated from Ike, among others backstage at The Ritz in New York City on January 1983 together with Keith Richards and David Bowie.
Album
On The Road (1971-72) is a wonderful eleven inch vinyl picture disc with four live songs from the early seventies. The audio tracks and the cover pictures were recorded and photographed by Bob Gruen. This record is an add on to the same named home video from 2012.
- Pick Me Up (Take Me Where Your Home Is) (Live) 5:16
- I’ve Been Loving You Too Long (Live) 7:53
- I Smell Trouble (Live) 8:08
- Proud Mary (Live) 9:48
Producer: Bob Gruen, Rick Fuller
Photographer: Bob Gruen
Release: 2013
Label: MVD
Format: 11“ Vinyl
Video
On The Road 1971-72 is a home video from Bob Gruen and his wife Nadya. It features very rare recordings from Ike & Tina Turner live on the road, in the studio, at home, in the dressing room and kidding at the airport. In 2014, it won the Living Blues Award in the category 'Best Blues Video'.
- Open / River Deep, Mountain High
- Home Life
- Tonight Show 1972 / Pick Me Up
- Studio / Oh Devil / Gulf Coast Blues / Travel
- Ikettes: Shake A Tail Feather / There Was A Time
- On The Road / I Heard It Through The Grapevine / Respect
- Tina’s Premonition / A Love Like Yours
- The 70’s / The Revue / Under The Weather
- I’ve Been Loving You Too Long
- Wayne Cochran: Try A Little Tenderness
- Proud Mary
- Backstage
- Interview with Tina
- I Smell Trouble
- Wheelchair Races / Dressing Room
- Instrumental Theme Song / Choreography
- I Want To Take You Higher / Close
- Credits
- Diashow
Producer: Bob Gruen, Rick Fuller
Photographer: Bob Gruen
Release: November, 2012
Label: MVC Visual
Format: DVD
Time: 81 Min.