Tina Turner by Peter Lindbergh (TASCHEN, £100) is not just a coffee table book; it’s a stunning love letter to one of the most iconic women in music history, seen through the empathetic, artistic lens of the late photographer Peter Lindbergh. Voted Book of the Week by London Mums Magazine, this visually arresting volume captures the electrifying essence of Tina Turner while peeling back the glamour to reveal the powerful woman behind the rock goddess persona.
Published by the art book powerhouse TASCHEN, the volume spans Tina’s long friendship and artistic collaboration with Lindbergh. With over 100 black-and-white images — many previously unseen — the book features scenes from Paris to Los Angeles, from windswept coastlines to minimalist studios. Every frame is unmistakably Lindbergh: raw, graceful, and human. And every glance from Turner is unmistakably Tina: fierce, warm, wise, and utterly magnetic.
Though the book focusses on their artistic partnership, it also quietly tells a bigger story — that of Tina’s transcendence. Born Anna Mae Bullock in Nutbush, Tennessee, in 1939, she rose from rural poverty and a turbulent childhood to become one of the best-selling recording artists of all time, with hits like Proud Mary, What’s Love Got to Do With It, and Simply the Best. Her raspy voice, incendiary stage presence, and signature moves — part gospel stomp, part rock ’n’ roll strut — made her a livewire on stage and a trailblazer for women in music.
But Turner’s journey wasn’t easy. Her early success in the 1960s came with husband Ike Turner, who was also her abuser. After leaving him in 1976 with just 36 cents and a Mobil card in her pocket, Tina rebuilt her career from scratch. In the 1980s, well into her 40s (an age when the music industry often discards women), she roared back with the Private Dancer album — a global smash that turned her into a solo superstar and won her multiple Grammy Awards.
This context gives Lindbergh’s portraits added weight. They show a woman who earned her peace. There are no flashy costumes here — just crisp white shirts, windblown hair, sand beneath her feet, and eyes full of life. The images exude authenticity and mutual trust, as Tina called their work together “a space of magic.” The pair worked together over two decades — from edgy editorial shoots to deeply intimate sessions far from the stage lights.
Amongst the treasures in the book is a behind-the-scenes glimpse of Tina laughing under the Eiffel Tower, and a stripped-back portrait of her in the Californian desert, full of grace and quiet power.
Accompanying the images is a touching foreword by Turner’s husband, German music executive Erwin Bach, offering personal reflexions on the unique creative bond between his wife and Lindbergh. It’s both poignant and celebratory — a reminder that Tina’s impact went far beyond the stage.
Did You Know? (Anecdotes worth sharing)
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Tina’s legendary legs were once insured for $3.2 million.
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Mick Jagger has credited her for teaching him how to dance.
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She turned down the role of Whoopi Goldberg’s character in Sister Act, saying she didn’t want to sing in a nun’s outfit.
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In 2009, she retired from performing after a 50th anniversary world tour that became one of the highest-grossing of the year.
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She lived out her final years peacefully in Switzerland with Erwin, after giving up her U.S. citizenship and embracing a quieter life.
The Verdict
Tina Turner by Peter Lindbergh is more than a photo book — it’s a cultural artefact. For fans of Tina, lovers of photography, or mums seeking a dose of inspiration, this beautifully produced tome is a powerful reminder of a woman who defied every odd, broke every mould, and did it all with heels, humour, and heart.
Available now at TASCHEN.com, the official Tina Turner website, and major book stores across the UK.
RRP: £100 | Format: Hardcover, 240 pages
Publisher: TASCHEN
Perfect for: Rock mums, photography fans, and anyone in awe of female resilience.
