Keith, Tina, & Bowie at The Ritz

Keith Richards, Tina Turner, and David Bowie partying backstage. One of the most iconic photographs ever in rock ’n’ roll history.⁣⁣⁣
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⁣⁣The picture was taken in January 1983 at The Ritz, New York City. The club was managed by Jerry Brandt who discovered Chubby Checker, booked acts like The Beach Boys and Sonny & Cher, and brought The Rolling Stones to the USA.⁣⁣⁣
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⁣⁣⁣⁣The photographer, Bob Gruen, told V Magazine:⁣⁣⁣
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⁣⁣⁣“David Bowie was there that night, and Keith Richards came too; Jerry Brandt was the one who’d brought the Rolling Stones to America, so it was no big thing for Richards to show up at The Ritz. [Richards] was also friends with Tina because she and Ike had opened for the Rolling Stones in Europe in the sixties.” ⁣⁣⁣
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⁣⁣⁣When the photo was taken Tina Turner had just broken up with Ike and launched a solo career.⁣⁣⁣
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⁣⁣⁣“Tina’s Ritz show was fantastic; she was obviously back to being Tina Turner the star, doing what she knew how to do best: entertain. I don’t know how to describe it, but she was more experienced being on her own at this point. The audience was totally with her; their energy was in the palm of her hands, or rather her legs. This was the beginning of her career comeback. Whenever there was a big show at The Ritz, the afterparty at Jerry’s office would get pretty crowded. There was a side room, which is where we all ended up with Tina, Bowie, Keith, Patti Hansen. Everybody was so happy. I remember Tina trying to pour the champagne for David Bowie. He was nervous about it splashing on him, and Tina wasn’t really a drinker. This was all about celebrating.”⁣⁣⁣