The man who was tasked with bringing ‘Queen of Rock ‘n Roll’ Tina Turner to Ipswich has shared the story behind that unforgettable Portman Road performance following her death aged 83.
On July 24, 1990, Tina Turner lit up the Portman Road stadium, captivating thousands of Ipswich fans with a 19-song set list, packed with greatest hits including Proud Mary, What’s Love Got To Do With It and Let’s Stay Together.
While countless stars have since performed there, in those days, the man who made it all happen said that getting such a huge star to Ipswich was a daunting task.
Barry Dye became a full-time entertainment agent in 1972, running his own Ipswich-based company Barry Dye Entertainments. He has had a truly star-studded career, and worked with some of the biggest names in show business.
At the time, he said that Tina Turner was the most famous artist he had ever worked with.
In late 1989, Mr Dye was approached by Simon Ray of Gold Ray Promotions. He had negotiated for a major concert to be staged at Portman Road, but had been unable to find a star.
“He asked me to sort it out for him, so I did,” explained Mr Dye.
“Back in my office, it came on the radio that Tina was touring.
“I thought, blimey- if I can pull that off, that will be a coup!”
He then discovered that the person promoting Tina’s tours was a man he had worked with many times in the past.
“I rang him up, and said, I hear that you’re touring Tina next year. I’d like to bring her to Ipswich.
“He laughed, and said, where on earth is Ipswich?”
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Initially, the promoter said that Tina couldn’t possibly perform at a location which people would have to travel so far out to.
However, Mr Dye managed to persuade him that Tina would have a captive audience in East Anglia, and the promoter agreed to speak to her.
A few days later, Tina decided to come to Ipswich.
“That was when the hard work began,” said Mr Dye. He travelled to Antwerp and then to Switzerland to watch Tina perform, and was given an all-access pass to go backstage with his team, and find out how the show was staged.
“I could go under the stage, and into the front barrier where the security guards were,” said Mr Dye. “I looked up, and there she was, singing just above me.”
Logistically, organising the Portman Road concert was no mean feat.
An incredible 24 40-ft trucks of equipment arrived, and had to be parked up at vacant land on West End Road now occupied by garages.
“The only way onto the pitch was through the tunnel which the players walk through,” explained Mr Dye. “All the steelworks had to be forklifted through that tunnel. It was a nightmare, and it has been ever since.”
When Tina herself arrived, he had to refer to a binder of instructions an inch and half thick, to ensure that everything was to the singer’s liking.
“Portman Road wasn’t really set up to be a major artist’s dressing room!” Mr Dye laughed.
Finally, D-Day arrived, and the concert got underway.
“I hardly saw much of it,” said Mr Dye. “I saw the start, when she walked down this huge staircase singing Steamy Windows.
“After that, I was tearing around backstage, sorting out all the problems as they happened.”
The day after the concert, Mr Dye breathed a sigh of relief.
“I went to Spain for a week’s break,” he said. “I needed that time to lay in the sun and recover!”
He looked back at that unforgettable night with pride.
“It was by no means a one-man show- but I persuaded her to come,” he said.
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