Tina Turner 's friend was seen breaking down in floods of tears on live television as he learned of her tragic passing.
The What's Love Got To Do With It hitmaker, 83, died at the age of 83 after a long illness at her home near Zurich in Switzerland.
As the world bid farewell to the rock 'n' roll legend, her friend and former crew member Chris Rhodes was interviewed just minutes after learning she’d died.
In heart-breaking scenes on BBC News, Chris was interviewed by the broadcaster just as he’d come out of the London's Aldwych Theatre at the half time interval of TINA: The Tina Turner Musical.
The American camera operator revealed he’d stepped out of the venue in the break to smoke a cigar when he learned the news of the Best songstress’ death.
The camera technician worked on more than 105 concert dates with Tina on her Private Dancer Tour in 1985.
The famous tour helped Tina to establish herself as a major solo artist in the wake of her split from her abusive ex-husband and former performing partner Ike Turner.
The tour is often considered one of the biggest best comebacks in music history and the 180-date tour saw her sell out shows across Europe, North America, Australia and Asia.
Chris, who was coincidentally seeing the star’s musical tribute to her life on the same night as her death was announced, recalled what it was like to know and work alongside her.
“I knew her very well, I toured with her in 1985,” he explained to the BBC.
Asked what Tina was like to work with, he hung his head and sighed before recalling: “She was the hardest working person I’ve ever seen in my life. We would do five nights, 500 miles apart on a bus, all around the United States, Europe, wherever.
“Roger Davies, her manager, would add shows so we’d do six nights. We’d be like ‘no we can’t do another show’, but if Tina could do it, we did it.”
Chris remembered the last time he’d seen the singer, revealing he’d been to her house in Switzerland in recent years.
“She lived in a wonderful place in Switzerland and I got to go to her house maybe seven or eight years ago.
“I was travelling Europe, following Eric Clapton. I got to see her then and that was wonderful. A wonderful lady, so spiritual and she just dances in your heart.
“You just feel that rhythm and that pulse and I’ve never seen anybody like it.”
Chris told of the unique view he got getting to watch her night after night on her first huge tour.
“I heard that she taught Mick Jagger to dance. She’ll dance forever in our hearts, every human being that hears that voice, the power of that voice was unbelievable. So raw,” he said.
He was then asked what she was like off stage, to which he explained: “I would say she was one of the most kindest human beings in the world. She was so respectful to everyone who worked for her.
“We were treated well, we had a great big bonus at the end of the tour,” he laughed. “She paid for everything so respectfully, we gave everything back we could.”
“She was kind to the crew, kind to every human being that was around her, just amazing,” he tailed off before bringing his hand to his face and bursting into tears.
After gathering himself, the BBC journalist asked about the inspiration the tragedies and heartaches of her life has given people.
Chris remembered how one of the first things he was told when he started working for her was to never mention her ex-husband Ike’s name.
“It’s funny, as a crew, one of the first things that was said to us was ‘Don’t bring up his name’,” he recalled.
Chris went on to gush: “She’s the biggest gift of my life because she opened up the world to me and my dreams and my hopes.
“I never thought id be connected to Tina and I’m connected here right now,” he said, gesturing to the theatre, before bursting into tears again and collapsing into the interviewer.
As he wrapped his arms around him in an emotional embrace, the journalist said: “Oh, Chris, I’m sorry, maybe we should stop.”
He thanked emotional Chris for his time before the cameras returned to the anchor in the studio.
