Ike Turner's Death Blamed On Cocaine Overdose

Read the "sassy" version of this story here.

Ike Turner, ex-hubby to Tina Turner and a "rock and roll pioneer", died last month on December 12 in his northern San Diego county home. The cause of death was not immediately known then, but today, the results from the coroner came to light.

"We are listing that he abused cocaine, and that's what resulted in the cocaine toxicity,'' said Paul Parker, chief investigator at the medical examiner's office.

The findings were first reported by the North County Times.

The medical examiner's office also listed hypertensive cardiovascular disease and pulmonary emphysema as "significant and contributing factors'' to Turner's death, Parker said.

[...]

Turner once told The Associated Press he originally began using drugs to stay awake and handle the rigors of nonstop touring during his glory years. [KNX 1070 via AP]

Despite winning a Grammy this year in the traditional blues category ("Risin' With the Blues") , being in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and known for having the first rock 'n' roll record ("Rocket 88," 1951), Turner's image is marked in the media with drug addiction and wife-abuse (think Laurence Fishburne in Tina Turner's autobiography, "What's Love Got To Do With It"). Turner later denied his ex-wife's claims of abuse.