I’m placing my faith in MN to answer a question that has been bugging me since 1984

[Pinkarsedfly]

...and it’s a very important one, so brace yourselves.

What the fuck is Tina Turner holding on the cover of the Private Dancer album?

This has been annoying me on and off since 1984 when my big sister brought the damn thing home.

I’ve peered at it, I’ve googled it, I’ve asked DH (who can’t make it out and for some reason doesn’t seem to think it’s important, the weirdo) and I’m no nearer the truth.

I’ve considered the possibility it’s a bit of Easter egg, as it seems to be the right shape and colour, but it wasn’t released at Easter and there’s no reference to Easter on the album.

I wondered if it was a cat treat, given the presence of a cat - but la Turner appears to be eating something and, although she possesses a certain feline beauty, I don’t think that’s down to the consumption of Dreamies.

Can anyone help? Does anyone definitively know?

Thirty five years, this has been bugging me. Do a sister a favour, please...

I’ve often thought biltong!

Dare I ask Peter Ashworth?

This is amazing!

The Pinterest link is funny but no help! Is it fish skin??

It just seems so incongruous. All glam, Tina wanders into set and is handed a chunk of dried fish?

A private dancer won’t get many clients with the smell of desiccated mackerel hovering about, will she?

It looks like a prawn in the Pinterest photo, and beef jerky in the album cover. They’re different photos (the Pinterest one and the album cover)

It looks like a teeny tiny cock and balls 🤣

OMG I didn't realise I cared about this but now I need to know!

I just can’t wrap my head around it being food for the cat!

I suppose these days they’d use the cat treat to get the shot, then photoshop it out.

So weird to be doing a sexy pose with a cat treat in your hand...

She was probably given cat treats so the cat would stay around her for photos.

A private dancer won’t get many clients with the smell of desiccated mackerel hovering about, will she?

Ask the photographer! He had an exhibition end of last year, bet he’ll answer (or someone will on his behalf). Link him to this thread & say MN needs to know!

Yeah, it would probably be edited out nowadays. It’s definitely some kind of fish or beef jerky for the cat.

But agree, she wouldn’t get many private dancers if she had smelly fish flaps and fishy fingers! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🐟🐠💃🏼

I’m going to do it. I’m going to ask him.

Blatant place marking !!!

I messaged him!

Gloves

I messaged him! haha! Hope he answers

it looks like a couple of jerky cat treats.

I sent this.

Hello there! I hope you don’t mind me invading your inbox, but I need to know the answer to a question that’s been bothering me since 1984.

Please can you tell me what the divine Ms Turner is holding in her lower hand on the cover of the Private Dancer album?

I love your band photography, and the Private Dancer cover is of course an iconic image - but I’ve been trying to figure out what it is for 35 years and enough is enough!

Thanks in eager anticipation,

[Post edited by MNHQ]

My name on there, but meh. Nothing to hide

It looks like a plectrum to me.

Well done OP! Might want to get MNHQ to take your name out of the post though!

X post! I would be proud if I was remember for this haha!

Remembered ffs. Can't type today.

Could be a stuffed catnip toy in the shape of a prawn

Can someone link to the picture please?

Here’s the pic. Good luck!