Rock singer Robert Palmer, best known for his hit 1980 videos
featuring leggy models in short black dresses and electric guitars,
has died of a heart attack. He was 54.

Palmer's record company said the Yorkshire-born singer, who lived in
Switzerland, died on Friday while on a trip to Paris where was taking
a break with his girlfriend after recording a documentary in London.

The father of two had his biggest success with the 1985
single "Addicted to Love" and its accompanying video which featured a
lineup of sexy backing singers. The clip was voted the eighth best of
all time by MTV viewers.

Palmer frequently peaked in the charts during the 1980s with catchy,
foot-tapping songs like "Some Guys Have All The Luck", "I Didn't Mean
To Turn You On" and "Simply Irresistible", often accompanied by
testosterone-fuelled videos.

Accused of being a male chauvinist after the Addicted To Love video,
Palmer protested in a recent newspaper interview that it was not his
idea to include the women in the clips.

"People think the video was my idea, that I would happily portray
myself as a James Bond of boogie. That surprises me because I don't
think about my image at all," he said, noting his director filmed the
girls separately and edited them onto a clip of him singing.

"When I saw it I was shocked," he said. "At the time, that approach
was exactly right because the songs were tongue-in-cheek rock tunes.
Simply Irresistible was quite a sexy video but they have become so
erotic these days that if my three were released now they wouldn't
cause a stir."

He added: "What was embarrassing about the whole thing was when women
dressed up like those models and lined the front row of my concerts."

Palmer, whose smart suits and laconic style set the tone for much of
the 1980s pop scene, died in his room at the four-star Warwick Hotel
just off the famed Champs Elysees avenue, a Paris police spokeswoman
said, adding a routine inquiry had been launched.

"Everyone at Universal Music is deeply shocked and saddened at the
terrible news," Universal said in a statement issued in London. "Our
thoughts are with his family and friends at the difficult time."

Tributes poured in to Palmer's Web site. "Robert's music will resound
in my mind, evoking memories of delicious videos and music which will
stand time's test," a fan, Barbara E., wrote.

INFLUENCES MEET IN "DRIVE"

Palmer's latest album "Drive" was described by critics as a melting
pot of old R&B, Bahamian and Caribbean music, jump blues, Delta blues
and raunch 'n' roll.

Palmer discussed those influences during an interview on Wednesday at
Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in Soho, London, for an hour-long TV
programme called "My Kinda People", a spokesman for Yorkshire
television told Reuters.

"As far as I'm aware he seemed in perfect health," he said. "No
decision has been made regarding the future of the programme as
everyone's thoughts are with Robert's family and friends."

Born Alan Palmer, the son of a naval officer, Palmer saw no TV or
movies until he was 12. Limited to music, he soon became a fan of the
rhythm and blues of Lena Horne and Nat King Cole.

Giving off a clean-living image with his love of three-piece suits,
Palmer never embraced the excesses of the rock 'n' roll lifestyle,
and pursued a solo career after playing in locally renowned bands
like Dada and Vinegar Joe in his 20s.

"I just always felt comfortable in a suit and tie," Palmer once
said. "It's served me well, because I never got aligned with any
fashion trend. I simply believed that if you're going to be in
public, dress up."







JM:(