When Robert Palmer died suddenly from a heart attack in 2003, it ended a career that flourished at the peak of MTV and had been witness to numerous changes in Pop Music in general. From his early days as a member of the British Blues Band Vinegar Joe to his collaboration with Duran Duran founders Andy Taylor and John Taylor as Power Station, to his lengthy solo career in between (and after), Palmer epitomized the image of the suave singer – the stylish belter of blues – the iconic Pop star, handling all of them with grace and ease.
This interview, done by a long-defunct radio syndication house as a series of packaged programs, features Robert Palmer in the midst of promoting his then-latest album Riptide and the phenomenal success that sprang from the video for the track Addicted To Love. He discusses the surprise reaction to the video – how the seemingly dispassionate girl-band accompanying him became one of the most recognizable images of the mid-1980s. And how the single itself took his career to new heights.
That he was compared to former Free and then-The Firm singer Paul Rodgers and was hailed by Rolling Stone as Best Dressed Rock Star of 1990 seemed like trivializing his own talent. And that he was frequently pigeon-holed as either a Rock Singer, Blue-eyed Soul singer or Pop singer further gummed up matters.
Robert Palmer could do a lot of things, and he could be suave and debonair – but being versatile was part of his makeup as an artist and part of the obligation that went with it. But as he says during this interview: “I’d rather be known as a lot of things instead of known as a drug addict”. The interview in places is cringeworthy, but Palmer is a good sport about much of it even when it veers into a TMZ/People Magazine direction.
Sadly the music of Robert Palmer has fallen off the radar in recent years – confined mostly to his appearance in the Addicted To Love video. My fondest memory of him was during his days just-post Vinegar Joe, around the time of his first solo album, Sneakin’ Sally Through The Ally, when being a solo artist meant you could do a lot of things in the framework of an album and everyone understood – and I still love his rendition of Sailin’ Shoes. But that’s me.
Here’s a reminder.
Dear Gorden
Thank you for the wonderful interview with Robert Palmer and the lady interviewer, they seemed to have had a great report and the questions asked really clinching the emotion, humour and dedication of Robert regarding his craft of singing and song writing. The interview is so informative on many levels, that of Robert’s enthusiasm and information about his life and goals at the time of going live.
I really didn’t follow Robert’s music it was only last August that I listened to his earlier work and then later songs, that I became so interested and got hooked on his wonderful style, voice and his incredible passion for music. I was so sad to find out he had passed away, I actually told my two daughters how much I would like to go to his concert if one was put on, only to find out he had infact died, such a tragedy and loss to music.
I have discovered Robert and I have a passion for the same vocal artists and musicical styles and on a recent trip to Fez in May I attended the Festival of World Sacred Music – Lonely Planet, which was so amazing with artists from all around the world performing, which was truly marvellous and I know Robert would have been in his element if he was in the audience!
I recently heard that Joao Gilberto had died, Robert was a great fan of his, let’s hope they are playing music together in heaven.
Please could I have the name of the lady that interviewed Robert.
Best regards
Leigh
Thank you for your kind note. Unfortunately, there is no identification on the tape as to who the interviewer is, nor on the tape box itself. It is a mystery, which I am sure someone out there knows for sure!
Robert Palmer was a singer for all seasons.
He loved music and it showed in his writing,
Playing, singing and live performance.
I will miss the music that was to come and
That one strand of hair that always flopped
Down on his brow… forever missed and
Loved….💓🎸🎹🥁🎧🎤🎼