Rock singer Robert Palmer dies in Paris

ROCK singer Robert Palmer, known for his sharp suits and a string of hits including Addicted to Love, died yesterday in Paris of a heart attack. He was 54.

Palmer was on a two-day break in Paris following a television recording session in Britain, his manager Mick Carter said from the French capital.

In the 1980s, Palmer became a superstar with singles which also included Simply Irresistible accompanied by slick videos featuring the smartly dressed Palmer with a back-up band of attractive women in black outfits.

Among his other hits were She Makes My Day, I Didn't Mean To Turn You On, and I'll Be Your Baby Tonight, a collaboration with UB40.

A side project, Power Station, formed in 1985 with John Taylor and Andy Taylor of '80s supergroup Duran Duran, scored three US Top 10 hits, including Communication and Get it On.

The son of a British naval officer, Palmer was a member of several British rock bands before he hit the big time as a solo artist.

Known for his GQ sense of style, Palmer was named best dressed male artist by Rolling Stone in 1990.

The Addicted to Love video, with its miniskirted models strumming guitars as Palmer sang, became one of MTV's most-played clips, and sparked protests from some feminists.

"I'm not going to attach inappropriate significance to it because at the time it meant nothing. It's just happened to become an iconic look," Palmer once said of the video.

He had his first hit album and single, Sneakin' Sally through the Alley, in 1974.

In his 20s, Palmer worked with a number of small-time bands including Dada, Vinegar Joe, and the Alan Bown Band, occasionally appearing in opening acts for big draw including The Who and Jimi Hendrix.

Palmer once confessed that he was not attracted to the excesses of rock 'n' roll stardom.

"I loved the music, but the excesses of rock 'n' roll never really appealed to me at all," he said. "I couldn't see the point of getting up in front of a lot of people when you weren't in control of your wits."

He was noted for dressing up and being somewhat restrained.

"I don't want to be heavy," he said in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine.

"I can't think of another attitude to have toward an audience than a hopeful and a positive one. And if that includes such unfashionable things as sentimentality, well, I can afford it."

Palmer was a chain smoker and his distinctive gravelly vocals were attributed to a love of cigarettes and malt whisky.

He had lived for the past 16 years in Lugano, Switzerland, a home he shared in recent years with his American partner, Mary Ambrose.

The singer made regular trips across the border to Milan where he would buy the immaculately tailored suits which had become his trademark.