Superstar Madonna has led tributes to model and singer Nick Kamen, who has died at the age of 59.
Kamen, who was considered a protege of Madonna., is reported to have died on Tuesday after a long illness.
She paid tribute to him in a tweet, writing: “It breaks my heart to know you are gone. You were always such a kind sweet human and you suffered too much. Hope you are happier wherever you are Nick Kamen.”
Kamen, who was born in Harlow, Essex, first came to public attention when he appeared on the front of The Face magazine in 1984 wearing a ski hat, lipstick and aviator sunglasses.
The next year he starred in a legendary advertisement for Levi’s in which he stripped down to wash his blue jeans in a public launderette and waited in his boxer shorts to the sound of Marvin Gaye’s 1968 hit Heard It Through The Grapevine.
He launched a career in pop music in 1986 with the number five hit Each Time You Break My Heart from his debut album.
In a BBC radio interview in 1986, Madonna said she decided to contact him after hearing his “beautiful voice” and went on to produce and sing backing vocals.
Kamen’s music career spanned four albums made between 1987 and 1992, and a six-CD box set encompassing his career was released in 2020.
Boy George was among other music figures paying tribute. He wrote on Instagram: “R.I.P to the most beautiful and sweetest man Nick Kamen!”
The Great British Bake Off host Matt Lucas wrote: “If you didn’t have a crush on Nick Kamen in the 80s, you probably weren’t there. RIP”
Duran Duran bassist John Taylor said: “So so sad to hear of the passing of Nick Kamen. One of the loveliest and gentlest men I ever met. He was a beloved friend to my daughter and her Mom. We shall all miss him. RIP Nick”
