Nick Kamen, 'im done laundering
Nick Kamen, model and singer, has died aged 59. He rose to fame in a 1985 commercial for Levi's 501s, in which he stripped to his underwear in a launderette to Marvin Gaye's I Heard It Through The Grapevine. Although the advert was for Levi's jeans, I think it did as much for sales of boxer shorts as anything.
The advert was a defining part of life in mid-'80s Britain for me. I guess in part because I was living in London, away from home. It reflected a certain vibe that was around at the time.
It seems so long ago. Yet, only yesterday.
RIP, Nick Kamen.
Guilty secret: I bought his first single, Each Time You Break My Heart. ISTR it was good, at least at the time. I haven't heard it in decades though.