Why is so little known about Robert palmer's personal life?

Answer 1

Palmer rarely spoke about his personal life in interviews, focussing attention on his recordings. He was promoted as a "Family Man Rock Star" for awhile in the 1970's while at Island Records, though little was said of his divorce for his first wife in the late 70's and marriage to Sue in 1980.

In the mid to late 80's Palmer again rarely talked about his family, although he admitted in multiple interviews that he moved out of the Bahamas and into Switzerland around 1987-88 because of the crime, not thinking his family was safe.

In a 1987 interview on the sydicated Solid Gold music show in the US Palmer talked about spending some of the exra money he had earned on radio controlled models he would build with his children. Palmer briefly mentions them in his acceptance speech at the 1986 MTV Video Music Awards when he says "goodnight Jim and Jane". Also in 1987, in an appearance on US TV's The Tonight Show, he talked about his children's reaction to the MTV win stating they were happy because they could put his trophy next to the ribbons the family dog had won at dog shows.

Though it was rare for Palmer to discuss his children he said less about his wife although reports after his death indicate that their split in 1999 was amicable, she remained on good terms with him and close to their children, and she resumed her career as a graphic artist.

If you check the liner notes from the Riptide album you will see that the drawing of what looks like a boat in water is attributed to her.