Pete Burns

Peter Jozzeppi Burns (5 August 1959 – 23 October 2016) was an English singer, songwriter and television personality who formed the band Dead or Alive in 1980 during the new wave era and was the band's lead vocalist. Dead or Alive sold over 17 million albums and 36 million singles worldwide, and their 1985 hit "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" was produced by the trio Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW) and became their first UK No. 1 hit single. Dead or Alive's first three albums all reached the UK Top 30, with Youthquake reaching the Top 10. Additionally, the band had seven UK Top 40 singles, two US Top 20 singles and another two singles which went to No. 1 on the US Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. In 2016, Billboard magazine ranked Dead or Alive as one of the most successful dance artists of all time.

Dead or Alive's debut album, Sophisticated Boom Boom, was released in 1984, producing a series of minor hits in the United Kingdom, most notably their version of "That's the Way (I Like It)" (originally recorded by KC and the Sunshine Band) which gave the band their first UK Top 40 hit. Their second album, Youthquake, brought Burns and the band international recognition, largely due to the success of the lead single, "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" which reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1985. In 2020, The Guardian ranked the song No. 5 in their list of "The 100 Greatest UK No. 1s" and Classic Pop ranked it No. 1 in their 2021 list of "Top 40 Stock Aitken Waterman songs". The album also contained three other UK Top 30 hits and was certified Gold by both the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

The band's third album, Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know, was released in 1986, scoring several further hit singles including "Brand New Lover", which peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and spent two weeks at No. 1 on the American dance chart, in addition to "Something in My House", which peaked at No. 12 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 3 on the American dance chart. In 1987, a greatest hits album was released titled Rip It Up containing singles from their two prior albums. The following year, Nude was released with singles "Turn Around and Count 2 Ten" and "Come Home with Me Baby" being chart successes in Japan and on the American dance chart. Burns had a significant impact and influence on Japanese pop culture especially with J-pop and visual kei. At the time, he was considered to have achieved greater superstar status in the region than both Michael Jackson and Madonna.

Burns continued to achieve attention in the British media following his appearance on Celebrity Big Brother 4, most prominently for his verbal tirades against housemates Jodie Marsh and Traci Bingham. He finished in fifth place on the finale, receiving 13.6% of the vote, and appeared on further television reality shows, including as a presenter.

Burns was noted for his powerful, deep baritone voice along with his flamboyant dress style, eyepatch, and androgynous gender bender appearance. Though he avoided labelling himself, Burns has been referred to as a gay icon and an individual who helped bring gay music into mainstream popularity, even though he was married to a woman during the height of his fame. Burns was also the subject of tabloid speculation over his addiction to cosmetic surgery which bankrupted him and caused health problems.