Pete Burns facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pete Burns
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Burns performing in 1980
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| Born |
Peter Jozzeppi Burns
5 August 1959 Port Sunlight, England
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| Died | 23 October 2016 (aged 57) London, England
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| Resting place | West London Crematorium |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1977–2016 |
| Known for | Music |
| Spouse(s) |
Lynne Corlett
(m. 1980; div. 2006)Michael Simpson
(m. 2007; div. 2008) |
| Parent(s) |
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| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instruments | Vocals |
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Peter Jozzeppi Burns (born August 5, 1959, died October 23, 2016) was an English singer, songwriter, and TV star. He was famous for starting the band Dead or Alive in 1980. This was during the new wave music scene, and he was the band's main singer.
Dead or Alive became super popular, selling millions of albums and singles around the world. Their biggest hit, "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)," came out in 1985. It was produced by a famous team called Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW) and went to No. 1 in the UK. This song made Pete Burns and his band famous everywhere. The album that song was on, Youthquake, was also a big success, reaching the Top 10 in the UK. Dead or Alive had many other hit songs too. In 2016, Billboard magazine said Dead or Alive was one of the most successful dance music groups ever.
The band's first album, Sophisticated Boom Boom (1984), had some hits in the UK, like their version of "That's the Way (I Like It)". But it was their second album, Youthquake, with "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)," that made them international stars. This song was a huge hit, and many people still love it today. The Guardian newspaper even called it one of the best UK No. 1 songs ever.
Dead or Alive's third album, Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know (1986), also had popular songs like "Brand New Lover" and "Something in My House". Pete Burns was also very popular in Japan, where some people thought he was a bigger star than Michael Jackson or Madonna at the time!
Later in his life, Pete Burns appeared on TV shows like Celebrity Big Brother. He was known for his strong opinions and unique personality.
Pete Burns had a powerful, deep singing voice. He was also famous for his amazing and unusual fashion style, often wearing an eyepatch and clothes that mixed up styles for men and women. He was admired by many for being himself and not worrying about what others thought. He had many cosmetic surgeries throughout his life, which sometimes caused him health problems.
Contents
Early Life and Unique Style
Pete Burns was born on August 5, 1959, in a village called Port Sunlight in England. His mother, Evelina, was from Germany and had an interesting life story. She moved to Vienna, Austria, to escape difficult times in Germany before World War II. In Vienna, she met an English soldier, Francis Burns, who became Pete's father.
When Pete was very young, he only spoke German. This made him stand out, and sometimes other children weren't very kind to him. From a young age, Pete loved dressing up in costumes. He was fascinated by Native American culture and often wore a headdress. He said he was a bit of a lonely child and preferred drawing and painting to playing with other kids.
Pete said he got his love for fashion from his mother. He described her as someone who loved makeup and would change her outfit many times a day. His mother faced many personal challenges, but Pete always said she was "absolutely the best mother in the world." He felt they shared a special, secret world.
I lived, I know now, a very solitary childhood... I had a secret world I shared with my mother. In those early years, I couldn't possibly have wished for a better friend... She gave me the power to dream...
School wasn't a great experience for Pete. He often missed school to spend time with his mother. When he did go, he was often picked on by teachers and other students because of his unique look. He was eventually asked to leave school when he was 14. This happened after he showed up with no eyebrows, bright red hair, and a huge earring! Pete said, "I dropped out of school, because it got to be too dangerous for somebody who looked a little different." He was a big fan of David Bowie and liked to experiment with his hair and style, which caused a lot of fuss at his school.
Beginning His Music Journey
Working at a Record Shop
Between 1977 and 1984, Pete Burns worked at Probe Records, a cool, small record shop in Liverpool. The owner, Geoff Davies, hired Pete because of his amazing and unusual style. Pete wore things like old-fashioned shepherd's clothes, an upside-down hat with his dreadlocks coming out, full makeup, and big platform boots! The owner hoped Pete's look would bring in customers. Pete later said people would travel from far away just to see him. He was known for being very honest with customers, sometimes telling them not to buy records he thought were bad!
Even though he became a famous singer, Pete didn't always dream of it. He actually said he didn't like the sound of his own voice at first! He also wasn't a big fan of how the music business worked. He liked to make his music his own way, without much interference from record companies.
Forming His First Bands
In 1977, Pete started a punk band with friends like Julian Cope and Pete Wylie. They called themselves The Mystery Girls. They only played one show before breaking up! Pete's style on stage was inspired by other unique performers of the time.
In early 1979, Pete formed a new band called Nightmares in Wax. They had a gothic post-punk sound. The band played their first show opening for another band called Wire in Liverpool. They even recorded some songs, including a cover of "Kites." They released a small record called an EP (Extended Play) titled Birth of a Nation in 1980.
The Start of Dead or Alive
The band changed members a few times. In 1980, Pete changed the band's name to Dead or Alive. Their songs started to get noticed on the UK Indie Chart (a chart for music not on big record labels). This success got them a deal with a major record label, Epic Records, in 1983.
Their first single for Epic was "Misty Circles". They released a couple more singles, but big success was still to come. The band's first album, Sophisticated Boom Boom, came out in May 1984. It included their first Top 40 UK hit, a cover of "That's the Way (I Like It)" by KC and the Sunshine Band. Because of Pete's unique and androgynous (mixing male and female styles) look, people often compared him to Boy George from Culture Club. Pete said making this first album was a very happy time because there wasn't much pressure on them.
While in Liverpool, Pete also designed clothes and owned a small fashion shop. He was known for his sharp wit, even teasing customers about the clothes they bought from him!
Hitting the Big Time with Dead or Alive
"You Spin Me Round" - A Global Hit
In May 1985, Dead or Alive released their second album, Youthquake. This album was produced by a team called Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW), who were just starting to become famous. Pete wanted a new sound for this album, different from their first one. He specifically wanted SAW to produce the song "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" in a Hi-NRG (high-energy dance music) style.
Making the song wasn't easy; the band and the producers argued a lot! But "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" became a massive hit. It was the band's only song to reach No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart. It also did very well in the US, reaching No. 11, and was No. 1 in Canada. This song was also the first No. 1 hit for Stock Aitken Waterman.
Pete Burns later said he didn't think of the song as Hi-NRG, but just as disco music. He said he got the idea for "You Spin Me Round" by listening to two other songs: "I Wanted Your Love" by Luther Vandross and "See You 'Round Like a Record" by Little Nell. He combined ideas from these to create his own unique hit.
How did I write "Spin Me"? I listened to Luther Vandross's 'I Wanted Your Love'... I hear something and I sing another tune over it... And there was another record, by Little Nell, called "See You 'Round Like a Record". So I had those two... and – bingo! – done deal.
—Pete Burns, Freak Unique (2007)
Pete claimed the song was mostly finished before the producers even started working on it. He also said the record company wasn't very excited about the song at first. Pete even had to borrow money to record it! After it was recorded, the record company still didn't like it, so the band had to pay for the music video themselves.
Even though Youthquake and "You Spin Me Round" were huge successes, Pete said he was "most dissatisfied with" that album. He even said that the day "Spin Me" reached No. 1 was one of the unhappiest days of his life because he worried it would be hard to match that success.
Other hit singles from the Youthquake album included "Lover Come Back To Me", "In Too Deep", and "My Heart Goes Bang (Get Me to the Doctor)".
More Hits and Creative Clashes
In late 1986, Dead or Alive released their third album, Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know. Making this album also involved disagreements between the band and SAW. The producers wanted the band to try house music, but Pete wanted to stick to their style and keep control over the songwriting.
The first single from this album was "Brand New Lover". It was a Top 20 hit in the US and No. 1 on the US dance chart. Pete later said the song didn't do as well in the UK because of problems with his UK record label.
Another famous single from this album was "Something in My House". It had a darker, more Gothic feel. The album cover showed Pete in front of what looked like a spooky altar. Pete wanted to release it for Halloween, but it was delayed. The record company thought the song was "too brutal" to be a single. There were also arguments about the music video for "Something in My House." The record company reportedly didn't like a part where Pete peeled a banana in a way they thought was too suggestive. Pete said, "Well apparently the manner in which I 'peeled a banana' seemed to work against me/us! And, it was downhill all the way after that."
During the recording of "Something in My House," Pete said that producer Mike Stock tried to change a lyric because he thought it sounded like it was about a gay relationship. Pete insisted on keeping his original words. Despite these issues, the song was a Top 20 hit in the UK. It was Dead or Alive's last Top 40 hit with an original song in the UK.
Touring and Popularity in Japan
In 1987, Dead or Alive released a greatest hits album called Rip It Up and went on a tour with the same name. They played shows in Europe, the US, and Japan. They were so popular in Japan that Michael Jackson had to change his tour dates so they wouldn't clash with Dead or Alive's shows! One Japanese newspaper even wrote, "Forget Madonna, we've got Pete Burns!"
Around this time, Pete turned down chances to tour with big stars like Madonna and Bon Jovi. He wanted to be with his mother, who was very ill. Sadly, his mother passed away in 1987. This was a very difficult time for Pete, and it affected his ability to write new music.
In 1988, Dead or Alive released the album Nude. Two band members, Tim Lever and Mike Percy, left the band during the making of this album to focus on producing music for other artists. Pete said he and Steve Coy (another band member) decided to let them go because they didn't want anyone working on the album who wasn't fully committed.
The album Nude featured the single "Turn Around and Count 2 Ten", which was a huge hit in Japan, staying at No. 1 for seventeen weeks! Another single, "Come Home with Me Baby", was also No. 1 on the US dance chart for thirteen weeks. However, these songs didn't do as well in the UK. Some people thought the lyrics of "Come Home with Me Baby" were too risky for the time.
In 1989, Pete Burns toured with other popular acts like Sinitta and Kylie Minogue in Asia and Europe. He even performed at the Tokyo Dome, a massive venue in Japan, and the show was broadcast on TV.
Music in the 1990s and 2000s
In 1990, Dead or Alive released their next album, Fan the Flame (Part 1). It was mainly successful in Japan. They started working on a follow-up, Fan the Flame (Part 2), but it wasn't finished and released until many years later, in 2021.
In the early 1990s, Pete Burns and fellow band member Steve Coy signed with a new record label. They started working on new songs, but there were disagreements about money, and the project didn't continue as planned. In 1994, the band released a cover of David Bowie's song "Rebel Rebel". They released it under the name International Chrysis. Pete had written new lyrics for the song, but David Bowie didn't allow them to be used.
The band's sixth studio album, Nukleopatra, came out in 1995. It included remixed versions of songs from Fan the Flame (Part 1). The album was released in Japan, but plans for a European release were cancelled after more disagreements with the record label.
In 2000, Dead or Alive released Fragile. This album had remakes of older songs, some new tracks, and covers of songs by artists like U2 and Nick Kamen. The song "Hit and Run Lover" from this album was a hit in Japan. A remix album, Unbreakable: The Fragile Remixes, followed in 2001. In 2003, a greatest hits album called Evolution: the Hits was released, along with a DVD of their music videos. To promote this, "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" was re-released as a single and reached No. 23 on the UK Singles Chart.
Solo Music and Working with Others
In the mid-1990s, Pete Burns worked with an Italian music duo called Glam. In 2004, Pete had a solo hit with the song "Jack and Jill Party," which was produced by the famous duo Pet Shop Boys. The song reached No. 75 in the UK. In 2010, Pete released another solo single called "Never Marry an Icon." In the same year, he appeared in the music video for the song "Rocket to Uranus" by the Dutch group Vengaboys.
Pete Burns on Television
Pete Burns became well-known on British television, especially in the 2000s. In December 2003, he appeared on a BBC show called Liquid News. He also took part in Celebrity Wife Swap. In this show, his partner Michael Simpson swapped places with the partner of a former model, and Pete lived with her partner, footballer Neil Ruddock.
One of his most famous TV appearances was on Celebrity Big Brother 4 in January 2006. He was a memorable housemate and finished in fifth place.
Pete Burns also hosted a TV program called Pete Burns' Cosmetic Surgery Nightmares in 2006, where he talked about problems with cosmetic surgery. In 2007, he had his own reality show called Pete's PA on the Living channel, which followed his search for a new personal assistant. He co-hosted The Body Shocking Show on E4 in 2013 and also appeared on Celebrity Wedding Planner. His last TV appearance was on Celebrity Botched Up Bodies in September 2016, a show about cosmetic surgery problems.
Personal Life
Pete Burns married Lynne Corlett on August 8, 1980, in Liverpool. They met at a hair salon where they both worked. Lynne said she was instantly drawn to Pete because he was as "outrageous" as she was, and they had a lot in common. Pete and Lynne divorced in 2006. In 2007, Pete entered into a civil partnership (a legal relationship similar to marriage) with his partner, Michael Simpson. Lynne Corlett said that she knew about Pete's relationship with Michael while she and Pete were still married and that their divorce was friendly.
Death and Lasting Impact
Pete Burns sadly passed away in London on October 23, 2016, from a sudden cardiac arrest (a serious heart problem). He was 57 years old. He had been scheduled to appear on a TV show the next day to promote a new box set of Dead or Alive's music, but he had to cancel due to ill health.
Many famous people paid tribute to him. Boy George called him "one of our great true eccentrics." Jake Shears from the band Scissor Sisters described Pete as a "true original." Former politician George Galloway, who was on Celebrity Big Brother with Pete, said he was brilliant. Musician Marc Almond said Pete was "a fabulous, fantastic, brilliant creature." Joe Musker, a former drummer for Dead or Alive, remembered Pete as being incredibly flamboyant and amazing to work with.
The popular TV show Strictly Come Dancing paid tribute to Pete by having its celebrity dancers perform to "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" shortly after his death. Boy George helped pay for Pete's funeral, even though they had sometimes been seen as rivals during their music careers.
Pete Burns's music, especially "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)," continues to be popular. In 2023, the song was covered by singer Netta as part of a tribute to music from Liverpool for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023. In 2024, an exhibition of previously unseen photos of Pete Burns, called Total Stranger, was held in his hometown of Port Sunlight. The photographer, Francesco Mellina, who used to manage Dead or Alive, said it was a tribute to Pete and his career. The aim of the exhibition was to introduce Pete to a new generation and inspire people to be true to themselves.
Published works
Videography
| Title | Album details |
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| Rip It Up Live | |
| Evolution |
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Discography
Dead or Alive discography
- Sophisticated Boom Boom (1984)
- Youthquake (1985)
- Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know (1986)
- Nude (1988)
- Fan the Flame (Part 1) (1990)
- Nukleopatra (1995)
- Fragile (2000)
- Fan the Flame (Part 2): The Resurrection (2021)
See also
In Spanish: Pete Burns para niños
