Dead or Alive Singer Pete Burns Dies at 57
Dead or Alive lead singer, Pete Burns, died Sunday, October 23rd from Cardiac Arrest. In the eccentric lead singer's social media accounts, his manager stated: 'It is with the greatest sadness that we have to break the tragic news that our beloved Pete Burns of (Dead Or Alive) died suddenly yesterday of a massive cardiac arrest.
The band was due to release a special album in just four days time. The compilation album entitled Sophisticated Boom Box MMXVI was due to be released on October 28.
Burns' death came as a shock to family, friends and bandmates alike. In a statement previously released by Burns' marital partner, Michael Simpson, his ex-wife Lynn Corlett, his manager, and former band member stated "All of his family and friends are devastated by the loss of our special star. He was a true visionary, a beautiful talented soul and will be missed by all those who loved and appreciated everything he was and all of the wonderful memories he has left us with."
The lead singer was born in Cheshire, England. Burns was born to a violent home life, which led him to turn to pop music at a very young age. Years later, Burns started his first band while working at a Liverpool record. Not very long after, he founded Dead or Alive and rose to stardom with the 80's pop hit "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)".
The hit became a staple of the '80s pop fashion and culture. Burns also had big influences in the world of fashion all thanks to his androgynous approach to clothing and outsized fashion statements. Burns helped influence Boy George and a whole generation of gender-flexible pop acts in the past decades.
Boy, George had also released a statement to mark Burn's untimely death, saying, "Tearful about the passing of Pete Burns, he was one of our great true eccentrics and such a big part of my life! Wow. Hard to believe!"
