Pete Burns is a British singer and songwriter who rose to prominence through his participation in the music group Dead or Alive. In this team, he was a soloist, and the performance of a hit called You Spin Me Round opened the way for the guys to fame in 1985.
Biography of the musician
Pete Burns, whose photo you can see below, was born in August 1959 in Port Sunlight. His father was a native Englishman, and his mother was Jewish, born in the German city of Heidelberg.
At first, Pete Burns attracted public attention only with his outrageous image, but the release of the single You Spin Me Round changed everything. It was this composition or Alive that received gold status, more than 500 thousand copies were purchased in the world. The single has been at the top of many charts for a long time.
Pete Burns was initially mistaken for a homosexual due to his androgynous appearance. In fact, the musician is bisexual. At one time, he was even married to a girl whom he met at a hairdresser, colleague Lynn Corlett.
creative career
Pete Burns took his first step into music by taking a job as a salesman in Liverpool at Probe Records. In this place, it used to be very common to meet young musicians striving for development and fame.
Prior to the formation of Dead or Alive, Burns was a member of the Nightmares in Wax and Mystery Girls, who played in the goth-punk style that was so popular at the time. And even the release of the compositions Birth of a Nation and Black Leather did not lead to the creation of at least one album.
Appearance transformation
Pete Burns, whose before and after photos you can see below, has repeatedly tried to change his appearance. The musician made his lips more voluminous with polyacrylamide injections, and implants were inserted into his cheeks. The shape of his nose also changed, and each time became new.
Pete Burns has had a very large number of surgeries in his life. This process simply became uncontrollable and turned a guy with delicate features into something outrageous and indescribable.
And one of the plastic surgeries not only worsened Burns' appearance, but also tied him to the house. Surgical intervention in 2006 went wrong, and for 8 months because of this, the musician did not go out, after which he endured recovery for another year and a half. At times, Burns wanted to commit suicide. He even filed a lawsuit against the London clinic surgeon who operated on him. The judge sided with the lead singer of Dead or Alive, and the doctor was ordered to pay him 500 thousand pounds.
A lot of time and a lot of money was spent on correcting the consequences of an unsuccessful surgical intervention, but this did not affect Pete at all, and he purposefully continued to change his appearance further. And the story of 18 months of life after the tragedy was used to make a documentary film.
After the restoration, the musician showed everyone his new image at the next London Fashion Week. By this time, he managed to acquire a new hobby - piercing. Burns came to the fashion show with his boyfriend Michael Simpson, with whom he was in an official relationship. Literally a year later, the couple had a fight, but their love reunited hearts again.
A provocative man, a walking advertisement for plastic surgery clinics, an idol for girls and boys who love 80s pop music. Pete Burns is a real legend who left this world without receiving recognition from a conservative society. The life path of the eccentric soloist of the cult group Dead or Alive is ambiguous, it still raises a lot of questions and a flurry of criticism.
Passionate Rebel
The king of enchanting images was born on August 5, 1959 in England. Being a late and long-awaited child, Pete bathed in affection and was brought up as a unique person. For love of freedom and excessive desire for self-expression, he received a kick from school and went to work. First to the hairdresser, then to the local music store, where he acquired the unspoken status of "my boyfriend".
Pete Burns was very fond of music in his youth. Passion and desire to stand out prompted to assemble a goth-punk band Mystery Girls, in the history of which there is only one performance. However, the original young man did not lose his head and by 1980 he had hammered a new group - Dead or Alive, which by 1985 had become extremely popular thanks to the song You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) composed by Pete himself.
Formation and glory
The second project turned out to be much more successful than the first, it brought tremendous success, cosmic record sales and an army of fans. The most interesting thing is that at the peak of their popularity, the musicians did not have much material. The glory, in fact, was brought by the unconditional hit You Spin Me Round (Like a Record), a cover of the immortal track That's the Way (I Like It) with a very frank video and extravagant appearance of the musicians.
In total, the group released 8 studio albums. Pete Burns once tried to perform solo, but could not reach the level of Dead or Alive. No wonder, because the team has become an integral part of the "new wave" of dance music of the 80s. Their tracks constantly accompanied cool parties and were listened to holes by sophisticated musical gourmets. Pete is also known as a freak showman, often appearing on TV and talking about his experiments on appearance.
plastic maniac
Pete Burns before and after operations are two different people. For decades, the attractive gothic youth has turned into an adult man who went under the knife of a plastic surgeon more than three hundred times. The face has changed beyond recognition. Gradually, tattoos and abundant piercings were added. The new look allowed him to shine on the screen wherever possible, and gain even more popularity. Thanks to the cut and punctured along and across the face, Pete was nicknamed the "modern Frankenstein."
It all started with a banal correction of a broken nose, and then grew into a real mania for perfection. Pete Burns himself claimed that many operations only smoothed over the unsuccessful results of the previous ones. Once he went bankrupt and became very ill due to unsuccessful lip correction. The problem brought the guy to depression and suicidal thoughts. Doctors generally advised to amputate the lips, but in the end everything more or less worked out. The musician liked to joke about this topic and said that he was doing plastic surgery instead of makeup and hoped that the Lord would not recognize him in heaven.
Personal life, sexual orientation
Pete Burns, despite public speculation, was not gay. The musician was by nature bisexual. First, he married Lynn Corlett, whom he met at his first job - in a hairdresser. The couple often appeared together in society and on the set. In 2006, after a quarter of a century of marriage, Pete broke up with his wife and switched to the male sex, having a large-scale and TV-covered wedding with Michael Simpson.
At the same time, he participates in the popular TV show "Big Brother with the Stars", intending to win a large sum of money. There, the singer behaves scandalously, makes enemies and, of course, shocks with his appearance. Once he boasted of a fur coat made from the skin of a rare primate, because of which he later sued and fought off animal rights activists. Then the fame of the eccentric freak reached an incredible level, and relatives and friends were extremely concerned about his safety.
Character and beliefs
Pete's appearance fully corresponded to his state of mind. He did not hesitate to stand out both in appearance and violent, but fair character. Some admired him, some felt disgust, just seeing Pete Burns in the photo in the latest issue of the next "yellow" magazine. He was a brawler and a freak, riveted the attention of the press, admirers and admirers, homophobes, religious people, and so on ad infinitum.
People who closely communicated with the singer speak of him as a good person, amazing and beautiful in his own way. He did not lose his uniqueness in the least and showed without a shadow of embarrassment that one must live as the heart requires. Pete Burns hated branding people, resisted damaging stereotypes, and proudly declared to anyone offended, "I don't care much about specs. I'm just Pete."
Death
The genius pop culture figure left this world on October 23, 2016. The sad news came from manager Pete's Twitter account, it was there that a record of the death of one of the most outrageous kings of the scene appeared. The official Dead or Alive community has published information that the frontman was a wonderful person during his lifetime and left behind a lot of amazing memories. Everyone was shocked - from young fans to heartbroken relatives.
The official cause of death was cardiac arrest. The tragedy happened in the musician's house when he was 57 years old. Not only loved ones mourned, but also colleagues in the musical craft. A lot of celebrity condolence responses appeared on the Web - few could miss the icon's death. "Modern Frankenstein" was buried in his native land, in London, and his cult hits now sing twice as loudly.
Pete Joseppi Burns was born August 5, 1959 to Francis and Eva Burns in Port Sunlight, near Liverpool. His mother was German Jewish. According to Pete himself, this was the reason for his desire to be "different". “I firmly believe that it was German roots that gave me the feeling that I am different,” Pete once said. “So I started experimenting with my appearance at the age of 12. I wanted to see what I could create from this completely ordinary body. I always knew that I had the right to be different.”School days were torment for Pete and his mother allowed him to stay at home to avoid the ridicule of classmates and teachers who considered him too effeminate. Pete left school at 16 and worked odd jobs until he was 18. Then he got a job atProbe records and together with the famous clubEric" s had a huge impact on the local music scene.
Pete worked at the same counter with Pete Willie (group leaderMighty Wah!), and Ian McCulloch and Julian Cope, who founded The Theardrop Explodeshave been regular customers.Cafter some time, Pete, Ian and Julian, together with drummer Phill Hurst, put together a groupThe Mystery Girls. The name is borrowed from the song of the American proto-punk bandThe New- York Dolls. The first time they performed inEric" s Club warming up atSham 69 , November 4, 1977 They were well received by the public mainly due to the fact that they performed covers and very few original songs. "We were just fooling around," says Pete.
After the collapseMystery Girls Pete did not appear on stage for about a year. In 1979 he returned as the leader of the groupNightmares in Wax. He says it was the worst band in the history of music. Just trash. "People didn't even think of us as a musical group, more like a group of comedians. Only psychos really liked us." ChapterEric" s Pete Fulwell suggested that the band record a song for his label. The line-up then included Pete (lead singer), Martin Healy (keyboardist), Phil Hurst (drummer), Walter Ogden (bassist) and Mick Reid (guitarist). They released a 5 song album titled "Birth of a Nation". CThe single from this album was the compositionBlack Leather. According to Pete, complete nonsense, but hilarious. butRough Trade humor is not appreciated. The album was sold out in small quantities, although it managed to get intoIndia chart. After that, the composition of the group began to change. Sue James and Mitch replaced Walter Ogden and Mick Reid. But Mitch soon left the group. And in his place came Joy Musker.A new name for the group was thought up in a panic, 10 minutes before the start of a live performance on the radio. Stopped atDead or Alive. Pete chose this name because it was different from the pompous names of other Liverpool bands that he didn't want to have anything to do with.Dead or Alive debuted in May 1980 with the songI" m falling. The sound was special, completely different from anything else you've heard in Liverpool. According to Pete, they had something in common with the punk movement of the time. He was often compared to Jim Morrison. And although Pete had no desire to follow in anyone's footsteps, after one of his performances he was called something in between Jim Morrison and Bette Midler.
After the releaseI" m falling"Followed by even more performances and the first appearance on TV. Pete's appearance provoked a lot of comments. However, he stated that he did not seek to shock anyone. And if he wanted to, he would probably just urinate on someone from the front row.
"I look the way I want, and it cannot be otherwise. Otherwise, I will be unhappy," he says. After this broadcast, Sue James said that he should be shot, and she herself wonders why she did not go to a decent group.
In August 1980, Pete married his girlfriend, Lynn, whom he met when she went toProbe Shops. "He's the only person who truly understands me." Lynn, who was then a hairdresser near the store, says: "I liked him right away. Just as crazy as I am. We had a lot in common." Though "I" m falling"was a successDead or Alive disbanded immediately after its release. Pete assembled a new line-up, but did not change the name of the group. In May 1981 they released a singleNumber Eleven. Then the line-up included: guitarist Wayne Hassey (he left soon after to foundThe Mission), bassist for Mike Percy and Steve Coy, who was then the band's manager.
Record companyVirgin records offered the group a £45,000 contract, which they turned down, along with several other similar offers. Because the companies wanted to reshape the band's image, which Pete wasn't ready for, at least not until two more releases. Released in February 1982e. p. - album "It" s Been Hours NowThe band then consisted of Pete, Mike Percy, Wayne Hussey, Joy Musker and Martin Healy. This album hit the top ten inIndia chart, and 3 months later a new single was releasedStranger andDead or Alive openedFuturama show in Leeds in 1982. Also took part in itThe Damned andThe Southern Death Cult, later renamed toThe Cult.
Burns was hard to miss now. He himself felt much more confident and was ready for celebrity status. Inspired by the sound of Olivia Newton-John and Donna Summer, Dead or Alive created a heavy yet melodic dance sound, a sound that would conquer dance floors, and Pete stated that the "new"Dead or Alive will be together.
small independent record store opened in 1971.
Music club in Liverpool, opened 1 October 1976. Located on Matthew Street across from the club The Cavern, where they performed The Beatles and other groups of the 60s. Eric's became known for his early performances of punk and post-punk bands.
British rock musician, singer-songwriter best known as frontman rock bands Echo & the Bunnymen.
British first wave group punk rock, formed in 1975 in Hersham Surrey,
England, and is believed to have stood at the origins oil-movements.
independent British record label
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American singer, poet, songwriter, band leader and vocalist The Doors.
American actress and singer, also known among fans as Divine Miss M.
British record label
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"I married a monster from another world..."
This is most likely how it sounded in the ears of Lynn Corlett's parents when she blew them away with the news of her wedding to Pete Burns, one of the strangest characters in the world of rock music. The lead singer of Dead or Alive shocked his contemporaries with his candid version of the KC & Sunshine Band hit "That's The Way (I Like It)".
Certainly such a person cannot be a happy spouse ... or can? Paul Bursch asked both Lynn and Pete about it.
Lynn:“Pete and I have been married for 4 years, but we have known each other for almost 8 years. We met at the hairdresser where I worked. Pete tried to get a job there. He was outrageous then. For me it was love at first sight. But not for him "We were best friends for about a year before it began to develop into something more. Then we realized that we could not live without each other and decided to legalize our relationship. We signed in one of the registry offices of Liverpool. It was pretty funny. Us they just didn't take it seriously. "Which one of you is a bride?" they asked us. Somewhere in the middle of the ceremony, we had to stop because some idiots were overturning garbage cans in the street. And I spent my wedding night in bed, which is generally fine, except that I had a cold.At first, my parents thought Pete was my "girlfriend" and therefore thought he was quite nice.
But when they found out that we were married, they didn't like it at all. It seems to me that dad always wanted such a son-in-law with whom he could go to football.
We lived in Liverpool in a modest one-bedroom apartment. Steve, the drummer, also lived with us. He helped me around the house. Pete is not very good at cleaning. If he tries to restore order, then he cannot find anything and starts to panic.
I consider him a good husband. He is very attentive, caring and loving. We don't have an ordinary family because Pete has a job that takes too much of his time. People don't believe that we are happy. But it is so. He always tells me what is bothering him, what is not quite right, and together we overcome these difficulties. I don't envy his career. In fact, I help him a lot. And I'm not bothered at all by fans or anything like that.
I thought a lot about children. And to admit, I can’t even imagine what kind of children we can have. What kind of parents can we be and what kind of life can we offer our children. I came to the conclusion that this is not a good idea. Though maybe in the future...
It's funny, we rarely fight, but if we do, it's like a hurricane. We beat the dishes, we fight, but we quickly calm down. In general, there are many external factors that prevent quarrels. Record company, publicity and all that. People like Pete need someone to help them keep their sanity. In this crazy business, it is very easy for anyone to believe what they write about him. In general, I can say with confidence that in 4 years of marriage I have not had a single day when I felt unhappy.
Pete:"I think we've been married for about five years. But I'm not sure. I'm not very good with numbers. When people ask how old I am, I answer 25. Although it's not. I've known Lynn for about 10 years. We met in a hairdressing salon where both worked for a couple of months. We were close friends for 2 years, and then we started dating. We very quickly decided to get married. And on August 18 we came to the registry office and signed. I think her parents were in shock. Although now everything is in order .
I don't think I made the best impression back then. My mother was delighted. She thought Lynn was very nice. I think before that she was afraid that I would run away with some sailor. But she didn't worry too much about it.
We have a pretty normal family in many ways. Although you won't call me normal. Lynn helps me not go crazy. She helps me with everything and reminds me if I forget something. And I'm very forgetful. In my work, it is something like a filter. Everything that is offered to me is first evaluated by the manager, and then by Lynn. And she tells me what not to do.
If I have any ideas, Lynn knows how to do better. She is also a very creative person. It was her idea to invite female bodybuilders to shoot the clip "That's The Way (I Like It)". She offers a lot of ideas that I accept, and then I reap the benefits of fame. I do a lot of housework ... sometimes "We try to keep order. We are not sluts. Lynn understands me like no one else. Although she has a difficult character and I like to answer her nitpicks with some stupidity sometimes. I would like to have children! But not now. Maybe in 10 years ... I don't think it's worth it to breed like rabbits, just to have someone left after you. And I really think about what my children will be like. Because I'm definitely not normal. Yes, if I came into this business without the support of Lynn , I would have completely moved. Or maybe I have already started.