Dead Or Alive Founder Pete Burns Dead At 57

25 October 2016 | 9:44 am | Staff Writer

“All of his family and friends are devastated by the loss of our special star."

UK songwriter Pete Burns, founder of '80s new wave band Dead Or Alive, has died following a cardiac arrest at the age of 57. 

According to The Guardian, a statement released by his partner, Michael Simpson, ex-wife, Lynne Corlett, and manager and former band member, Steve Coy, confirmed the news. 

"All of his family and friends are devastated by the loss of our special star," the statement reads.

"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."

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Burns founded his first band in 1977, known as The Mystery Girls, though they played just one gig. 

In 1979, the singer formed Nightmares In Wax and in 1980 (after several line-up changes), he changed the band name to Dead Or Alive. 

The band's biggest single came in 1984, You Spin Me Round (Like A Record), which peaked at #1 in the UK charts the following year, as well as cracking the US Billboard Top 20, though they also enjoyed success with a cover of KC & The Sunshine Band's That's The Way (I Like It).

Other singles that reached the top 30 in the UK and Australia included Lover Come Back To Me, In Too Deep and My Heart Goes Bang.

Burns openly admitted to having an addiction to cosmetic surgery and reportedly had over 300 operations in his life, once saying, "For me, plastic surgery is a matter of sanity, not vanity".

In 2006, Burns almost died while undergoing a nose operation.

Throughout the '90s, the Liverpool-born musician had a string of hits on the club circuit, including a cover of David Bowie's Rebel Rebel and a collab with Glam that produced dance floor anthem Sex Drive.

Burns garnered mainstream attention in 2006 following a controversial appearance on Celebrity Big Brother and went on to appear in a few other reality TV programs such as Celebrity Wife Swap and The Body Shocking Show.

His last single, Never Marry An Icon, was released in 2010.

A number of close friends and fans of Burns have since released statements on his death, including Culture Club frontman, Boy George, and former Dead Or Alive guitarist and one-time Sisters Of Mercy member, Wayne Hussey.