Pete Burns, "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" singer, is dead at 57
Dead or Alive singer and former “Celebrity Big Brother” contestant Pete Burns has died, his family confirmed in a statement posted to Twitter on Monday. He was 57.
“It is with the greatest sadness that we have to break the tragic news that out beloved Pete Burns of (Dead Or Alive), died suddenly yesterday of a massive cardiac arrest,” the statement read.
“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 he will be missed by all who loved and appreciated everything he was and all of the wonderful memories the has left is with.”
“We have no more words. We will make a further statement when we have had a chance to come to terms with our devastating loss. He will live forever in our memories.”
Burns rose to prominence as the singer of Dead or Alive, with the band’s best-performing hit, “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record),“ reaching number 11 on the U.S. charts and number one in the U.K., according to Billboard.
It hit number 5 in the U.K. once again in 2006, following Burns’ turn on “Celebrity Big Brother.”
Boy George, a contemporary and somtimes rival of Burns, tweeted, “Tearful about the passing of @PeteBurnsICON he was one of our great true eccentrics and such a big part of my life! Wow. Hard to believe!”
While he continued to record and tour under the band name Dead or Alive for the rest of his life, Burns became better known in pop culture for his dramatically transforming appearance.
“People redecorate their homes every few years and I see this as no different,” Burns told the Daily Mail in 2011. “Changing my face is like buying a new sofa.”