Who was Pete Burns? Dead or Alive singer and Celebrity Big Brother star
PETE BURNS had a huge hit record in the mid-80s and became known to a whole new generation some two decades later with a spell in the Celebrity Big Brother house.
But the controversial star will also be remembered for his radical change in appearance.
What was Pete Burns best known for?
Burns was lead singer of Dead or Alive, a band he formed in 1980.
The band had a minor hit in 1984 with a cover version of That's the Way (I Like It) from its first album, Sophisticated Boom Boom.
But big success came in 1985 with the release of You Spin Me Round (Like A Record), which Burns co-wrote.
How big was You Spin Me Round?
Very. You Spin Me Round went to number one in UK in 1985, selling in excess of 500,000 copies.
It also reached number 11 in the US Billboard Hot 100, and was a hit around the globe.
It’s credited with significantly boosting the careers of producers Stock, Aitken and Waterman who went on to dominate radio airwaves in the late '80s.
The record was re-released in 2006 to coincide with Pete Burns's appearance on Celebrity Big Brother and reached number 5.
Pete Burns band Dead or Alive had a huge hit with You Spin Me Round
Where did Pete Burns finish in Celebrity Big Brother?
After years in obscurity, Pete appeared in Celebrity Big Brother 2006 alongside the likes of Michael Barrymore, George Galloway and Rula Lenska.
He launched many verbal attacks on housemates – particularly glamour model Jodie Marsh and former Baywatch star Traci Bingham
He also caused massive controversy by suggesting that one of his coats was made out of gorilla fur (it was actually colobus monkeys).
Burns finished in fifth place, but received a hostile reception on his exit.
He went on to present spin-off show, Big Brothers Big Mouth, for a week in August 2007 and subsequently appeared on Come Dine with Me, Big Brother's Bit on the Side, The Body Shocking Show and numerous other shows.
What cosmetic surgery operations did he have?
When Burns returned to the public eye, many were shocked by his appearance.
He had extensive polyacrylamide injections into his lips, as well cheek implants and several rhinoplasties.
Burns claimed to have spent most of his life savings on eighteen months of reconstructive surgery following a botched procedure on his lips.
In 2009 Burns reached an out-of-court settlement for £450k with cosmetic surgeon Dr Maurizio Viel.
Speaking on Celebrity Botched Up Bodies earlier this year, Burns claimed to have had 300 operations to fix his face.
A bloated and messy Burns shocked observers again when ‘papped’ earlier this year.
What was his background?
Burns was born in Bebington, Cheshire. His father is from Liverpool, while his mother was born in Heidelberg, Germany.
Burns dropped out of school at the age of 14, and went on to work at Probe Records, a popular meeting place for musicians.
Was Pete Burns married?
Burns married hairdresser Lynne Corlett in 1978, and they remained married until 2006.
In July 2006 he entered civil partnership with Michael Simpson, after announcing their engagement on Channel 4's Richard & Judy. The couple appeared on Celebrity Wife Swap.
READ MORE
Pete Burns dies suddenly after massive heart attack aged 57
Rylan Clark-Neal and cast of Celebrity Big Brother lead the tributes to Pete Burns
Pete Burns: From 80s icon to plastic surgery ‘addict’, the colourful life and times of the Dead or Alive singer
Celebrity Botched Up Bodies viewers left shocked by Pete Burns’ plastic surgery pitfalls
A bloated and messy Pete Burns looks unrecognisable as he makes a very rare public outing