We’re saddened to report the passing of the enigmatic, ’80s dance-pop frontman Pete Burns at the age of 57 due to a massive cardiac arrest. Burns was known for his Liverpool born band Dead or Alive‘s success in the 1980s with hits like “You Spin Me Right Round (Like A Record)”.

In recent years Burns has made a number of controversial appearances on reality shows such as Big Brother and has been known for excessive use of plastic surgery but back in the late ’70s and subsequent ’80s he pushed the envelope as a true frontman as apart of Dead Or Alive.

In 1977, budding vocalist Pete Burns teamed with local comtemporeries Julian Cope (of The Teardrop Explodes), Pete Wylie and Phil Hurst to form The Mystery Girls, yet disbanded the outfit after one Eric’s gig supporting punk heroes Sham 69. Almost two years later, Burns returned with a new post-punk band Nightmares in Wax, the eccentric style of Burns quickly attracted fans and even legendary disc jockey John Peel who brought them in to do a session, shortly before Nightmares in Wax became Dead or Alive.

Dead or Alive went on to top the charts and have several Top 40 hits. Burns confirmed earlier this year that Dead or Alive was still active, despite not preforming since 2012.