Dead Or Alive

Dead or Alive was an English pop band formed in 1980 in Liverpool by frontman Pete Burns. The band's lineup went through several changes in its early years, but the most successful and well-known lineup consisted of Pete Burns (vocals), Mike Percy (bass), Steve Coy (drums), and Tim Lever (keyboards). The group was known for its androgynous and flamboyant style, spearheaded by the eccentric personality of Burns.

Early Career and Formation

Before forming Dead or Alive, Pete Burns was in a band called Nightmares in Wax. In 1980, the band was renamed Dead or Alive. The group released a series of independent singles that began to chart on the UK Indie Chart, with "The Stranger" reaching No. 7 in 1982. This early success led to a record deal with Epic Records in 1983.

Breakthrough and Mainstream Success

The band's debut album, "Sophisticated Boom Boom," was released in 1984 and featured their first UK Top 40 single, a cover of KC and the Sunshine Band's "That's the Way (I Like It)". However, it was their second album, "Youthquake" (1985), that brought them international fame. The album was produced by the acclaimed production trio Stock Aitken Waterman and featured the iconic hit single "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)". The song reached No. 1 in the UK and No. 11 in the US, becoming the band's signature track. Other successful singles from "Youthquake" included "Lover Come Back to Me," "In Too Deep," and "My Heart Goes Bang".

Their third album, "Mad, Bad, and Dangerous to Know" (1986), continued their success with UK Top 40 hits. However, their 1988 album, "Nude," while less successful in the UK, gained a significant following in Japan, where it produced three No. 1 singles.

Later Years and Disbandment

Following the release of "Nude," both Tim Lever and Mike Percy left the band. Burns and Coy continued as a duo, releasing the albums "Fan the Flame (Part 1)" (1990), "Nukleopatra" (1995), and "Fragile" (2000). The band formally disbanded following the death of Pete Burns from a sudden cardiac arrest on October 23, 2016. Over their career, Dead or Alive sold over 17 million albums and 36 million singles worldwide.