From the moment he entered the world, musician Pete Burns lived life on his own terms. Raised by a mother who survived the Holocaust and married a British soldier, Burns was encouraged to embrace freedom and individuality—a philosophy he carried with him throughout his life.
“My mother had me when she was 51 years old, which was very unusual in 1959,” Burns recalled in the book Europe’s Stars of ’80s Dance Pop: 32 International Music Legends Discuss Their Careers. “I wasn’t put in school until I was seven years old because my mother believed freedom of expression was more important (much to my father’s dismay) than knowing when the Battle of Hastings took place or when Henry VIII married. She had a troubled life, especially after learning that her father had been killed.”
Burns described his mother as his best friend, someone who gave him the power to dream and create without limits.
Early Fascination with Fashion and Style
By the age of 14, Burns developed a fascination with fashion and bold self-expression. He began experimenting with his look, wearing earrings and dyeing his hair. However, his unconventional style clashed with his school’s rules, ultimately leading to his expulsion.
Burns also enjoyed dressing in drag but resisted societal labels. In a 2007 Guardian article, he stated, “I have never had a reason to separate gender. I’ve had two very powerful people in my life—my ex-wife Lynn and my husband Michael—and that’s it. Everyone’s in drag of some sort. I don’t care about gender or drag. I’m not trying to be a girl by putting on a dress—gender is separated by fabric. I was raised with an incredible amount of freedom and creativity, but society has imposed its constraints.”
The Rise of Dead or Alive
Burns’ music career began unexpectedly. He and Lynn, whom he married in 1980 and was with for over two decades, ran a small shop near a local club called Eric’s. There, they often saw bands perform, and one day Burns was invited to take the stage himself.
“The club owner set me up with a band called The Mystery Girls, and my first gig was supporting Sham 69,” Burns said. “The audience was shocked when they saw me—it was like throwing a cat among the pigeons.”
He later formed the band Nightmares in Wax before founding the iconic Dead or Alive in 1980. His unique appearance quickly caught the attention of the media, turning him into a celebrity. Dead or Alive went on to release several hits, many of which climbed into the UK Top 30 charts.
Obsession with Plastic Surgery
As Burns’ fame grew, he became increasingly conscious of his image. After an initial surgery to fix a broken nose, he developed a deep obsession with cosmetic procedures. Over the years, he underwent more than 300 surgeries, which ultimately drove him into bankruptcy.
“What I’m trying to achieve with my surgery is personal satisfaction—it’s pure narcissism,” Burns told People. “What you see on the outside is completely different from what’s on the inside.”
His extreme number of surgeries eventually caused severe complications, including infections in his face and lips. “Changing my face is like buying a new sofa,” he once said. “There isn’t a part of me, apart from the soles of my feet, that hasn’t had work done. For me, plastic surgery is about sanity, not vanity.”
Final Years and Legacy
On October 23, 2016, Pete Burns died of a massive heart attack. In the months before his death, he candidly spoke about how his addiction to plastic surgery had taken a toll on his health and finances. In a BBC interview, he revealed: “Because of all the anesthetics and antibiotics, I now suffer from pulmonary embolisms and blood clots in my heart, lungs, and legs.”
Recalling a near-death experience, he said: “It was a lovely feeling, dying. I remember being hooked up to tubes and wishing they’d remove them—it felt so soft and peaceful, like being in a bath of velvet.”
Burns also admitted he struggled with aging. “I’m not comfortable with getting older. I don’t want to look like a 65-year-old. I’m not the boy next door—I’m the boy next door but one. I just hope that when I’m 80, I get to heaven and God doesn’t recognize me.”
Pete Burns left behind a legacy of fearless self-expression, unforgettable music, and unapologetic individuality.
