Pete Burns, frontman of the ’80s British pop band Dead or Alive, has died at 57 from a heart attack. Known for the hit “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record),” Burns rose to fame in 1985 and was set to release a new compilation, Sophisticated Boom Box MMXVI, on Oct. 28.
His management called him a “true visionary” and a “special star.” Burns later became known for his reality TV appearances and dramatic transformation through plastic surgery. He once joked, “I hope when I get to heaven, God doesn’t recognize me.”
Burns began surgery after rising fame made him self-conscious, starting with a nose correction. Unsatisfied with the results, he underwent nearly 300 procedures, including cheekbone implants and lip augmentations. “I see myself as my own clay,” he said in 2010.
Surgical complications led to infections, blood clots, and extensive corrective operations. A failed lip procedure nearly killed him, and blood thinners damaged his teeth, requiring full reconstruction.
Despite health issues, Burns said he would never stop altering his appearance. “What you see on the outside is a complete contradiction to what’s on the inside,” he once reflected.
