Dead or Alive (group)

The Beginning of Creativity (1977-1983)

In 1977, Pete Burns organized a group called The Mystery Girls. In addition to Burns himself, it included his friends Julian Cope , Pete Willie and Phil Hurst. The group gave only one concert, and then broke up. In 1978, Pete organized a new band - "Nightmares In Wax", playing in the style of gothic rock (?) And post-punk . Of the first group, only Burns and Hurst remained in the new one, keyboardist Martin Healy, Walter Ogden and guitarist Mick Reed joined them. In January 1979, they released their first single, “Black Leather,” and in May the mini-album, “Birth of a Nation,” via Inevitable Record. The band's first performance was at Eric's in February 1979. A year later, Pete forms from this group a new one, called "Dead or Alive". In the next three years, several more participants will be replaced in it. In May 1980, they released the single “I'm Falling” and first appeared on television in the Celebration Rock program. In 1981, the single “Number Eleven” was released, and in 1982 the mini-album “It's Been Hours Now”, with the title track of which they reappear on television. After releasing the single "The Stranger", they go on a mini-tour of England.

In 1983, Dead or Alive signed a contract with Epic and released the single "Misty Circles", which was included in the UK Singles Chart at number 100.

Sophisticated Boom Boom (1983 - 1984)

In August 1983, the single “What I Want” was released, taking 88th position. In January, Dead or Alive released their single “I'd Do Anything,” and with it their first video, directed by . In March, the single “That's the Way (I Like It)” was released, which became a hit and the first song to hit the Top of the Pops . In April, the debut album Sophisticated Boom Boom is released. The album was ready back in October 1983, but could not be released due to conflicts between the group and the label regarding the release of singles. The album receives mixed reviews, but the fans warmly received it. After the release of the album, the band goes on an Alive Tour, a tour of Europe and America in support of the album. In June 1984, the single “What I Want” was re-released in a new arrangement.

Youthquake (1984 - 1985)

In November, Dead or Alive releases its main hit, “ You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) .” The single occupies high positions in the charts, the members of the group become frequent guests in music programs. In April, the single “Lover Come Back (To Me)” was released, and in May the second album, “Youthquake”. In June, the single "In Too Deep" was released, after which the group went on the second Youthquake '85 tour in England. In September, the last single from the album "My Heart Goes Bang (Get Me to the Doctor)" is released.

Mad, Bad, and Dangerous to Know (1986-1987)

Initially, the album’s lead single was supposed to be “I Want You,” but in the end it became another song, “Brand New Lover”. In January 1987, Dead or Alive released the single "Something In My House", which finished 12th on the UK chart. The Mortevicar Mix version is accompanied by dialogues from the movie The Exorcist . The album comes out a month later and takes 27th place in the UK and 52 in the USA. The cover of the single and album was inspired by the French film La belle et la bête. The original album was supposed to be called "Popism". In March, the single "Hooked On Love" was released, and six months later, the single "I'll Save You All My Kisses".

Rip It Up (1987 - 1988)

In the fall of 1987, the Rip It Up Tour was held in the United States and Japan, tickets for which were completely sold out. In October, the collection “Rip It Up” (the name is taken from the song “Then There Was You”) is released, containing 8 tracks connected by transitions and forming a single track. In 1988, a promotional single was released in Japan from the last album, entitled "Son of a Gun." In the same year, a video of the tour is released, which will later be digitized and re-released in remastering.

At this time, in connection with the beginning of a solo career, Tim Lever and Mike Percy leave the group.

Nude (1988 - 1989)

In August, Dead or Alive released a lead single from their new album, “Turn Around and Count 2 Ten,” which became very successful in Japan. The clip for the song will be the last clip in which former members are filmed. The next single for Japan was "Give It Back (That Love Is Mine)", but the release was canceled for unknown reasons. Instead, I Cannot Carry On comes out as a promo for Japan. Finally, in December, the album "Nude" was released in Japan. In July 1989, the single “Come Home (With Me Baby)” was released, which was also a success. A month later, Nude is released in the rest of the world with an alternative cover. The next single, Baby Don't Say Goodbye, is released in September, followed by Nude - Remade Remodelled, a collection of remixes. In the same month, the group participates in the Japanese festival "Disco In Dream Tour / Japanese Euro-Dance Fair", in which Kylie Minogue and Sinitta also participate.

Fan the Flame (1990 - 1993)

In November 1990, a tour was held in Japan in support of the upcoming album, which received the same name with it - “Fan the Flame Tour”. December 13, the album Fan the Flame (Part 1) is released in Japan. Along with the album, the single "Your Sweetness (Is Your Weakness)" is released, which was published, like the whole era, only in Japan, mainly on mini-disks . In April 1991, Gone 2 Long was released, and in September Unhappy Birthday. The group periodically appears on television. Burns takes Dead or Alive completely under his control and goes on a tour of America, performing covers and songs that were to be included in the next, never-released album, “Fan the Flame (Part 2).” Despite the fact that the album never came out, these songs were included in the Love, Pete cassette, which was sold before performances in 1992. The name of the song “Your Sweetness (Is Your Weakness)” was changed to “Your Sweetness (Is My Weakness)” (the text also changed), the song was included in the track list of this tape. Pete Burns and Steve Coy disagree with the desire to build a solo career. It is reported that Burns intends to create a new group called "Pete Burns and the Sexy Assassins", to release an album called "Getting Away With Murder" or "The Circus Is In Town" in the spring of 1993, as well as a farewell collection Dead or Alive with new songs, covers and a remix of “ You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) ”.

On November 21, 1993, Japan released a collection of hits by a group called Star Box. Steve Coy and Pete Burns revive the collaboration. Pete is still planning a solo project besides Dead or Alive.

Glam and International Chrysis (1994)

Pete Burns records the track “Sex Drive” at the request of the Italian group Glam, which provided him with a recorded instrumental, for which Pete wrote the lyrics and recorded the finished song. Later, the International Chrysis project, composed of Pete Burns and Steve Coy, appears. They release a cover of David Bowie's “ Rebel Rebel ” as a single. The song fails on the charts.

Nukleopatra (1995 - 1999).

Steve and Pete return to Dead or Alive and release their first single in several years in Japan - Sex Drive \ Rebel Rebel. Jason Albury joins the group. In October, Japan released a new album called "Nukleopatra". The album includes an updated version of Rebel Rebel, as well as the re-recorded Gone 2 Long, Unhappy Birthday, and Sex Drive. Meanwhile, the single " You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) " is being reissued for the first time in Australia. The Nukleopatra's Tour takes place in the USA, England and Australia in 1996. 1996 also accompanies the remix for the single You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) , released as a single. In addition to the single, an album with a different cover and track is released in different countries -listed. In 1997, a single re-released version of “Sex Drive” was released, followed by a new remix of “ You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) .” The album continues to be released. Dead or Aliv e will return to America, England, Canada and Mexico with the Nukleopatra's Tour. The album of the same name with several remixes is officially released for the first time in the US in 1998. The next tour in America now includes covers for Prince , Madonna , U2 etc.

It was rumored that the album "Sayonara Sugar Pie" was to be released in 1999, but they were not confirmed.

Fragile and Unbreakable (2000 - 2001)

In September 2000, the single "Hit and Run Lover" was released for Japan, which became the band's last hit. On September 27, the album “Fragile” is released, which includes new songs, covers , as well as new versions of old singles. In December, a promotional single was released as a remix of Turn Around and Count 2 Ten.

December 5, 2001 released a collection of remixes on the previous album "Unbreakable - The Fragile Remixes". The group periodically performs in Japan and England.

Evolution (2002 - 2003)

The group gives concerts in clubs and gay pride parades. On May 5, 2003, a new single titled “You Spin Me Round 2003” is released. Remix for the first time in a long time enters the Top 40. A video is released for the updated version, Dead or Alive conduct concerts, give interviews. On May 19, a collection of hits entitled "Evolution: The Hits" is released. Two months later, a collection of clips comes out.

Sunset (2004 - 2016)

Gradually, the group again goes into the shadows, and Pete Burns is engaged in a solo career and participation in reality shows, periodically performing with hits of the group. The tour, planned by Dead or Alive in January 2010, did not take place. DuringBurns' official Q&A session on Facebook on August 21, 2011, announced that Dead or Alive had broken up forever. 5 years after the announcement of the band's breakup, in September 2016, the release of a box set with full discography and a new album was announced; but this did not happen due to the death of the group organizer. Pete Burns passed away on October 23, 2016.

• Pete Burns ( 1980–2016): vocalist and songwriter. In several clips he depicted playing an electric guitar, but in fact he never played any instrument. Died October 23, 2016.
• Wayne Hussey ( 1982-1984): An early-stage musician, wrote most of the songs in 1982-1983, as well as the singles "Misty Circles" and "What I Want" released by Epic Records . In 1984, Hussey joined The Sisters of Mercy , but stayed there for only a year, after which he founded The Mission in 1985.
• Mike Percy ( 1980-1989): bass player. Together with Lever, the author of Dead or Alive songs in the period 1984-1990. Percy wrote and performed the backing part in the hit You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) .
• Steve Coy ( 1980–2016): drummer, composer. The only member who was a friend of Burns before the creation of the group. The youngest of the group. Since 1996, Coy began producing Dead or Alive music videos, starting with a cover of Rebel Rebel from the Nukleopatra album. Died on May 4, 2018 ^{[1] [2]} .
• Timothy Lever ( 1983-1989): keyboard player, saxophonist, guitarist. He participated in writing music in 1984-1990 with Mike Percy.
• Jason Alburey ( 1995–2016): keyboard player. He joined the group later than all, in 1995.
• Dean Bright ( ???? - ????): Keyboard player. Joined in the late 90s. He performed with a group in UK nightclubs, and also went to a presentation for Japanese television.

Studio Albums

• 1984 - Sophisticated Boom Boom
• 1985 - Youthquake
• 1986 - Mad, Bad, and Dangerous to Know
• 1988 - Nude
• 1990 - Fan the Flame (Part 1)
• 1995 - Nukleopatra
• 2000 - Fragile

Collections

• 1987 - Rip It Up
• 1989 - Nude - Remade Remodelled -
• 1993 - Star Box
• 2001 - Unbreakable_The Fragile Remixes
• 2003 - Evolution: The Hits
• 2010 - That's the Way I Like It: The Best of Dead or Alive

Other

• 2010 - You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) EP
• 2016 - Sophisticated Boom Box MMXVI