Singer Pete Burns, who founded pop group Dead Or Alive, has died aged 57 after a cardiac arrest.
Burns rose to fame in the 1980s with the band’s hit song You Spin Me Round. He also appeared on Big Brother in 2006, coming fifth in the final.
A joint statement released by his partner, Michael Simpson, his ex-wife, Lynn, and his manager, Steve Coy, read: “All of his family and friends are devastated by the loss of our special star.
He was a true visionary, a beautiful, talented soul and will be missed by all those who loved and appreciated everything he was and all of the wonderful memories he has left us with.”
Born in Cheshire, Burns became famous for his androgynous style. He admitted to having more than 300 cosmetic operations, mainly on his face, and in 2006 almost died on the table during surgery on his nose.
He married Lynn, a hairdresser, in 1978 but the pair separated in 2006 and Burns married Simpson soon after.
His solo career never reached the mainstream success of Dead Or Alive. His last single, Never Marry An Icon, was released in 2010.
