Dead Or Alive is an influential new wave band from Liverpool that rose to popularity during the 1980s and gained a cult following in Japan during that time. They are best known for the hit singles “You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)” and “Brand New Lover”.

Before Pete Burns founded Dead Or Alive, he was involved with a Liverpool based band named Nightmares In Wax (no relation to Nightmares on Wax). The band centred around alternative music and released their only notable record, Black Leather in 1979 or 1980.

Members

Upon founding the band, Burns hired friend Steve Coy as drummer. Over the next four years, Burns would hire and fire dozens of musicians including alternative British punk rocker Wayne Hussey. Eventually, Burns settled on a four piece made up of himself, Steve Coy, Mike Percy and Tim Lever.

Pete Burns (1981-Present) vocalist of the band and songwriter. His voice was once described as “a light which fills the darkness”. Burns did not play any instruments but mimed with an electric guitar in some music videos.

Steve Coy (1982-Present) Drummer, birth name Stephen McCoy. The youngest member of the band, Coy wrote music for the band but did not delve into the world of lyrics. As of 1996, Coy took over the job of producing Dead Or Alive’s videos starting with the David Bowie cover “Rebel Rebel” from the album Nukleopatra.

Timothy Lever (1983-1990) Keyboards, Saxophone, Guitars. The prematurely bald musician from Liverpool appeared older than he actually was. He and guitarist Mike Percy were responsible for most of the actual songwriting for the band.