1980s Icon, Pete Burns, Photography Exhibition Ends This Month In Port Sunlight Village

PORT SUNLIGHT VILLAGE, BOROUGH OF WIRRAL, LIVERPOOL CITY REGION.

Ending This Month In The Liverpool City Region's Port Sunlight Village Is A Photography Exhibition On 1980s Icon, Pete Burns, Star Of The Band Dead or Alive & Singer Of 1985 UK No.1 Chart Hit, 'You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)'

Photographic Portrait of Pete Burns by photographer, Francesco Mellina (Credit: Francesco Mellina/Supplied/Image was provided to The Liverpudlian with permission to share, courtesy of the Publicist on behalf of their client. We make no claim to this content).

• 'Total Stranger', a new exhibition of photographs by Francesco Mellina, is currently on display in the historic Village of Port Sunlight.

• The photographs capture the late 1970s and early 1980s Liverpool Music and Club Scene.

• The late Pete Burns and his band, Dead or Alive, are featured in many of the photographs.

• Pete Burns grew up in Port Sunlight Village, before going on to become an international star.

• The exhibition is open from the 21st of September until the 19th of January 2025, at the Village’s Bridge Cottage Gallery.

Nearly five decades after he left the village of Port Sunlight where he grew up, the late 80s pop music icon Pete Burns is being featured in an exhibition of photographs by Francesco Mellina, ending on Sunday the 19th of January.

Over 40 photographs will be on display for visitors to explore in the exhibition at Bridge Cottage Gallery, set in one of the most distinctive houses in the famous Wirral Village. The exhibition’s title Total Stranger is taken from the Dead or Alive song of the same name.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Francesco Mellina took photographs of bands at the famous Eric’s Club in Liverpool, recording the various subcultures in club land during the pivotal post-punk era. During this time, Francesco developed a career as a nationally recognised rock photographer, and was a regular contributor to magazines such as The Face, NME, Melody Maker, Smash Hits, Sounds, iD magazine as well as various publications around the world.

Francesco also Managed Dead or Alive, guiding them to number one chart success with hits such 'You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)' and 'Brand New Lover'.

“We are delighted to be working with Francesco Mellina and to celebrate the life and early career of Pete Burns through Francesco’s images. This exhibition will hopefully bring Pete to a whole new audience and inspire a new generation to be true to who they are and not be afraid to create their own path.” - Jean Milton, Curator of the Exhibition & Director of Heritage at Port Sunlight Village Trust.

Photographer and former Manager of Dead or Alive, Francesco Mellina, said: “I am very pleased to be presenting this exhibition of my photographs in Port Sunlight, many of which have never been on display. I think many people will be fascinated to see these early photos of Pete Burns and Dead or Alive, as they capture their youthfulness and give an interesting glimpse into an exciting time in Liverpool’s club scene.”

Francesco added: “I became friends with Pete after he caught my eye at the legendary Eric’s Club on Mathew Street and I asked if I could photograph him. I think he would be delighted to see these photographs now on display in his native village.”

The photographs on display in Total Stranger give a glimpse of the early career of Pete Burns, whose father worked at the Unilever factory in Port Sunlight. It is well known Pete was eager to escape to the bright lights of Liverpool over the water from Wirral, where his eye-catching fashion and personality quickly turned him into a local celebrity before rising to international fame as a singer, songwriter and television personality.

It is the first time these unique images celebrating Port Sunlight’s own Pete Burns have been on public display. Visitors will be able to see the exhibition between the 21st of September until the 19th of January, 2025.

“I became friends with Pete after he caught my eye at the legendary Eric’s Club on Mathew Street and I asked if I could photograph him. I think he would be delighted to see these photographs now on display in his native village.” - Photographer & former Manager of Dead or Alive, Francesco Mellina.

Jean Milton, Curator of the Exhibition & Director of Heritage at Port Sunlight Village Trust, said: “We are delighted to be working with Francesco Mellina and to celebrate the life and early career of Pete Burns through Francesco’s images. This exhibition will hopefully bring Pete to a whole new audience and inspire a new generation to be true to who they are and not be afraid to create their own path.”

Bridge Cottage Gallery is open Wednesday–Sunday, 10am–4pm, at 23 Park Road, Port Sunlight CH62 4UP. Entry is by ‘pay what you think’, where visitors decide the price and donate what they feel or can contribute. Every pound given will support Port Sunlight Village Trust’s work to preserve and promote the historic village. The exhibition is not ticketed.

To find out more and plan a visit to Port Sunlight Village and the 'Total Stranger' Exhibition, you can visit their website.

Where Is 'Total Stranger' Being Exhibited?

Bridge Cottage Gallery,

23 Park Road,

Port Sunlight Village,

Borough of Wirral, CH62 4UP,

Liverpool City Region, UK.