Francesco Mellina - Photographer and Early manager of Pete Burns; Dead or Alive
Francesco Mellina(Pete Burns and Dead or Alive)
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Before “You Spin Me Round” made Dead or Alive international stars, Francesco Mellina saw something extraordinary in Pete Burns. He became his photographer, friend and the band’s early manager—and captured a world that would soon disappear.
In this interview with Steve Blame, Francesco recalls leaving southern Italy at sixteen, following his fascination with The Beatles to Liverpool, and finding his place among the outsiders at Eric’s.
He takes us inside his first photo shoot with Pete, explains how a photograph in The Face helped bring him wider attention, and remembers the determination it took to secure Dead or Alive a record deal. He also speaks candidly about being dismissed as their manager before their biggest hit.
His book, Total Stranger, brings together previously unseen photographs of Pete Burns and Dead or Alive from 1978–1983. Rediscovering those images brought back the friendship, the ambition and the young man behind an unforgettable public image.
Francesco’s photography and website:
https://www.redbookart.com/
Total Stranger — Amazon book link:
https://amzn.to/3Y1Onvm
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More interviews from Pop the History Makers:
https://www.popthehistorymakers.com/
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CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction: Francesco Mellina and Pete Burns
02:32 Childhood in southern Italy
05:44 The Beatles and the dream of Liverpool
08:43 Italian cinema and a fascination with images
10:45 Leaving home and discovering photography
12:45 Finding a home in Liverpool
14:14 Eric’s and Liverpool’s emerging music scene
17:14 Meeting Pete Burns
20:19 The first photo shoot at Pete’s flat
22:04 Recognising Pete’s star quality
23:19 Seeing early Dead or Alive on stage
24:39 Friendship, The Face and becoming Pete’s manager
27:27 Record-label rejection and an independent breakthrough
29:21 Signing with CBS and giving up photography
30:34 Total Stranger: rediscovering the archive
33:39 Friendship, trust and Pete’s private world
37:04 Black contact lenses and an evolving image
40:10 The stories behind the photographs
42:35 Dead or Alive: the gang everyone wanted to join
43:40 Pete’s image and being himself
45:36 Being dismissed before “You Spin Me Round”
47:58 Watching Pete’s career after the split
50:43 Rediscovering the good memories
52:48 What Pete valued in their friendship
53:45 Liverpool, other books and closing reflections
#PeteBurns #DeadOrAlive #FrancescoMellina
