Artist in Depth: Dead or Alive (Part 2)

Dead or Alive released their debut album Sophisticated Boom Boom in May of 1984. Wayne Hussey, who had been with the band since 1982 left just before the album's release, even though he wrote a lot of the material. The album contained past singles "Misty Circles", "What I Want", and "I'd Do Anything" and also featured a cover of KC & The Sunshine Band's "That's The Way (I Like It)". The single became the band's first big hit, reaching #22 on the UK Singles Chart and #28 on the US Dance Chart. The album itself peaked at #29 on the UK Albums Chart.

Dead or Alive had gone mainstream. The band appeared on many British TV shows, including Top of the Pops, after the success of "That's The Way (I Like It)" and Burns appeared in many British magazines thanks to his outrageous looks.

The release of Youthquake and that album's lead single, however, would bring the band into international spotlight.