
Total Stranger
There’s been a lot of talk about one of Liverpool’s most celebrated pop kids, Holly Johnson, and his exhibition at Museum of Liverpool. See my previous post for more information on that. But flying under the radar just over the water, another of the city’s legendary children is at the centre of his own archive of images…
Total Stranger is an exhibition of previously unpublished photographs taken by Francesco Mellina of Dead or Alive front-man Pete Burns. Mellina named the exhibition after a song by Dead or Alive and it feels apt. Anyone who was around at the time, myself included, won’t have been able to miss Pete Burns as he defiantly stepped out into the city’s streets – every outing a performance. Pete was an enigmatic character that once seen was never forgotten and tales of his time working behind the counter at Probe Records are now the stuff of legend. As infamous as he was, the look and attitude were also a barrier and a provocative protective cloak.
For a character as loud and colourful as he was, the exhibition venue may seem like a sedate contradiction. It’s a small gallery in a pretty little cottage in Port Sunlight, just over the water from Liverpool. Completed in 1892 by architects Douglas and Fordham, its distinctive design and exterior stone finish set it apart from the other houses in this quaint village, more well known as the historical home of Lever Brothers.
Stepping inside, one is instantly transported back in time to the house’s decorative era and to the late 1970s–early 80s via the intimate collection of photographs of Pete and his colourful compatriots. The candid shots were captured in various urban and domestic locations and feel like a sneaky peek behind the artificial pop veneer of a time before image consultants and manufactured marketing artifice. This is glamour with grit from an artist, shown largely on his own turf, on the brink of stardom. It’s a nice touch that we’re also treated to a soundtrack of Dead or Alive tunes to augment the collection. Pete Burns grew up in Port Sunlight, so it does makes sense to bring the images to this location.
Here’s some information about the photographer, taken from the introduction to the show: Born in Polistena, Southern Italy, Francesco Mellina taught himself English by listening to early Beatles and Rolling Stones records before setting off, aged 16, on a tour of Europe that saw him eventually settle in Liverpool in his early twenties. He trained in photography at Liverpool Art School and started taking photographs of bands at the famous Eric’s Club in Liverpool, recording the various subcultures in clubland during the pivotal post-punk era. He 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, i-D magazine as well as various publications around the world. Francesco also worked as manager of eighties band Dead or Alive guiding them to number one chart success.
As posed as many of the images are, it’s clear that Burns was at ease with the photographer, and this early period before international pop fame is a delight to see. If you’re in the area, it’s worth a visit and if you’re not, there is a book of the same name available now from waterstones.com and other stores.
The exhibition runs from 21 September 2024 to 19 January 2025 and is free, donations are welcome.
Bridge Cottage, 23 Park Road, Port Sunlight CH62 4UP
Wednesday–Sunday: 10am–4pm
(closed 12.30pm–1pm)
portsunlightvillage.com/bridge-cottage
- Blog
- Dead or Alive, eighties, Francesco Mellina, Liverpool, Pete Burns, Port Sunlight
- October 23, 2024