Martin Burgoyne

Martin Burgoyne ( – 30 November 1986) was a British and American artist. Burgoyne was part of the downtown New York art scene in the 1980s. He befriended singer Madonna before she was famous and he was a key figure in her early career. He managed her first club tour and designed the cover for her 1983 single "Burning Up".

Life and career

Born and adopted in England, Burgoyne's family moved to the United States during his childhood. In 1980, he won a Scholastic Art Award scholarship for his "photorealistic graphite portrait" portfolio, which was displayed at Tyrone Square Mall in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Drawn to the excitement of New York City, Burgoyne moved to Manhattan to study art at the Pratt Institute in the early 1980s. Upon arriving, Steve Rubell, co-owner of Studio 54, hired him as a bartender. He was later a bartender at Erika Belle's Lucky Strike on East 9th Street and Third Avenue in Downtown Manhattan.

Burgoyne met and befriended up-and-coming singer Madonna and the two became roommates. Burgoyne also designed the cover sleeve for her 1983 single "Burning Up". According to Seymour Stein, co-founder of Sire Records and vice president of Warner Bros. Records, Madonna discreetly asked A&R executive Michael Rosenblatt to decline Burgoyne's sleeve design for her album because "it just wasn't iconic enough." However, they maintained a close relationship and shared a circle of friends, which included artists Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, and Jean-Michel Basquiat.

In the summer of 1986, Burgoyne became ill with what was thought to be measles. In August 1986, he was diagnosed with AIDS-related complex (ARC). In an interview for Vanity Fair in November 1986, Burgoyne told journalist Michael Shnayerson, "I'm in constant pain. I figure I'll either get better—or I won't." On 10 November, Madonna modelled a denim jacket painted by Burgoyne at an AIDS benefit fashion show for St. Vincent's Hospital.

Burgoyne died of AIDS-related complications on 30 November 1986. He was 23 years old.

Legacy During Madonna's Who's That Girl World Tour in July 1987, she held a benefit concert at Madison Square Garden for AIDS Research (AmfAR) and dedicated her performance of "Live to Tell" to Burgoyne. He is the subject of the song "In This Life", released on her album Erotica (1992). Madonna frequently discusses and honors him at AIDS and LGBT-related benefits.

During her Celebration Tour (2023–2024) performance of "Live to Tell", a giant photo of Burgoyne was shown to the audience, along with other victims of AIDS.

In 2026, Madonna released the album Confessions II, which features the track "Danceteria". The song serves as a nostalgic tribute to the club, explicitly naming Burgoyne alongside other key figures from their early New York scene, such as Debi Mazar and Mark Kamins. He is portrayed by Daniele Sibilli in the film Confessions II.

Credits

1983: Madonna – "Burning Up" / "Physical Attraction" (Sire Records) – Cover art 1983: NV – "It's Alright" (Sire Records) – Art concept 1986: The Jamaica Girls – "On The Move" (Sire Records) – Cover art, Design