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Bruce Fairbairn
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Bruce Earl Fairbairn (December 30, 1949 - May 17, 1999) was a Canadian rock music producer who was prominent during the 1980s and 1990s. His style was notable for the introduction of dynamic horn arrangements in the context of hard rock bands such as Bon Jovi, Van Halen, Aerosmith and Loverboy.
bairn was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and learned to play the trumpet; as a teen he appeared in local R&B groups.
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Encyclopedia
Bruce Earl Fairbairn (December 30, 1949 - May 17, 1999) was a Canadian rock music producer who was prominent during the 1980s and 1990s. His style was notable for the introduction of dynamic horn arrangements in the context of hard rock bands such as Bon Jovi, Van Halen, Aerosmith and Loverboy.
Career
Early career
Fairbairn was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and learned to play the trumpet; as a teen he appeared in local R&B groups. At the age of 30 he won three Canadian Juno "Producer of the Year" awards for his work on his band Prism's 1980 album Young and Restless. Loverboy's self-titled debut album began his career of hits with "Turn Me Loose" and "The Kid Is Hot Tonite." His work for Blue Öyster Cult (1983's The Revölution by Night) and Krokus' (1984 The Blitz) made him a well-known hard-rock producer. With protegé Bob Rock, Fairbairn established Vancouver's Little Mountain Sound Studios.
International success
In 1986 Fairbairn produced Bon Jovi's Slippery When Wet, which to date, sold over twenty-six million copies. His next major production, Aerosmith's 1987 album Permanent Vacation, generated a series of hits including "Dude (Looks Like a Lady)", "Angel" and "Rag Doll". Fairbairn also produced the band's follow-up, 1989's Pump, which had sales in excess of seven million and was widely acclaimed by critics.
The 1990s saw Fairbairn working with a string of internationally influential hard rock acts. 1990 brought AC/DC's The Razor's Edge, as well as Poison's Flesh and Blood. In 1993, he produced another Aerosmith commercial smash, Get a Grip, which racked up sales of seven million and solidified the band's growing representation as international media stars. Next Fairbairn produced the Scorpions' Face the Heat; and in 1995 Van Halen's Balance. In late 1996 and through early 1997 he produced INXS' "comeback" album Elegantly Wasted which while garnering mixed reviews, obtained sales that were higher than INXS' previous albums. A year later, Fairbairn produced The Cranberries (To the Faithful Departed), and Psycho Circus a 1998-reunion of KISS. His last fully-completed project was The Atomic Fireballs Torch This Place for Atlantic Records.
Death
After completing recording sessions for a forthcoming release from Yes (The Ladder), on May 17, 1999 Fairbairn was found dead by Jon Anderson in his Vancouver home. He was survived by his wife Julie, with whom he had three sons: Scott, Kevin and Brent. A memorial, "A Celebration of the Life of Bruce Earl Fairbairn", held at the Vancouver Chan Centre was attended by more than 300 people. Highlighted by reminiscences from close friends, the event included musical performances from Jon Anderson and Steve Howe performing the song "Nine Voices" from Yes' The Ladder sessions, as well as Tom Keenleyside, David Sinclair and finally, "Taps" played on Bruce's trumpet by son Brent.
Production Discography
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