Bruce Fairbairn

Bruce Earl Fairbairn (December 30, 1949 - May 17, 1999) was 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, 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 protege 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

*1977: Prism - "Prism
*1978: Prism - "See Forever Eyes
*1979: Prism - "Armageddon
*1980: Prism - "Young and Restless"
*1980: Loverboy - "Loverboy" (2x Platinum)
*1980: The Skids - Days in Europa (Second Version)
*1981: Loverboy - "Get Lucky
*1982: Strange Advance - "Worlds Away"
*1983: Blue Öyster Cult - "The Revölution by Night"
*1983: Loverboy - "Keep It Up
*1984: Krokus - "The Blitz" (Gold)
*1985: Black n' Blue - "Without Love
*1985: Honeymoon Suite - "The Big Prize"
*1986: Bon Jovi - "Slippery When Wet" (12x Platinum)
*1987: Aerosmith - "Permanent Vacation" (5x Platinum)
*1987: Rock and Hyde - "Under the Volcano"
*1987: Loverboy - "Wildside
*1988: Dan Reed Network
*1988: Bon Jovi - "New Jersey" (7x Platinum)
*1989: Aerosmith - "Pump" (7x Platinum)
*1989: "Stairway to Heaven/Highway to Hell"
*1990: AC/DC - "The Razors Edge" (5x Platinum)
*1990: Paul Laine - "Stick it in Your Ear
*1990: Poison - "Flesh and Blood" (3x Platinum)
*1991: Dan Reed Network - "The Heat
*1991: AC/DC - "Live
*1993: Aerosmith - "Get a Grip" (7x Platinum)
*1993: Scorpions - "Face the Heat"
*1994: Jackyl - "Push Comes to Shove" (Gold)
*1995: Van Halen - "Balance" (3x Platinum)
*1995: Chicago - "
*1996: The Cranberries - "To the Faithful Departed" (2x Platinum)
*1997: INXS - "Elegantly Wasted"
*1998: KISS - "Psycho Circus" (Gold)
*1998: Atomic Fireballs - "Torch This Place"
*1999: Yes - "The Ladder"