Dave Cairns

For other persons named David Cairns, see David Cairns

Dave Cairns
Cairns in 1978
Background information
Born	15 November 1958
Origin	London, England
Genres	Mod revival Rock music
Years active	1979–1982
Labels	I-Spy
Associated acts	Secret Affair New Hearts The Flag Walk On Fire
Website	Official Secret Affair site
Notable instruments
Fender Telecaster

Dave Cairns (born 15 November 1958, Walthamstow, London) is an English rock guitarist and songwriter, best known for his role in the 1970s/1980s band Secret Affair. The writer of the band's biggest hits, he was known for his intense guitar style.^{[citation needed]}

Background and early career

The son of an Epping Forest GP, Cairns was first inspired to take up the guitar after an enounter at a local nightclub with BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel, who recommended the teenager listen to a Lynyrd Skynyrd album.^{[citation needed]} He was also inspired by a live performance by The Who at Charlton Athletic's football ground in 1976 and while at sixth form teamed up with singer Ian Page, forming power pop/punk band New Hearts. The band signed to CBS Records in 1977, releasing two singles and touring with The Jam, before being released from their recording contract in mid-1978, although their un-released album,'New Hearts,A Secret Affair, The CBS Sessions was finally released on Cherry Red Records, October 2009.

Secret Affair

After the demise of the New Hearts, Cairns continued to work with Page, forming Secret Affair. The two songwriters spent the second half of 1978 writing songs that would form the basis of the first two Secret Affair albums. In a period of a little over two years, the band posted five releases in the UK Singles Chart, and released three albums. The debut single "Time For Action" sold 198,000 copies^[1] and reached number 13 in the UK chart in 1979, putting them at the forefront of the mod revival movement. More chart success followed with "Let Your Heart Dance", "My World" and "Sound Of Confusion". Although Cairns and Page would often write together, three of the band's biggest chart hits ("Time For Action", "My World" and "Sound Of Confusion") were written by Cairns alone.

Later career

After the split of Secret Affair in 1982, Cairns formed The Flag with singer Archie Brown, signing to Scotti Brothers Records/CBS in the U.S. Relocating to Los Angeles for a year, the band toured supporting A Flock of Seagulls and released the U.S. only album, Flag.

Cairns subsequently teamed up with Scottish singer Alan King in Walk on Fire, writing the majority of the band's material and playing keyboards on their live tours. Signing to MCA in the U.S., they released the album Blind Faith in 1990 and toured supporting Foreigner, Nils Lofgren, and the Dan Reed Network. In 1992 he moved away from playing and joined Gibson Guitars as Special Projects & Events manager, promoting Gibson shows around the world; in particular UK charity events promoted by Harvey Goldsmith in aid of The Prince's Trust, and developing new custom guitar models for artists such as Jimmy Page and Noel Gallagher.

Secret Affair reunion

In 2002 he once again teamed up with Page to reform Secret Affair, initially for three concerts in the UK, including a performance at London's Shepherds Bush Empire. They returned in June the following year, playing at The Scala in London to promote the release of Time For Action: The Anthology (Sanctuary), a major CD retrospective of hits, rarities and previously unreleased tracks. The concert was filmed and released on DVD.

In 2005 Page and Cairns attempted to mend their sometimes fractious relationship and started work on a fourth Secret Affair album, recording five new songs. The album remains unfinished and unreleased as of July 2008^[update]. In the meantime Cairns has started to make occasional solo appearances, playing at the 2006 and 2007 Small Faces Conventions and playing at charity events in aid of Cancer Research and the British Thyroid Foundation. He performed again with Secret Affair at The Isle of Wight Scooter Rally, on 22 August, The Astoria 2, London, on 13 September 2008 and The Small Faces Convention, Islington Academy, 21 September 2008. Dave Cairns continues to perform regularly with Secret Affair from 2009 to the current day playing UK dates and shows in Dublin, Madrid & Moscow & Tokyo.

In the past Cairns has written and produced music for TV commercials, including Lee Cooper, Toyota, Ford, and Raymond Weil.

References

1. ^ Time For Action: The Anthology (Sanctuary) sleeve note by Chris Hunt

• Guinness Book of British Hit Singles - 16th Edition - ISBN 0-85112-190-X
• Guinness Book of British Hit Albums - 7th Edition - ISBN 0-85112-619-7
• Sleevenotes to the Sony/BMG Records CD reissues of Glory Boys, Behind Closed Door and Business As Usual, by Chris Hunt
• The Mod Revival The story of the Mod Revival, by Chris Hunt, published in the New Musical Express Mod special edition, April 2005

External links

• Secret Affair Official band site

Persondata
Name	Cairns, Dave
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	15 November 1958
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death