Bruce Fairbairn was one of the most successful and influential record producers of the 1980s and 1990s. He worked with some of the biggest names in rock music, such as Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, AC/DC, Van Halen, and many more. He was known for his meticulous and disciplined approach, as well as his ability to introduce dynamic horn arrangements into rock music productions. He won three Juno Awards for Producer of the Year and was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame. However, his brilliant career was cut short by his sudden and unexpected death on May 17, 1999, at the age of 49. What was the cause of his death and what were the circumstances surrounding it? This article will explore the mystery behind Bruce Fairbairn’s demise and the legacy he left behind.
Early Life and Career
Bruce Fairbairn was born on December 30, 1949, in Vancouver, Canada. He started playing the trumpet at the age of five and became classically trained on the instrument. He also learned to play the piano and formed his first band, The Spectres, when he was in high school. He graduated with an honours degree in biology from the University of British Columbia in 1970 and then pursued a master’s degree in environmental planning, which he completed in 1974. He also worked for BC Hydro, a provincial utility company, while trying to launch his music career.
In 1976, he formed a new band called Sunshyne with former bandmate Jim Vallance and guitarist Lindsay Mitchell. They changed their name to Prism and signed a record deal with GRT Records. Fairbairn produced their debut album, Prism, in 1977, which reached platinum status in Canada. He continued to produce their next three albums, See Forever Eyes, Armageddon, and Young and Restless, which were also commercially successful and spawned several hit songs. He won his first Juno Award for Producer of the Year in 1980 for Armageddon, according to The Canadian Encyclopedia.
Rise to Fame and Fortune
In the early 1980s, Fairbairn decided to focus on producing other artists rather than performing himself. He established himself as one of the most sought-after producers in the industry, working with such acts as Loverboy, Honeymoon Suite, Blue Öyster Cult, Poison, and Krokus. He developed a reputation for being a perfectionist and a taskmaster, demanding the best from his clients and himself. He was nicknamed “the school teacher” by some of the bands he worked with, according to Wikipedia.
His breakthrough came in 1986, when he produced Slippery When Wet by Bon Jovi, which sold over 20 million copies worldwide and spawned four top 10 singles, including “You Give Love a Bad Name” and “Livin’ on a Prayer”. He followed that success with New Jersey by Bon Jovi in 1988, which sold over 18 million copies and featured five top 10 singles, including “Bad Medicine” and “I’ll Be There for You”. He also produced Permanent Vacation, Pump, and Get a Grip by Aerosmith, which sold over 35 million copies combined and revitalized the band’s career. He won two more Juno Awards for Producer of the Year in 1987 and 1990 for Slippery When Wet and Pump, respectively.
In the 1990s, Fairbairn continued to work with some of the biggest names in rock music, such as AC/DC, Scorpions, Van Halen, Chicago, The Cranberries, INXS, Kiss, and Yes. He produced The Razors Edge by AC/DC in 1990, which sold over 12 million copies and featured the hit songs “Thunderstruck” and “Moneytalks”. He also produced Balance by Van Halen in 1995, which sold over 3 million copies and topped the Billboard 200 chart. He was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1997 and the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame in 1998, according to BC Entertainment Hall of Fame.
Sudden Death and Aftermath
In 1999, Fairbairn was working on the ninth studio album by Yes, titled The Ladder, at his home studio in Vancouver. He had completed most of the production work and was preparing to fly to Los Angeles to mix the album. On May 17, 1999, he was found dead in his bed by his wife, Julie Glover. The cause of his death was unknown and no autopsy was performed, according to Wikipedia. Some sources speculated that he might have died from a heart attack, an aneurysm, or a drug overdose, but none of these theories were confirmed. He was survived by his wife and three sons, Scott, Kevin, and Brent.
Fairbairn’s death shocked and saddened the music industry and his fans. Many of the artists he worked with paid tribute to him and expressed their gratitude for his contributions to their careers. The Ladder by Yes was released posthumously in September 1999 and dedicated to his memory. The album featured a song called “Homeworld (The Ladder)”, which was inspired by a video game that Fairbairn had shown to the band. The song included a sample of Fairbairn’s voice saying “OK, let’s roll” at the beginning, which was his trademark phrase before starting a recording session.
Fairbairn’s legacy as one of the most successful and influential record producers of his era remains intact. He is widely regarded as the “king of heavy metal producers” and one of the best of his generation. He helped shape the sound and style of many rock bands and created some of the most iconic and memorable albums and songs of the 1980s and 1990s. He was known for his professionalism, creativity, and passion for music. He left behind a rich and diverse body of work that continues to inspire and entertain millions of listeners around the world.
