August 03

 Ian Bairnson

August 3, 1953 – April 7, 2023

The distinctive textures of guitar arrangements became a cornerstone for Pilot when Ian Bairnson stepped into the permanent lineup in 1974. He originally played as a session player on their debut record but quickly locked in as an official band member. His smooth harmony parts fueled major pop hits like Magic and January. When the original lineup began fracturing, he remained a crucial piece of the studio roster until they split in 1977.

Beyond that group, he found his most enduring musical home by anchoring the studio recordings of The Alan Parsons Project. He contributed guitar to every single one of their albums from 1976 to 1987. His fluid solos and melodic style energized iconic tracks throughout the late seventies and into the next decade. As a highly sought-after studio session player, he also delivered the famous, soaring guitar solo on Kate Bush's 1978 breakthrough track Wuthering Heights. He kept creating music with Alan Parsons on tour and in the studio well into the 1990s and 2000s.

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