Ian Bairnson of the band Pilot. An overview of his career. Includes Kate Bush. Alan Parsons Project

[@bigzach1000]

"Never plugged anything between the guitar and the amp..." Amazing. No one else can play like Ian Bairnson. The tone and inventive solos are completely unique.

[@PhilosopherRock2020]

I agree. I enjoy his harmony and tone. What a loss he was to the music world.

[@generaljj71]

The 70s had so many greats. Another legend passing RIP Ian

[@PhilosopherRock2020]

True. We are losing so many now. That is why we do this show.

[@debbiescott6732]

So sad of his passing. 💔

[@jasonwooler801]

Great doco mate. You’re a great story teller.

[@PhilosopherRock2020]

Thank you!

[@billtaylorsmith1]

Knew Ian since 1968 we were both in the music biz, great player and good friend RIP mate.

[@PhilosopherRock2020]

Can you tell us more about that? Very interested.

[@alancollard8939]

came across ian through alan parsons project, didnt know he played on kate bush , got to hear some pilot , i lost a lot of music time when i left london in 73

[@PhilosopherRock2020]

Allan, the beauty of You Tube and other music streamers is we can go back and catch up on any year or decade.

[@michelguitarist]

Thanks for this beautiful video ! I always loved his guitar playing ! I saw hem 3 times life in Antwerp. Amazing guitarist!

[@PhilosopherRock2020]

That would have been cool. I never got to see them.

[@michaelhiggs8657]

The guitar solo on Trembling from Morin Heights was awesome!

[@PhilosopherRock2020]

To this day I am still amazed at his ability for simple sounding harmony style solos. Im not saying they are simple 😃

[@rhorto01]

Alan Parsons released a number of albums after the days of the Project were over. Of special note is the 1996 album On Air which featured Ian not only on guitar but also as the main songwriter. It is an under appreciated album. In particular the track "Brother Up in Heaven" is gorgeous. I also always liked Ian's guitar work on the soundtrack to the movie Ladyhawke.

[@PhilosopherRock2020]

Good additional info. Thank you.

[@richardbudniak6]

Very sad loss. The last i met Ian was in Kenny McAlpines music shop down the high street in Edinburgh as our band Eli Kyte were heading for Germany in 1969. We used to play many gigs at the Art Colĺege and Edinburgh University alongside his band East West. We were called Clockmill Lane back then. Ive admired his playing for many years.

[@PhilosopherRock2020]

I always enjoy hearing stories like these Richard. So even in 1969 Brit. Bands were heading for Germany? At that same time, Aussie bands were heading for the UK. Or returning.😀

[@paulsimpson2060]

Great, informative piece, thank you.

[@PhilosopherRock2020]

My pleasure!

[@meecob]

Good information. Cheers Aussie fella

[@PhilosopherRock2020]

To you too! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@standingbadger]

Great vid mate 👍. Ian Bairnson is one of my all-time favourite guitarists. His outro solo on Wuthhering Heights is one of the best ever created.

[@PhilosopherRock2020]

I agree. One of my favourites. That outro is one I want to go on and on. I also put his solo on APP "wouldnt wanna be like you" in the same class. Short, melodic and catchy. But again I want more. Thanks for your comment.

[@isobeljames1328]

​@@PhilosopherRock2020music and lyrics by Kate Bush, produced by Andrew Powell. Don't want to be brutal, but an album is the creation of the producer... Bairnson didn't create the solo, he played the solo Just a...... Fact.

[@bunjijumper5345]

I love maps, especially looking at islands seemingly remote, I love to see people from nowhere make it big. His long career speaks volumes about his talent, especially fond of his work with the incredible Kate Bush

[@PhilosopherRock2020]

Me too Bunji! I enjoy looking at far away places and the internet allows us to travel there.

[@ronbooth1382]

Thank you for this - Ian has been a great influence to me and many of his elements show up in my own music.

[@PhilosopherRock2020]

Ron, I suspect he has influenced a number of musos, and some probably don't even know it. Thanks for your comment. More episodes coming soon.

[@r2d2201011]

great!

[@budgetguitarist]

Ian is my all time favorite guitar player. I've learned so much from his playing and it continues to amaze me.

[@PhilosopherRock2020]

Glad to hear it. A number of people has said the same thing. What a loss he truly is to the muso community.

[@nicmart]

A single from the third album, One Good Reason Why, was released in the US and got no play. The album is still not available for streaming in the US, but Paton and Bairnson re-recorded it as Blue Yonder and released it in 2001. BY is also not available for streaming in the USA, maybe for copyright reasons. David Paton has several more contemporary albums on streaming that are of the Pilot type. The 2014 album, A Pilot Project, includes Bairnson.

[@PhilosopherRock2020]

Good info. Thank you.

[@Alex-je1ll]

Ian was one of my favorite guitarists. His solos were very melodic. I was truly shocked when I learned about his passing. P.S. What is the music at the end of this video? Really great! Never heard it before.

[@PhilosopherRock2020]

Alex, that is exactly why I loved Ian's solos. The song at the end of this episode is 'Same Chain' by Acrolith. Cheers! acrolith.bandcamp.com/

[@ralphmuller6040]

Ian's passing hit me pretty hard. 💔 He's always featured in my favourite top 3 melodic guitar players along with Gilmour and Laurie Wisefield. BTW: after his passing I compiled a tribute/medley of all his APP solos into a KZbin video. It's a VERY basic production as it is my first upload. It's also under a different 'profile' name. For anyone interested it's here....kzbin.info/www/bejne/p2rQfZyaaZhrnrc

[@PhilosopherRock2020]

Awesome I will have a listen

[@mauriciomontez369]

Thank you for sharing

[@Pokav1deo]

Embarrassed to say I only recently discovered him via the Wuthering Heights solo. Which album featuring his work might you recommend I pick up next? Thanks in advance for any recommendations.

[@ralphmuller6040]

Try any of the Alan Parsons Project albums.@@Pokav1deo

[@PhilosopherRock2020]

@@Pokav1deo You could try watching this maybe: kzbin.info/www/bejne/haS0dISNq92Sa9k

[@TheHumbuckerboy]

The Sun newspaper reported a couple of days ago that Ian's guitar and amp collection was to be auctioned . His Les Paul Custom that he recorded the solo on Wuthering Heights with was being valued at about £10,000 . that actually seems too low of a price IMO.

[@PhilosopherRock2020]

I need to research this. I agree 10K sounds rather cheap. Thanks for the tip!

[@graemebrown2413]

Thanks GK. Eye in the Sky is my favourite APP Album. How much contribution did Bairnson & Paton make to that Album??

[@PhilosopherRock2020]

Hi Graeme. Paton sings lead vocal on "Children of the Moon" and Bairnson is credited with guitars on the whole album as far as I am aware. I didnt mention "Eye in the Sky" so I am glad you brought it up. Thanks!

[@MrCherryJuice]

Ian's playing and tone were exquisite and so complementary to whatever tunes he played. The link below is video of Pilot live, with plenty of playing from Ian. I particularly love the solo in 'Penny in Your Pocket', which reveals his rhythmic picking, great note choices and truly melodic style. kzbin.info/www/bejne/haS0dISNq92Sa9k

[@PhilosopherRock2020]

Good show and a good tune to point out Mr Juice.

[@spumemonk11]

Only discovered Ian's Guitar playing recently. I'd rather play like Ian than the likes of Steve Vai etc. Such a melodic player.

[@PhilosopherRock2020]

I think his melodic approach is what makes his work so interesting to the ear.