Bruce Keir

12 enero, 1961 - 14 septiembre, 2021

Biografía


On Tuesday the 14th September, Blackstar received the sad news that our co-Founder, technical mentor and friend Bruce Keir passed away. He died peacefully with his family at his side.

Bruce had been ill for some time, suffering from a form of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Bruce was born in Singapore on 12 January 1961 to parents Jill and Jock. He is survived by his brother and sister Bill and Jane and his twin children Elly and Archie.

Bruce’s father was a leading BBC radio engineer and growing up on the BBC World News relay station in Malaya afforded Bruce the opportunity (and discarded components) to pursue his passion for electronics from an early age.

Bruce’s early interest in audio and guitar electronics was inspired by his love of rock music and his older brother Bill’s successful rock band, Wolf. He gained his early valve experience working on Bill’s old Marshalls.

Bruce’s formal electronics education took place at Salford University where he would supplement his grant income back home in Cumbria, fixing local bands equipment and designing electronics for handmade bass legends Overwater. He also set up his own company, Excel Electronics Ltd from the loft of his parents’ home in Cumbria.

After graduation, Bruce moved to Milton Keynes commencing work with Marshall Amplification. He started his career as a Design Engineer before progressing to Chief Engineer and then Design Director, working directly with Jim Marshall for several years. During the 80s and 90s he was responsible for many of Marshall’s technological breakthroughs and leading products.

It was at Marshall during the late 90s, that Bruce met Ian Robinson, Paul Hayhoe and Richard Frost (the Four Bald Men) with whom he would eventually form Blackstar Amplification in 2007.

Bruce had an encyclopaedic knowledge of all aspects of electronics that cut across the traditional boundaries of solid state, valve and digital technology. He advocated a “proper engineering approach” that contrasted with the “guruism” that is often prevalent in guitar amp design – Blackstar adhere to these values today.

Bruce was extremely generous with sharing his knowledge and has mentored many up-and-coming electronics engineers including Blackstar M.D, Ian Robinson and Technical Director, Laurent Veignal.

Bruce designed all the original Blackstar products including Artisan, Series One and HT Pedals with me in Ian’s garden shed in Northampton. Bruce was the technical driving force behind all these designs which led to three patents. He also designed the original digital algorithms that became ID:Series and is the foundation of our digital strength today.

Under Bruce’s guidance Blackstar has established a world leading guitar technology R&D facility which invests constantly in researching guitar technology and driving forward innovation.

As well as business partner and mentor, Bruce was also a very close friend and played bass in a band with the founding Blackstar team (including Marketing Director Joel Richardson) for years.

Over the years, Bruce has been an inspiration to many, many
people and those who met him will remember the warmth, humour and gravitas of a truly unique individual. Blackstar will make sure his legacy is remembered, protected and strengthened.

Please visit the JustGiving page https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/brucekeir to donate to Alzheimer's Society

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Familia

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Nombre Bruce Keir
Fecha de nacimiento 12 enero, 1961
Fecha de defunción 14 septiembre, 2021
Ciudad de origen Singapore, SG 

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David Kline published a tribute .

I have loved Blackstar for a long time. My first was a ID Core 40. When I met Bruce at NAMM, He was very kind and many years later we would laugh and talk gear. He listened, he was a great person and will sadly be missed. I have loved Blackstar amps ever since. He was so kind and even complimented my playing. Hands me a blackstar T-shirt and hoodie. Although I don’t get the opportunity to know him well. I wished I had been able to do so. Fly on Bruce!

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Stefan Kuehn publicó un comentario .

I met Bruce in 2007 at his first music fair in Frankfurt for Blackstar Amplification - the beginning of our excellent collaboration as distributors in Germany and other EU countries. Bruce was always the quiet part in the background, usually leaving the stage to Ian, Paul and his other colleagues. However, I was always aware that he was a very important part of the team. The personal loss to his family, friends and colleagues is immeasurable and I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to them.

However, his great legacy will live on in future Blackstar products - they simply wouldn't exist without Bruce.

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Jaime Delgado Viñals published a tribute .

Thank you for your wonderful work, especially with the blackstar series one amps, which I enjoy so much and it fills me with happiness. Rest in peace.
(jimbo delgado)

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Steve Marks published a tribute .

I first met Bruce when I started working at Blackstar in 2013. I spent as much time as I could with him learning about guitar amps & what made Blackstar so special. Bruce was very generous with his time, especially with the ‘new guy’
I’d ask, “Bruce do you have a few minutes to explain this?” “Of Course” he’d say, come in my office.
I was lucky to travel to Australia in 2013 with Bruce to tour the country & visit some amazing guitar stores together. I would sit there in awe of his knowledge. My favourite memory is when we got to attend a George Benson show at the Sydney Opera House & we both fell asleep in our seats. It obviously wasn’t Rock n’ Roll or Loud enough.
The photo was taken visiting the Three Sisters lookout point near Sydney.
I’ll always crank Blackstar Amps loud in your honour mate.

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Andy Town published a tribute .

I remember driving Bruce home from a Marshall’s party when he was there. We were talking about Amps and said how cool his job must be.
He said he was setting up his own company as he wanted to make the amps how he’d like them to be.
I guess he achieved an ambition.
A sad loss R.I.P

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Adrian Fisher published a tribute .

I met Bruce through his brother Bill, who was renting a room in my flat in Penrith, Cumbria Bill asked me to try out a new gadget Bruce had designed called a “ Hotbox”which was a power attenuation device It was great and Bruce was a very talented guy I’m shocked he has gone, so young

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Bill Keir publicó un comentario .

Thanks Adrian - good to hear from you - Its been a long time!

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Orange Amplification published a tribute .

Our thoughts are with Bruce's friends, family and everyone at Blackstar Amplification. Another great mind has been taken from the music industry and at a far too young age. We will always have the greatest respect for the innovative and creative work Bruce brought to the UK amplification industry. He will be greatly missed. - from Cliff Cooper and the rest of the Orange Family.

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William J Keir publicó un comentario .

Thank you Cliff - Bruce and I were big Orange fans when we were at school!

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David Wilson published a tribute .

I was lucky to work along side Bruce at Overwater, Quiet genius with a wicked sense of fun . On a trip to the BMF late nineties when the rock world had perms and shoulder pads Bruce got up and out of his travel bag produced a sky blue home knit jumper , army pants that were a little to short and some well worn trainers , I said what are you going like that ? He gave the biggest smile I’ve ever seen “yes David” was his reply, He gave me a love of Rush and Kendal mint cake .
Sleep tight my friend xx

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Aljosa published a tribute .

I met Bruce in 2013 on my first interview for job at Blackstar company. We had some really nice discussion. We started on a technical note and then moved to more philosophical about life and it's way. Later I moved from Slovenia to UK and started to work at Blackstar where he introduced me into engineering of guitar amps and the bussines with all secrets behind the scenes. He was very remarkable person with a lot of knowledge, experiences and information yet polite and humble. He challenged me on every step so that I had to doubt all my decisions and take a look on them from the other perspective. It might felt a bit annoying at that time that because I didn't understood his purpose but now I am grateful for that as I had learned so many things from his mentoring. His jokes were a great insight into learning about Britains culture.

Thank you and godspeed Bruce!

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