A collection of tributes to the late former editor of The Wire, who died August 2007

Mark Sinker uncovers ideas in black music - about present identity and future possibility - that run counter to all the comfortable old stories. This article was originally published in The Wire 96 (February 1992).

What's the connection between Neil Young, Lou Reed, Miles Davis, Marvin Gaye, David Bowie, Frank Zappa and John & Yoko? They are all contract breakers, stars who got sick of playing the music industry fame game. Mark Sinker listens to the musicians who pissed off their record companies and fans alike. This article originally appeared in The Wire 148 (June 1996).