The Portal
Peter Shapiro (22 August 1969–2 July 2025)
July 2025

The US author and former Wire contributor and staff member has died after a long illness
The US author and former Wire contributor and staff member has died after a long illness
The Wire Salon returns in April with the first of three events exploring the relationship of AI and music. In advance, read Emily Bick’s 2023 interview with composer patten in which he discusses using AI-generated samples to map music’s infinite complexities
The UK outsider singer-songwriter has died aged 81. As a tribute, we have made Rob Young’s 2005 interview in The Wire 253 free to read in our online library.
The influential grime producer Terror Danjah (real name Rodney Pryce) has died. As a tribute, we have made his Invisible Jukebox interview with Joe Muggs that appeared in The Wire 343 available to read for free in our online magazine library.
The US pedal steel guitarist passed away suddenly in January. As a tribute, we have made Peter Margasak’s 2020 interview in The Wire 442 free to read in our online magazine library.
The US filmmaker has died aged 78. As a tribute, we have made the extended cover feature on Lynch that appeared in The Wire 486 free to read in our online library. The feature includes a cover designed by Lynch, an interview with the director and his music collaborator Chrystabell, and 12 pages of essays exploring the unique sound world created by his films.
The Indian tabla virtuoso died on 15 December aged 73. In December 2000 he was interviewed for the cover story of The Wire 202, discussing his work with John McLaughlin, Pharoah Sanders, Bill Laswell and Talvin Singh. As a tribute, we have made the article free to read in our online library.
The American singer, guitarist and political activist died on 20 October aged 97. As a tribute we have made Emily Pothast’s 2023 interview with Dane free to read in our online magazine library.
Dean Roberts died aged 49 on 10 August. As a tribute to the New Zealand born, Berlin based nomadic avantist, we have made Jon Dale's 2008 interview with Roberts free to read via our online magazine library.
Irène Schweizer died on 16 July 2024 aged 83. As a tribute to the pianist and founder member of The Feminist Improvising Group we have made her 1985 interview with Graham Lock and her 2016 Epiphanies essay, co-written with Maggie Nicols and Joëlle Léandre, free to read in our online library
To mark the 100th birthday of saxophonist Marshall Allen on 25 May, we have made three articles featuring the Sun Ra Arkestra bandleader free to read in our online library: Allen’s Invisible Jukebox from 2004, a 2015 interview by David Keenan, and Val Wilmer’s 2014 essay on Allen's formative time in Paris during the 1940s.
30 years ago, in April 1994, Steve Albini took The Wire’s Invisible Jukebox test, offering up his unbridled opinion on tracks by Black Sabbath, John Zorn, Throbbing Gristle, The Raincoats and more. As a tribute to Steve, who died on 7 May, we have made the interview free to read in our online library.
The Scottish Danish musician maps out the texts, sounds and places that steered and informed the writing of her new album World Of Work
Following Shabaka Hutchings’ adoption of the shakuhachi flute, which features heavily in his new album Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace, Clive Bell discusses other players and significant recordings featuring the instrument
Alan Tomlinson died on 13 February aged 76. As a tribute to the UK trombonist and improvisor we have made Mike Barnes's 2018 interview from The Wire 413 free to read in our online library.
Contributor Abi Bliss selects pieces of writing from The Wire’s back pages featuring Laurie Anderson, MF DOOM, Robert Wyatt, Matmos, Evan Parker, Iannis Xenakis, Annea Lockwood, and more. All selected articles are available to read in The Wire’s digital library with a Wire print or digital subscription.