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The Primer: Fred Frith

January 2024

To coincide with his interview with the British composer, improvisor and multi-instrumentalist in The Wire 479/480, Clive Bell compiles a primer of works from Fred Frith’s vast discography

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From The Archive by Neil Kulkarni

January 2024

The Wire is deeply saddened to hear of the death of writer Neil Kulkarni. Neil was one of the UK’s most original and distinctive music critics. He had been writing for The Wire since the early 2000s, and just last week filed this online essay, in which he picks his favourite writing from The Wire’s back pages. We publish it now as a tribute to Neil. RIP.

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From The Archive by John Morrison

November 2023

Contributor John Morrison selects pieces of writing from The Wire’s back pages featuring hiphop mixtapes, Can, Meg Baird & Mary Lattimore, Steinski, and more. All selected articles are available to read in The Wire’s digital library with a print or digital subscription

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Carla Bley (11 May 1936–17 October 2023)

October 2023

As a tribute to the jazz pianist and composer who has died aged 87 we have made three articles in our online library free to read. The first two articles comprised the cover story of the second issue of the magazine published in 1982; the third is a guide to Bley’s recordings published in 2021.

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From The Archive by Frances Morgan

September 2023

Contributor Frances Morgan compiles an annotated list of some of The Wire's Once Upon A Time In... special features that tell the stories of significant and localised scenes in underground music history. All selected articles are available to read in The Wire’s digital library with a print or digital subscription.

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From The Archive by Marc Masters

August 2023

Contributor Marc Masters selects ten of his favourite Invisible Jukebox interviews from The Wire’s back pages featuring Sunny Murray, Derek Bailey, Jaimie Branch, Lydia Lunch, and more. All selected articles are available to read in The Wire’s digital library with a Wire print or digital subscription.

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Peter Brötzmann (6 March 1941–22 June 2023)

June 2023

As a tribute to the German saxophonist who has died at the age of 82, we have made David Keenan’s epic two-part 2012 interview, as well as Daniel Spicer’s Primer guide to Brötzmann’s many recordings, free to read in our online library

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From the archive: The Fall

May 2023

Wire subscribers can explore this selection of past features on The Fall and Mark E Smith from The Wire's back pages in our online library

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Mark Stewart (10 August 1960–21 April 2023)

April 2023

Agit-Pop Group leader and sonic rule-breaker Mark Stewart died on 21 April aged 62. Read Mark Fisher’s interview with Stewart from The Wire 293 and Adrian Sherwood’s Epiphany from The Wire 445 free in our online library

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The Primer: Dave Lombardo

April 2023

To coincide with his interview with the former Slayer drummer in The Wire 471, Phil Freeman compiles a primer of works from Dave Lombardo's vast discography