The 58-year-old, who passed away this morning, spent a quarter of a century covering music via a variety of newspapers, magazines and radio stations, including presenter of Radio 3's Mixing It and Late Junction programmes and as a writer for Q and GQ.

He became the Sunday Times' rock critic in 1988, while later added TV presenting to his talents by working for Anglia Television and VH1.

In 1996 he surprised many by agreeing to take up a post as ...