Neil Sparkes (1967–2026)

A great spark – the great Neil Sparkes – has gone out. Born in Crayford and raised in Kent, Neil was a fire-starter. He made art that fizzed and sizzled. He was ablaze with a creative energy that shot out in all directions. He was a polymath: a writer, artist, poet and percussionist, producer, composer, performer and festival compère. His presence lit up the Siam Tent at WOMAD for 20 years, and the main stage at Musicport in Whitby. He'd stride onto the stage like a boss, in his porkpie hat, with his movie star good looks and that stentorian voice that went straight through you, fuelled by a charisma that shimmered past the people at the back. He loved life, Neil, and fed his soul with books (he loved Kerouac, Hemingway, Rilke), music (from Mingus to Kwesi Johnson) and art he appreciated and made (I have an Afro-Cuban-inspired print of his on my wall). He was vocalist and percussionist with indie dance legends Transglobal Underground, with whom he toured the world from 1992 until 1996. He worked with Peter Gabriel, Natacha Atlas, The Stranglers, Jah Wobble and more, and formed Temple of Sound with both his Transglobal bandmate Nick Page and his close friend and longtime collaborator Terry Neale, before establishing his solo act Neil Sparkes and the Last Tribe. I knew him from a 1990s house share in Brixton, then as a fellow WOMAD compère. In many ways he looked like a geezer, what with the fags, keychains and swagger, but he was also a softie who posted photos of blossom, clouds and fox cubs. We sent him off at the Sailors’ Church in Ramsgate, the great Sparkes, off to glint and gleam somewhere else, maybe somewhere close. Father to Scarlett, partner to Nikki, friend to all. Go well, asere. We love you. JANE CORNWELL