BEST BOOTLEGGER

America's Top Taper

An hour before Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood take the stage at Madison Square Garden in February, Mike Barnard (not his real name) is examining the security guards outside the arena. Many look carefully inside people's bags and pat the fans down, but an older female guard seems distracted. Engaged in a conversation with a co-worker, she's hardly looking at the throngs pouring past her. Barnard quickly makes his move. She barely glances inside his book bag as he calmly passes through the turnstile. The only thing inside the bag is a black cap, but a careful pat-down would have revealed $5,700 worth of recording equipment concealed under his armpit. Read More...

Photo: Michael Pirrocco

Check out everything ruling the rock universe in 2008