John Rebus and the frequent popular music references and thoughts that Ian Rankin weaves into the stories. However, Rebus' reliance on alcohol is evident and he is often seen drinking in the Oxford Bar. Also, in the television series Rebus is portrayed as being a supporter of Hibernian. This is not found in Ian Rankin's books, he having stated outside the books that Rebus is a Raith Rovers supporter.Rebus's Fife accent is softened as well; in the novel "Tooth and Nail", London Metropolitan Police colleagues find it difficult to understand his speech. Alexander Morton played Rebus in a 1999 BBC Radio 4
Connection (The Rolling Stones song) was performed many times by NRPS, with Jerry Garcia and Marmaduke Dawson singing. In the book Black and Blue (1997) by Ian Rankin, police inspector John Rebus, upon hearing Montrose's recording of Connection in a bar during a murder investigation, calls it, "one of the very best cover versions of a Stones song". Connection (The Rolling Stones song) "Connection" is a song by British rock and roll band The Rolling Stones, featured on their 1967 album "Between the Buttons". It was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards (but mostly Richards), features vocals by both of them and is said