Q Magazine – The 100 Greatest Stars of the 20th Century

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Toward the close of the 20th century, British music magazine Q asked its readers to vote on the greatest stars of the 20th century. Here were the results:

1. John Lennon
2. Paul McCartney
3. Kurt Cobain
4. Bob Dylan
5. Elvis Presley
6. David Bowie
7. Madonna
8. Noel Gallagher
9. Liam Gallagher
10. Michael Stipe

11. Keith Richards
12. Bob Marley
13. Freddie Mercury
14. Frank Sinatra
15. Jimi Hendrix
16. Thom Yorke
17. Aretha Franklin
18. Bono
19. James Brown
20. Brian Wilson

21. Robert Johnson
22. Mick Jagger
23. Iggy Pop
24. Joe Strummer
25. Marvin Gaye
26. Ringo Starr
27. Little Richard
28. Chuck D
29. Joni Mitchell
30. George Michael

31. Richard Ashcroft
32. Richey Edwards
33. Kate Bush
34. Patti Smith
35. Bruce Springsteen
36. George Harrison
37. Stevie Wonder
38. Jarvis Cocker
39. Marc Bolan
40. Dr. Dre

41. Morrissey
42. Cerys Matthews
43. Nick Drake
44. Charlie Parker
45. Neil Young
46. Debbie Harry
47. Pete Townshend
48. John “Johnny Rotten” Lydon
49. Ray Davies
50. Captain Beefheart

51. Paul Weller
52. Miles Davis
53. Ian Curtis
54. Brian Eno
55. Rod Stewart
56. Nicky Wire
57. Hank Williams
58. Jimmy Page
59. Lou Reed
60. Duke Ellington

61. Phil Spector
62. Paul Simon
63. Woody Guthrie
64. Ralf Hutter
65. Sam Cooke
66. Jim Morrison
67. Prince
68. Shaun Ryder
69. Lee “Scratch” Perry
70. Syd Barrett

71. Brian Jones
72. Keith Moon
73. Youssou N’Dour
74. Roger Waters
75. Buddy Holly
76. Billie Holiday
77. Robert Plant
78. Bez
79. Diana Ross
80. Sting

81. Louis Armstrong
82. Igory Stravinksy
83. Eric Clapton
84. John Squire
85. Liam Howlett
86. Lauryn Hill
87. Fela Kuti
88. Serge Gainsbourg
89. Damon Albarn
90. Sylvester “Sly Stone” Stewart

91. Muddy Waters
92. Claudy Debussy
93. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
94. Elvis Costello
95. Johnny Marr
96. Ozzy Osbourne
97. Frank Zappa
98. Ian Brown
99. Bryan Ferry
100. Ravi Shankar

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Resources:

• rocklistmusic.co.uk: The 100 Greatest Stars of the 20th Century

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