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Mojo magazine's list of the 100 Greatest Music Stars of All Time!
āThe first time I met him, he completely disarmed me by asking to have his picture taken with me,ā says U2ās Bono, remembering his first encounter with his icon Bob Dylan. Earlier this year, the music-loving public were invited to nominate their rockānāroll icons. Via thousands of emails, text messages and votes cast via the O2 website, the nominations were collated and the final 100 stars are presented and counted down in this special edition magazine.
Throughout, youāll find striking images of Bono, Dylan, Madonna, Kurt Cobain, Eminem, Thom Yorke, John Lennon and 93 others, taken by the worldās greatest photographers. More than that, youāll find many of these musical heroes also talking about the icons who have inspired, amused, sometimes infuriated but always mattered to them.
We also delve into their back catalogues to discover the greatest songs, albums and more by each artist. Find out which rock stars are the biggest music fans: which Elton John album Elvis Costello canāt live without, what Morrissey thinks about Robbie Williams, which fresh-faced modern pop star ravaged old rocker Iggy Pop is desperate to work with and just who Dave Grohl believes is the real king of rockānāroll (a clue: itās not Elvis. Or a Beatle.) Have fun.
The Editors,
November 2004
āThe first time I met him, he completely disarmed me by asking to have his picture taken with me,ā says U2ās Bono, remembering his first encounter with his icon Bob Dylan. Earlier this year, the music-loving public were invited to nominate their rockānāroll icons. Via thousands of emails, text messages and votes cast via the O2 website, the nominations were collated and the final 100 stars are presented and counted down in this special edition magazine.
Throughout, youāll find striking images of Bono, Dylan, Madonna, Kurt Cobain, Eminem, Thom Yorke, John Lennon and 93 others, taken by the worldās greatest photographers. More than that, youāll find many of these musical heroes also talking about the icons who have inspired, amused, sometimes infuriated but always mattered to them.
We also delve into their back catalogues to discover the greatest songs, albums and more by each artist. Find out which rock stars are the biggest music fans: which Elton John album Elvis Costello canāt live without, what Morrissey thinks about Robbie Williams, which fresh-faced modern pop star ravaged old rocker Iggy Pop is desperate to work with and just who Dave Grohl believes is the real king of rockānāroll (a clue: itās not Elvis. Or a Beatle.) Have fun.
The Editors,
November 2004
8.2
0
"He had the quickest mind that you could ever ask for, fast and funny."
-- David Crosby
"He really didn't give a fuck about anything else apart from him and The Beatles and his songs."
-- Noel Gallagher
"It was his band. He was the original member. I don't think John is getting anything he doesn't deserve."
-- Ringo Starr
"It was as if he knew that he had a short time."
-- Yoko Ono
Brian Wilson Canāt Live Without: Let It Be ā āWhen Iām scared and lost, I play this album and it gets me cool. I first heard it in 1970 and I couldnāt believe how great The Beatles looked on the cover. Johnās voice blew me outā¦and just the way the songs blended together. Itās an album I play every couple of weeks for spiritual guidance.ā
-- David Crosby
"He really didn't give a fuck about anything else apart from him and The Beatles and his songs."
-- Noel Gallagher
"It was his band. He was the original member. I don't think John is getting anything he doesn't deserve."
-- Ringo Starr
"It was as if he knew that he had a short time."
-- Yoko Ono
Brian Wilson Canāt Live Without: Let It Be ā āWhen Iām scared and lost, I play this album and it gets me cool. I first heard it in 1970 and I couldnāt believe how great The Beatles looked on the cover. Johnās voice blew me outā¦and just the way the songs blended together. Itās an album I play every couple of weeks for spiritual guidance.ā
8.1
0
"Before Elvis there was nothing. When I heard Heartbreak Hotel, I thought, This is it."
-- John Lennon
Essential Recording: From Elvis in Memphis
-- John Lennon
Essential Recording: From Elvis in Memphis
7.9
0
"I thought that's what rock'n'roll should be all about - too much make-up, setting things on fire and pissing off parents."
-- Marilyn Manson
Boy George Canāt Live Without: The Man Who Sold the World ā āI have always been into lyrics and words, ever since I was a kid; I would walk around the streets with a transistor on my ear and I would learn the words to every song that came out. And that record was the most unusual record Iād ever heard. It was like Fucking hell, what is this about?ā
-- Marilyn Manson
Boy George Canāt Live Without: The Man Who Sold the World ā āI have always been into lyrics and words, ever since I was a kid; I would walk around the streets with a transistor on my ear and I would learn the words to every song that came out. And that record was the most unusual record Iād ever heard. It was like Fucking hell, what is this about?ā
7.7
0
"He's made out of something that music likes to be around."
-- Tom Waits
"I think he stands for the right to be yourself - even against overwhelming odds. He's a crusader."
-- Johnny Marr
Peter Buck Canāt Live Without: Exile on Main Street ā āThis was the first album I just obsessed on. It gave me everything I ever wanted in a record. It was mysterious. I loved that way they were putting all their influences in. It gave me the feeling that there was this mystery and adventure that went with a record.ā
-- Tom Waits
"I think he stands for the right to be yourself - even against overwhelming odds. He's a crusader."
-- Johnny Marr
Peter Buck Canāt Live Without: Exile on Main Street ā āThis was the first album I just obsessed on. It gave me everything I ever wanted in a record. It was mysterious. I loved that way they were putting all their influences in. It gave me the feeling that there was this mystery and adventure that went with a record.ā
8.1
0
"His music is powerful, very intense. That sort of power is rare. Not many guys like him come along."
-- Bruce Springsteen
Essential Recording: Nevermind
-- Bruce Springsteen
Essential Recording: Nevermind
6.2
0
"I thought she was God. I liked the way she pressed buttons in people."
-- Pink
Essential Recording: Ray of Light
-- Pink
Essential Recording: Ray of Light
6.3
0
"God pretends to be Bono on his day off."
-- Robbie Williams
"He taught young people that they do have the power to change the world."
-- Kofi Annan
Neil Hannon Canāt Live Without: Unforgettable Fire ā āI was a deranged U2 fan with one of those horrible t-shirts, and U2 gave me my ambition, if not my style. This was the first album I really got into ā I love the sound, all of it is a bit impressionistic. The textures are obviously very Eno-inspired.ā
-- Robbie Williams
"He taught young people that they do have the power to change the world."
-- Kofi Annan
Neil Hannon Canāt Live Without: Unforgettable Fire ā āI was a deranged U2 fan with one of those horrible t-shirts, and U2 gave me my ambition, if not my style. This was the first album I really got into ā I love the sound, all of it is a bit impressionistic. The textures are obviously very Eno-inspired.ā
8.3
0
"What would my Top 10 records be? Ten Bob Marley albums."
-- Ian Brown
Essential Recording: Exodus
-- Ian Brown
Essential Recording: Exodus
7.6
0
"He was a joy, always. Even when he was depressed, he was a joy. He had a conscience."
-- Pete Townshend
"The pedestal belongs to Joe Strummer."
-- Billie Joe Armstrong
Sharleen Spiteri Canāt Live Without: Sandinista! ā āSandinista! is so underrated. Thereās a lot of waffle, but the crossover of rocksteady basslines, big beats, Studio 1 production sounds, big-room sounds and the mixing of that with pop and rap, and talking over it, even using samples, is very brave.ā
-- Pete Townshend
"The pedestal belongs to Joe Strummer."
-- Billie Joe Armstrong
Sharleen Spiteri Canāt Live Without: Sandinista! ā āSandinista! is so underrated. Thereās a lot of waffle, but the crossover of rocksteady basslines, big beats, Studio 1 production sounds, big-room sounds and the mixing of that with pop and rap, and talking over it, even using samples, is very brave.ā
7.9
0
"He sang like an old geezer - this ancient voice in a young man's body."
-- Bono
"Picasso is the only character you can compare him to."
-- Bono
Rod Stewart Canāt Live Without: Bob Dylan ā āThis was a huge influence on me. I used to dress like him. I had the harmonica, the fucking hatā¦everything. In My Time of Dyinā, Man of Constant Sorrow, Talkinā New Yorkā¦I used to sing all those songs.ā
-- Bono
"Picasso is the only character you can compare him to."
-- Bono
Rod Stewart Canāt Live Without: Bob Dylan ā āThis was a huge influence on me. I used to dress like him. I had the harmonica, the fucking hatā¦everything. In My Time of Dyinā, Man of Constant Sorrow, Talkinā New Yorkā¦I used to sing all those songs.ā
7.4
0
"His lyrics for The Queen Is Dead have never been bettered by anybody."
-- Noel Gallagher
Essential Recording: The Queen Is Dead
-- Noel Gallagher
Essential Recording: The Queen Is Dead
8.3
0
"If we want to know what it means to be mortal, we need look no further than the man in black."
-- Bob Dylan
Essential Recording: At Folsom Prison
-- Bob Dylan
Essential Recording: At Folsom Prison
7.1
0
"How can you not love him? Anyone who can write something like Songbird is basically alright by me."
-- Chris Martin
"All the people that kids look up to now are bland, faceless fucking police officers. Liam should be given a knighthood!"
-- Noel Gallagher
Mani of the Stone Roses Canāt Live Without: Definitely Maybe ā āItās not intellectual music, itās just like bam, immediate, three chords, bridge, chorus, right in your face. Thatās what people want.ā
-- Chris Martin
"All the people that kids look up to now are bland, faceless fucking police officers. Liam should be given a knighthood!"
-- Noel Gallagher
Mani of the Stone Roses Canāt Live Without: Definitely Maybe ā āItās not intellectual music, itās just like bam, immediate, three chords, bridge, chorus, right in your face. Thatās what people want.ā
8.2
0
"Sometimes I would listen to what he has done and it would scare me, his music is so powerful."
-- Brian Wilson
"If he fell on the piano, by the time he had picked himself up he would have written three songs."
-- Donovan
Graham Coxon Canāt Live Without: Abbey Road ā āI always say Rubber Soul is my favorite Beatles album out of habit. But Abbey Road came out the year I was born ā 1969. Also, they had got through their problems with The White Album and Let It Be, and this was a really good goal after two deflections. McCartneyās singing is amazing, much better than Lennonās. McCartney was just as avant-garde, but he was exploring it rather than mouthing off about it.ā
-- Brian Wilson
"If he fell on the piano, by the time he had picked himself up he would have written three songs."
-- Donovan
Graham Coxon Canāt Live Without: Abbey Road ā āI always say Rubber Soul is my favorite Beatles album out of habit. But Abbey Road came out the year I was born ā 1969. Also, they had got through their problems with The White Album and Let It Be, and this was a really good goal after two deflections. McCartneyās singing is amazing, much better than Lennonās. McCartney was just as avant-garde, but he was exploring it rather than mouthing off about it.ā
7
0
"A giant. I respect him a lot. He is number one, no question."
-- 50 Cent
Essential Recording: The Marshall Mathers LP
-- 50 Cent
Essential Recording: The Marshall Mathers LP
8.8
0
"Live Aid was perfect for Freddie. He could ponce about in front of the whole world."
-- Bob Geldof
"Freddie always looked and behaved like a star long before he actually was one."
-- Brian May
Essential Recording: A Night at the Opera
-- Bob Geldof
"Freddie always looked and behaved like a star long before he actually was one."
-- Brian May
Essential Recording: A Night at the Opera
8.1
0
"Jagger is the perfect rock star. He's rude, ugly-attractive. He's brilliant."
-- Elton John
Essential Recording: Sticky Fingers
-- Elton John
Essential Recording: Sticky Fingers
7
0
"I think everything about Robbie Williams is fantastic, except the voice and the songs."
-- Morrissey
Essential Recording: Sing When Youāre Winning
-- Morrissey
Essential Recording: Sing When Youāre Winning
8.4
0
"Before Hendrix, I wanted to be a footballer."
-- Robert Smith
Essential Recording: Electric Ladyland
-- Robert Smith
Essential Recording: Electric Ladyland
8.7
0
"You felt like he meant it and it came from his heart."
-- Eminem
Essential Recording: Me Against the World
-- Eminem
Essential Recording: Me Against the World
7.3
0
"Without punk there would be no Kylie Minogue because she was the perfect punk."
-- Pete Waterman
Essential Recording: Fever
-- Pete Waterman
Essential Recording: Fever
8.2
0
"Thom Yorke and the rest of Radiohead are the Kafka and the Beckett of our generation."
-- Brad Pitt
Essential Recording: OK Computer
-- Brad Pitt
Essential Recording: OK Computer
6.7
0
"He's the best songwriter in the world. End of fucking story. What else is there to say?"
-- Liam Gallagher
Essential Recording: (Whatās the Story) Morning Glory?
-- Liam Gallagher
Essential Recording: (Whatās the Story) Morning Glory?
6.5
0
"Michael's got a very special kind of voice. It exudes comfort. But he's also got a very fun, bad kid aspect."
-- Patti Smith
Essential Recording: Automatic For the People
-- Patti Smith
Essential Recording: Automatic For the People
8.4
0
"His quiet sensitivity always seemed so noble. His songs seemed sweeter and deeper than the rest. He was the secret weapon."
-- Dave Grohl
Essential Recording: All Things Must Pass
-- Dave Grohl
Essential Recording: All Things Must Pass
7.1
0
"I'd like my life to be like a Bruce Springsteen song. Just once."
-- Nick Hornby
Essential Recording: Born to Run
-- Nick Hornby
Essential Recording: Born to Run
6.6
0
"Sid was the least vicious and least screwed-up person that I'd ever met. Hence: Vicious."
-- John Lydon
Essential Recording: Never Mind the Bullocksā¦Hereās the Sex Pistols
-- John Lydon
Essential Recording: Never Mind the Bullocksā¦Hereās the Sex Pistols
7.8
0
"I shoplifted an Elton John t-shirt once, and my stepfather took away my Elton John gig tickets. It fucked me up for life."
-- Courtney Love
Elvis Costello Canāt Live Without: Peachtree Road ā āEltonās new album is a songwriter at the top of his game. There are a couple of melodies which are up there with his best, particularly My Elusive Drug. I also love some of those delicate songs from way back, such as Sixty Years Onā¦.ā
-- Courtney Love
Elvis Costello Canāt Live Without: Peachtree Road ā āEltonās new album is a songwriter at the top of his game. There are a couple of melodies which are up there with his best, particularly My Elusive Drug. I also love some of those delicate songs from way back, such as Sixty Years Onā¦.ā
8.1
0
"There was this time during my teenage years when everyone was doing ecstasy and going to raves, and I was at home listening to Kate Bush. On ecstasy."
-- Alison Goldfrapp
Essential Recording: The Hounds of Love
-- Alison Goldfrapp
Essential Recording: The Hounds of Love
7.9
0
"He simply had a vision no one else understood - an extremely unique brain, with or without drugs."
-- Graham Coxon
Essential Recording: The Piper At the Gates of Dawn
-- Graham Coxon
Essential Recording: The Piper At the Gates of Dawn
8.3
0
"When I first heard Marvin Gaye, it hit me over the head like a rock. It was like everything you have ever felt, but all at once."
-- Alicia Keys
Essential Recording: Whatās Going On
-- Alicia Keys
Essential Recording: Whatās Going On
7.7
0
"Bar none, he's the best singer I've heard in rock'n'roll. He's also the greatest white soul singer."
-- Elton John
Essential Recording: Every Picture Tells a Story
-- Elton John
Essential Recording: Every Picture Tells a Story
6.1
0
"Everybody loves to take the piss out of her, but she brings joy to a lot of people. And she's got a nice ass."
-- Steven Tyler
Essential Recording: In the Zone
-- Steven Tyler
Essential Recording: In the Zone
6.6
0
"I like George Michael, I always have. I thought he was the mack."
-- Fred Durst
Essential Recording: Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1
-- Fred Durst
Essential Recording: Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1
4.8
0
"He has an aura that's been missing since we lost Pac and Biggie; the authenticity, the realness behind it."
-- Eminem
Essential Recording: Get Rich Or Die Tryinā
-- Eminem
Essential Recording: Get Rich Or Die Tryinā
7.6
0
"Liam didn't know what the fuck he was going on about until The Stone Roses, he could totally identify with Ian Brown."
-- Noel Gallagher
Essential Recording: The Stone Roses
-- Noel Gallagher
Essential Recording: The Stone Roses
7.7
0
"I am so jealous of that guy. Motherfucker knows rock'n'roll like sugar knows ice cream."
-- Ryan Adams
Essential Recording: Elephant
-- Ryan Adams
Essential Recording: Elephant
7.2
0
"I'd love to work with Justin Timberlake! But I told his record label and they said, Oh, very funny."
-- Iggy Pop
Essential Recording: Justified
-- Iggy Pop
Essential Recording: Justified
8.1
0
"All the hype about the Sex Pistols was totally deserved. Johnny Rotten was the one I identified with - he was the sensitive one."
-- Kurt Cobain
"What made the Sex Pistols different was Johnny, because he was a total anti-star."
--Sid Vicious
Noel Gallagher Canāt Live Without: Never Mind the Bullocksā¦Hereās the Sex Pistols ā āIt came out when I was 11. If you think that all punk music was supposed to be anti-music, Never Mind the Bullocks sounds like a pop album in comparison. My mum hated it and it had to be really good if she didnāt like it. She even used to hide the record from me, so I had to buy it on tape and hide it in my pocket.ā
-- Kurt Cobain
"What made the Sex Pistols different was Johnny, because he was a total anti-star."
--Sid Vicious
Noel Gallagher Canāt Live Without: Never Mind the Bullocksā¦Hereās the Sex Pistols ā āIt came out when I was 11. If you think that all punk music was supposed to be anti-music, Never Mind the Bullocks sounds like a pop album in comparison. My mum hated it and it had to be really good if she didnāt like it. She even used to hide the record from me, so I had to buy it on tape and hide it in my pocket.ā
7.6
0
"I could never decide whether I wanted to be Michael Jackson or marry him. He's a fucking genius."
-- Amy Winehouse
Essential Recording: Thriller
-- Amy Winehouse
Essential Recording: Thriller
7.6
0
"The guy just inhabits the damn music. It doesn't matter if he looks like Ebenezer Scrooge."
-- Bonnie Raitt
Essential Recording: After the Goldrush
-- Bonnie Raitt
Essential Recording: After the Goldrush
8.1
0
"He had a genius for singing gobbledegook and making it sound very cool."
-- Lloyd Cole
Essential Recording: Electric Warrior
-- Lloyd Cole
Essential Recording: Electric Warrior
7.6
0
"If I was to write a book about Dave Grohl, it would be called There Goes My Hero."
-- Krist Novoselic
Essential Recording: One By One
-- Krist Novoselic
Essential Recording: One By One
6.9
0
"He's a great frontman, and great frontmen are hard to find. But he's also...Axl. And you have to deal with that, too."
-- Slash
Essential Recording: Greatest Hits
-- Slash
Essential Recording: Greatest Hits
7.4
0
"He was this windmill orchestra with a couple of Howitzer cannons on the side."
-- Jeff Beck
Essential Recording: Tommy
-- Jeff Beck
Essential Recording: Tommy
5.6
0
"She's an inspiration, such a rare talent. That's why I named my daughter after her. She's the bomb."
-- Damon Albarn
Essential Recording: Da Real World
-- Damon Albarn
Essential Recording: Da Real World
8.6
0
"I invented rock'n'roll. Jimi Hendrix was my guitarist. James Brown was my vocalist."
-- Little Richard
Essential Recording: Live at the Apollo
-- Little Richard
Essential Recording: Live at the Apollo
6.4
0
"I hope Richey is up there with Kurt Cobain, jamming a Fall song."
-- Nicky Wire
Essential Recording: The Holy Bible
-- Nicky Wire
Essential Recording: The Holy Bible
7.4
0
"Fuck Elvis and Keith Richards. Lemmy's the king of rock'n'roll."
-- Dave Grohl
Essential Recording: Ace of Spades
-- Dave Grohl
Essential Recording: Ace of Spades
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