JIMI HENDRIX, DIMEBAG, TONY IOMMI, EDDIE VAN HALEN Are Among 'Wildest Guitar Heroes'

March 6, 2007

Jimi Hendrix has been crowned "Wildest Guitar Hero" of all-time in a new poll of music lovers for influential magazine Classic Rock. The poll was compiled by votes from over 3,000 visitors to www.classicrockmagazine.com and a panel of expert music journalists.

The guitarist, who made his name in the late Sixties, with songs like "Hey Joe" and "Foxy Lady", died aged 27 in 1970, following a drug overdose. Hendrix beat ROLLING STONES legend Keith Richard into second place, while Richard's fellow Brits, Tony Iommi (BLACK SABBATH) and Jimmy Page (LED ZEPPELIN) also made the top ten. Surprisingly, THE WHO guitarist Pete Townshend and GUNS N' ROSES legend Slash failed to even make it into the top 20.

Classic Rock's 20 "Wildest Guitar Heroes":

01. Jimi Hendrix
02. Keith Richards
03. Stevie Ray Vaughan
04. Jimmy Page
05. "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott
06. Tony Iommi
07. Rory Gallagher
08. Eddie Van Halen
09. Chuck Berry
10. Kurt Cobain
11. Steve Clark
12. James Hetfield
13. Brian Jones
14. Jeff Beck
15. John Frusciante
16. Steve Jones
17. Johnny Thunders
18. Ted Nugent
19. Peter Green
20. Ace Frehley

Editor of Classic Rock, Scott Rowley, said: "There's no massive surprise in our readers voting Jimi Hendrix their wildest guitar hero of all-time. Jimi hit London in 1966 and set about terrifying guys like Clapton and Pete Townshend with his devastating technique and wired showmanship. It's a combination that's never been bettered — he redefined the term 'guitar hero' — and he made it all seem so easy.

"Singers might think that they're the real kings of rock and roll, but our poll shows that guitarists are far crazier, usually more talented and the real driving force behind the music. Every guitarist in our list turned it up to 11: putting on an unforgettable show and setting the stage alight — sometimes literally — with their presence (and a bottle of lighter fuel). That many of them are still alive after decades of over-indulgence is nothing short of a miracle."

The full rundown of the 100 "Wildest Guitar Heroes" appears in the latest issue of Classic Rock magazine, on sale Wednesday, March 7 — including a free "Legends" DVD, featuring axe heroics artists including Ritchie Blackmore, Eric Clapton, Zakk Wylde and many more!

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