What makes a great ‘rock star?’ According to SPIN’s Bob Guccione Junior:
“A star is, perhaps by definition, undefinable. They just are. They’re luminescent. Even when, in some cases, they didn’t want to be.”
If they are undefinable, how do you define a list of the “The 100 Greatest Rock Stars Since That Was a Thing.” Bob and SPIN attempted to do it. Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones topped it with Prince and Jimi Hendrix following up.
Are they the greatest examples of rock stardom?
Here’s the top 10:
- Keith Richards
- Prince
- Jimi Hendrix
- Jimmy Page
- David Bowie
- Bruce Springsteen
- Bob Dylan
- Mick Jagger
- Grace Slick
- Kurt Cobain
“Where’s Elvis?” you might ask. He landed at 100. Yeah, the guy who basically introduced a generation to the idea of rock is 100. Hey, we didn’t say SPIN got it right and mentioned how it’s totally subjective.
Other notes include Freddie Mercury placed 16th, Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder 15th, and Janis Joplin at 11th.
The complete list can be seen HERE.