BONO, MADONNA AND MICHAEL JACKSON VOTED MOST INFLUENTIAL STARS
NEW ARTWORK CELEBRATES POLL RESULTS - LOOK WHO'S STANDING ON THE BALCONY OF BUCKINGHAM PALACE...
Bono, Madonna and Michael Jackson are the most influential and admired rock and pop stars of the last 25 years according to a new poll from MTV.
Over 4000 people took part in the survey, which was specially commissioned to celebrate MTV's 25th birthday on Tuesday 1st August. The results give a fascinating insight into the most influential and respected rock and pop icons of the past quarter of a century.
Storming in at number one is Bono, a worldwide ambassador for humanitarian causes and vocalist with the Irish super group U2 who have sold a mammoth 144 million albums worldwide since their formation in 1979. Michael Jackson one of the most controversial stars of the last 25 years and the man who sold 50 million copies of his classic album 'Thriller' takes second place while the Queen of pop; Madonna (who has sold 200 million albums worldwide) completes the top three.
The late Kurt Kobain - troubled frontman of the hugely influential and iconic grunge pioneers Nirvana - takes fourth place in the poll while Prince, the most prolific artist in the top five with 29 official album releases since 1978, is regarded as the fifth most influential artist.
The full listing is as follows:
1. Bono
2. Michael Jackson
3. Madonna
4. Kurt Cobain
5. Prince
6. Eminem
7. Kylie Minogue
8. Snoop Dog
9. Justin Timberlake
10. Elton John
11. Beyonce Knowles
12. Robbie Williams
13. Pete Doherty
14. Christina Aguilera
15. Britney Spears
MTV have commissioned a special cryptic artwork entitled 'Rock Royalty' featuring the 15 most influential stars of the last fifteen years posing on the balcony of Buckingham Palace as members of the British royal family.
Four photoshop artists have been working painstakingly for days to put together this modern masterpiece that music fans will discover is riddled with hidden meanings.
In the centre of the picture Elton John, wearing one of his famous party wigs, and Madonna pose as the Queen Mum and the Queen respectively, suggesting their positions as the doyennes of modern popular music.
They are joined by the princes and princesses of Pop - Snoop Dogg, Robbie Williams, Eminem, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, Kylie Minogue, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. Justin Timberlake lives up to his nickname of 'trousersnake' as he checks out Kylie's famous bottom, while ex-girlfriend Britney Spears (carrying son Sean Preston) looks on jealously. Snoop Dogg carries a shooting rifle and wears a hunting outfit belonging to Prince Charles, while Eminem and Robbie Williams are kitted out in more traditional armed forces regalia.
Outsiders Pete Doherty and Kurt Cobain stand slightly apart from the rest, posing as dignitaries. Kurt Cobain holds a cup of tea, a reference to Nirvana's song 'Pennyroyal Tea' in praise of the herbal drink that Kurt used to settle his stomach.
Prince, Bono and Michael Jackson complete the line-up. Michael Jackson dangles his son over the edge of the balcony, a reference to the hotel incident in Berlin in 2002. Bono is making the V-sign for peace, a tribute to his involvement in high profile campaigns such as Live 8 and other charity work.
MTV's Rock Royalty features: (L - R) Kurt Cobain, Pete Doherty, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Kylie Minogue, Beyonce Knowles, Elton John, Eminem, Madonna, Bono, Michael Jackson, Christina Aguilera, Snoop Dogg, Robbie Williams and Prince.
Pop icons who just missed out on the top fifteen (and therefore being included in the picture) were Gwen Stefani, Morrissey, Adam Ant, Mike Skinner, Pink and The Spice Girls.
MTV celebrates its 25th birthday on Tuesday 1 August. Special programming on the birthday includes:
· 3:30pm - 'Breaking The Rules: The Top 100 Videos', a countdown of the most seminal, edgy and noteworthy music videos ever
· 8.30pm - 'The World's Longest Music Video', by Mike Skinner (The Streets) and featuring MTV's viewers.
· 9pm - 'Breaking The Rules: MTV's Top 25 Moments', an examination of the most contentious, iconic and mould-breaking moments of television in MTV's history
· 11pm - the very first hour of MTV broadcast from 1981, featuring videos by Cliff Richard, Rod Stewart and The Who.
PLEASE NOTE: ALL REPRODUCTIONS MUST CREDIT MTV