Absolute Radio listeners have chosen Queen as their ultimate music icon from the last five decades in a campaign that saw a dedicated two week, network wide, on-air, online and social media celebration of the finest music from the 60s to today.



Thousands of votes poured into www.absoluteradio.co.uk as listeners were directed to a special online voting mechanic. A panel of experts led by Absolute Radio’s Head of Music and Mercury Prize judge James Curran selected a shortlist to feature in the online vote, highlighting the most significant artists played across Absolute Radio, Absolute Radio 60s, Absolute Radio 70s, Absolute 80s, Absolute Radio 90s, Absolute Radio 00s and Absolute Classic Rock.



The top 100 countdown began at 10am on Bank Holiday Monday 6th May in a day which was filled with tracks from those who have shaped music, created lasting legacies and continue to influence artists from the 60s to this day – from The Beatles to Blur, AC/DC to Amy Winehouse, The Stones to The Strokes. 



Queen were crowned Absolute Radio listeners’ ultimate icon by DJ Pete Donaldson just before 7pm, with David Bowie a close second, followed by Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin.



British acts came up trumps with eight icons featuring in the top ten, while Oasis and Foo Fighters, both formed in the 90s, stood out as the two most recent bands with other surrounding icons enjoying careers spanning over thirty years.  (The top 100 list is below)



Absolute Radio Head of Music James Curran said: “The poll was all about celebrating the iconic artists that feature on our playlists across our network of decade stations. Queen have yet again proved themselves as one of the UK’s most iconic bands by topping this poll of absolute music greats”.



TOP 100



 



 



1.      Queen



2.      David Bowie



3.      Beatles



4.      Pink Floyd



5.      Led Zeppelin



6.      Oasis



7.      Bruce Springsteen



8.      Rolling Stones



9.      Foo Fighters



10.   Paul Weller



11.   Bon Jovi



12.   AC/DC



13.   Elvis Presley



14.   John Lennon



15.   Smiths



16.   Bob Dylan



17.   Jimi Hendrix



18.   Gun n Roses



19.   Michael Jackson



20.   Depeche Mode



21.   Duran Duran



22.   Coldplay



23.   Fleetwood Mac



24.   Nirvana



25.   Bob Marley



26.   Stone Roses



27.   Eric Clapton



28.   Madness



29.   Madonna



30.   Kate Bush



31.   Blondie



32.   Adele



33.   Clash



34.   Iron Maiden



35.   Prince



36.   Metallica



37.   Johnny Cash



38.   Red Hot Chili Peppers



39.   Rod Stewart



40.   Dire Straits



41.   Kinks



42.   T Rex



43.   Doors



44.   Pearl Jam



45.   Neil Young



46.   Thin Lizzy



47.   Alice Cooper



48.   Eagles



49.   Genesis



50.   Elton John



51.   Aerosmith



52.   Green Day



53.   Paul McCartney



54.   Amy Winehouse



55.   Manic Street Preachers



56.   Radiohead



57.   Stranglers



58.   Bryan Adams



59.   Sex Pistols



60.   Simon and Garfunkel



61.   Peter Gabriel



62.   Pet Shop Boys



63.   Roxy Music



64.   Arctic Monkeys



65.   Black Sabbath



66.   Police



67.   Linkin Park



68.   Paul Simon



69.   Joy Division



70.   Stevie Wonder



71.   Kasabian



72.   Def Leppard



73.   Prodigy



74.   Van Morrison



75.   Pixies



76.   Beach Boys



77.   Dusty Springfield



78.   Elvis Costello



79.   New Order



80.   Tina Turner



81.   Muse



82.   U2



83.   White Stripes



84.   Specials



85.   Who



86.   Suede



87.   Billy Bragg



88.   Jam



89.   Ramones



90.   Human League



91.   Alanis Morissette



92.   Ian Dury and the Blockheads



93.   Kraftwerk



94.   Tom Petty



95.   Aretha Franklin



96.   Verve



97.   Eurythmics



98.   Massive Attack



99.   Lou Reed



100.    Bjork