27 AUGUST 2003
Legendary musician Jimi Hendrix has been voted the best guitarist of all time in a list compiled by cult music mag Rolling Stone. The late Sixties icon deserved the honour because he "made the electric guitar beautiful" said fellow guitarist Pete Townsend who also made the list at number 50.

The Who guitarist recalled that one of Hendrix's shows had such a profound effect on him and Eric Clapton that the pair ended up holding hands during the gig.

Also making it into the top ten of the "best 100" was BB King whose "string bending and vibrato made his famous guitar, Lucille, weep like a woman". The blues legend was in good company, with Chuck Berry, Ry Cooder, Jimmy Page and Keith Richards also among the ten leaders.

The late Duanne Allman, who founded Atlanta rock outfit Allman Brothers Band in 1969 with younger brother Greg, came in at second place. Duanne, who died in 1971, was responsible for transforming "the poetry of jamming," said the mag.

Only two female players made it into the line up – Joan Jett, who featured at number 87, and Joni Mitchell, ranked at 72. The youngest name on the list was that of Jack White, the 28-year-old boyfriend of Bridget Jones's Diary actress Renee Zellweger, who plays in the band White Stripes.