Beatles legend John Lennon has been named rock's ultimate icon by editors at British music magazine NME.

The late star, who was assassinated in 1980, topped a survey of more than 160,000 readers, beating former Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher into second place.

David Bowie is third in the poll, and the top five is rounded out by Arctic Monkeys star Alex Turner and late Nirvana icon Kurt Cobain.

The shortlist was drawn up from an initial pool of 60 nominees earlier this year as editors at the publication launched a search for the biggest rock star of the last 60 years.

The Top 10:

1. John Lennon
2. Liam Gallagher
3. David Bowie
4. Alex Turner
5. Kurt Cobain
6. Amy Winehouse
7. Jimi Hendrix
8. Morrissey
9. Noel Gallagher
10. Ian Curtis