Rotten is king of punks

Ever get the feeling you've been cheated? Almost three decades after uttering that epitaph for the Sex Pistols' chaotic career, Johnny Rotten has been crowned reluctant king of punk.

But his old bandmate Sid Vicious has been left languishing alongside the modern-day likes of Liam Gallagher, Courtney Love, Eminem and Tracey Emin in a Radio 1 poll.

According to music industry experts, even country singer Johnny Cash was 'more punk' than Vicious.

The Pistols' bassist may have died of a drug overdose but this was not enough to 'out punk' Cash, who was addicted to speed, performed at America's notorious San Quentin and Folsom prisons and almost died fighting an emu.

Only four members of the 1970s punk music movement make the Top 20, which also features footballer Eric Cantona and revolutionary Che Guevara.

The Clash frontman Joe Strummer comes second with Johnny Ramone in fourth.

'Gonzo' journalist Hunter S Thompson, who recently committed suicide, was voted third by a panel including Babyshamblessinger Peter Doherty and label boss Alan McGee. Doherty himself, fired from The Libertines for heroin abuse, was voted seventh, behind fifth-placed John Peel and Cash in sixth.

But, true to awkward form Rotten, now known as John Lydon, seemed ambivalent about his award.

After hearing of the 'Most Punk' accolade, his spokesman sniffed: 'What is punk, anyway? John never said that he was a punk.'