Folk legend Bob Dylan has topped a magazine poll to find the 50 rock geniuses of all time.

Music magazine Blender called Dylan, 61, "the civil rights anthem writer who abandoned the cause, the electric poet turned born-again traditionalist".

Former Beatle John Lennon was number two on the list, followed by rock 'n' roll pioneer Chuck Berry, rapper Eminem and late reggae icon Bob Marley.

Surprisingly, Sir Paul McCartney only came in at No 15 in the list.

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Race hots up for Alexander the Great epics

Director Oliver Stone looks set to win the race to begin filming on his epic film about Alexander the Great.

There are two big budget films in the pipeline about the fourth-century BC empire-builder, the other by Moulin Rouge director Baz Luhrmann, but neither have yet gone into production.

But Stone has signed a distribution deal with Warner Bros which means producer Intermedia could greenlight filming to begin in June.

Stone's version will see Irish actor Colin Farrell in the lead role while Luhrmann will again team up his Romeo and Juliet star Leonardo di Caprio.

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Memorial held for Peking opera star

More than 1,000 mourners attended a memorial service to mark the death Peking Opera star Yuan Shihai.

He died at the age of 86 having performed for more than 70 years.

President Jiang Zemin led tributes to the man who was deputy manager of the Peking Opera Theatre up until his death.

Born in 1916, Yuan was eight when he started studying the distinctive, high-pitched Peking opera singing style, and was credited with developing a singing technique that bears his name.

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Bon Jovi performs in school hall

Jon Bon Jovi went back to school to help raise $36,500 (�22,963) for a family health centre.

The Bon Jovi frontman performed at Rumson-Fair Haven High School close to his hometown of Middletownship in New Jersey.

He sang in the school hall to an assembled crowd of 750 who had bought tickets for the show.

He performed 10 songs during the show which was raising money for a free clinic named the Parker Family Health Center.

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