In brief: Dylan dubbed 'rock genius'

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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East 17 star bailed on drugs charges

Former East 17 singer Brian Harvey has appeared in court in connection with drugs charges.

The 27-year-old, of Walthamstow, was granted conditional bail during the hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court.

At a previous hearing he pleaded not guilty to supplying cocaine to a man on 26 April, and to possessing the drug on the same day.

The case against Harvey was adjourned for a further hearing on 17 February.

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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 line 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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Rod wins over Fab Four

Rod Stewart has been voted the "legend of legends" by radio listeners - ahead of The Beatles and Elvis Presley.

He won 52% of votes in the final stage of a contest on the Capital Gold radio station following a three-month long poll.

The competition has seen acts go head-to-head in a vote each day, with a total of 64 classic artists from the station's playlist in the contest.

More than 250,000 votes have been cast since the poll began.