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Tuesday, 21 March, 2000, 11:56 GMT

Rock's top hellraisers rated

Singer Robbie Williams and Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher have both beaten older stars such as Keith Richards in a league of rock 'n' roll excess compiled by a music weekly.

Gallagher comes in at number five in the list, compiled by writers at Melody Maker, while Williams is one place behind. Robbie Williams
The Oasis singer's position is based on his hell-raising antics before becoming a family man with the birth of his baby Lennon in January.

The poll was inspired by his row with Williams - who got his first taste of rock 'n' roll excess on a weekend spent away with Oasis at 1995's Glastonbury Festival.

In an interview last month, Liam's brother Noel called Williams a "fat dancer" from Take That. Williams replied by sending Noel a wreath - and offering to fight Liam in a boxing ring.

US rock icon Kurt Cobain heads the list. The Nirvana singer, who committed suicide in 1994, was notorious for his drug use and unpredictable behaviour.

Top 20 hellraisers
1. Kurt Cobain
2. Shaun Ryder
3. Keith Moon
4. Richey Edwards
5. Liam Gallagher
6. Robbie Williams
7. Keith Richards
8. Courtney Love
9 Marilyn Manson
10. Jimmy Page
11. Michael Hutchence
12. Jim Morrison
13. Tommy Lee
14. Brian Molko (Placebo)
15. Ozzy Osbourne
16. Slash (Guns 'N' Roses)
17. Dave Gahan (Depeche Mode)
18. Nick Cave
19. Cerys Matthews
20. Martin Duffy (Primal Scream)

Happy Mondays and Black Grape singer Shaun Ryder - also notorious for his drug use - is second, while The Who's drummer Keith Moon, who died from an overdose of sleeping pills in 1978, is third. Rolling Stone Keith Richards is seventh, while Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page is 10th. The only women to feature are Cobain's widow Courtney Love - singer with the band Hole - at 8th and Catatonia frontwoman Cerys Matthews at 19th.

Manic Street Preachers guitarist Richey Edwards - who disappeared in 1995 - is ranked fourth.

Melody Maker editor Mark Sutherland said: "In light of the recent spat between Robbie and Liam, we thought it would be fun to look at the most infamous hellraisers in rock history.

"Their antics read like a litany of sexual deviance, drug-fuelled escapades, self-abuse and mutilation."

Related to this story:
Honours and insults at bitter Brits (03 Mar 00 | Brit Awards)
Brits behaving badly (04 Mar 00 | Brit Awards)
Liam gives Oasis a scare (29 Nov 99 | Entertainment)

Internet links: Oasis | Robbie Williams | Melody Maker |
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