The Clash 'guitar smashing' sleeve is 'best ever rock picture'
A picture of The Clash's Paul Simonon smashing his bass has been voted the greatest rock photo of all time.
The picture was taken during a US tour in 1979, and later used as the cover shot of the Clash album London Calling.
Pennie Smith's photograph was named the best ever in a Q magazine poll of music writers and photographers.
The top five also contains famous classic snaps of Debbie Harry, The Beatles and David Bowie, plus a picture of Robbie Williams by photographer Rankin.
Pennie Smith said she had initially decided to miss the Clash show at New York's The Palladium, but later changed her mind.
She said: "I wasn't shooting much until I twigged that Paul looked grumpy so I kept my camera up to my eye, and he was looking crosser and crosser, and then he exploded.
Simonon said: "On stage that night I just got so frustrated with that crowd and when it got to breaking point I started to chop the stage up with the guitar."
Paul du Noyer, editor of the special edition, 212-page Q Greatest Rock Photo book, said: "This was a picture that lots of photographers mentioned without any prompting.
"Any music fan would love the sheer excitement it conveys. Aesthetically, it's just a beautiful thing to look at. Most of all it's a classic picture because it captures the ultimate rock 'n' roll moment - total loss of control."
Other stars to appear in the Q 100 Greatest Rock 'N' Roll Photographs, which goes on sale on Friday, include Britney Spears, Madonna, Eminem and Slipknot.
The full top ten is:
1. Paul Simonon of The Clash By Pennie Smith. The Palladium, New York, 21st September 1979
2. David Bowie by Terry O'Neill. London, early 1974
3. The Beatles by Jim Marshall Candlestick Park, San Francisco, 29 August 1966
4. Robbie Williams by Rankin. Dazed & Confused Studios, London EC1, 3 May 2000
5. Debbie Harry by Chris Stein. Stein and Harry's apartment, the Bowery, New York, 1976
6. Kurt Cobain by Ian Tilton. Motor Sports International Garage, Seattle, 22 September 1990
7. Johnny Cash by Jim Marshall. San Quentin Prison, 1969
8. Tina Turner Revue by Barrie Wentzell. Hammersmith Odeon, London, Winter, 1971
9. Tupac Shakur by David LaChapelle. Chateau Marmont hotel, Los Angeles, 18 January 1996
10. Napalm Death by Ken Sharp. The Canterbury Arms, Brixton, December 1988
