WikiLeaks' founder Julian Assange has been elected "Rockstar of the Year" by the Italian edition of US music magazine, Rolling Stone, the publication announced Monday, DPA reported.
Rolling Stone Italia did not mention musical merits in a statement explaining why it chose Assange whose whistle-blowing site has embarassed governments around the world.
But it did compare the Australian-born hacker to David Bowie, describing Assange's resemblance to the British pop star in the 1976 movie The Man Who Fell To Earth as "simply amazing."
"He (Assange) is the exterminator angel of every power-hidden secret," Rolling Stone Italia said with reference to the confidential diplomatic documents posted on WikiLeaks.
"The IT (Information Technology) rock'n'roll of silver hair Assange will happily be with us for all the upcoming year 2011," it added.
Assange is currently jailed in Britain over an arrest warrant issued in Sweden, where prosecutors are investigating alleged sex crimes.
"Assange is an icon like Che Guevara on T-shirts or Mao for Andy Warhol. He is the pop leader of the end of diplomacy and imperial security," Rolling Stone Italia said.