Bye Week Debate -- Best Band Front Man
I get into this argument every year or so with friends and family. If you're like me, you have a strong opinion on the matter. So in this down week with no opponent to dissect, I ask you to dissect the following:
Who is in your "Top Five" for the greatest "Front Man" of a band in the history of rock 'n roll:
My personal list is:
1. David Lee Roth/Van Halen
2. Freddie Mercury/Queen
3. Mick Jagger/ Rolling Stones
4. Dave Grohl/Foo Fighters
5. Steven Tyler/Aersomith
Qualifications:
1. Stage Presence/Entertainment
2. Quality of Voice/Musical Capability
3. Length of Career
4. # of hits
October 13th, 2016 at 10:56 AM ^
My personal faves, understanding they aren't going to be the consensus picks, in no particular order:
Maynard
Chris Cornell
Robert Plant
Eddie Vedder
David Lee Roth
The fact that you wrote "front man" is the only reason I can exclude Ann Wilson from this list. After all these years, she is still amazing.
October 13th, 2016 at 11:02 AM ^
great point - Ann Wilson is amazing too
October 13th, 2016 at 11:46 AM ^
get included. I would add Zack de la Rocha and Scott Weiland to my list. May not agree with his views but hard not to feel Zack's presence either way.
October 13th, 2016 at 2:15 PM ^
Well I totally agree with Zack's views, and his stage presence is electric - but he misses this list based on singing ability and number of songs considered "timeless classics" or whatever the criteria in the OP was.
But if you ever see Rage during one of the stints when someone else is lead singer, you will not doubt his command on stage!
October 13th, 2016 at 3:07 PM ^
I'm pretty on board with Zack's views, maybe not to the lengths he takes it but generally I agree. They were very instrumental in helping me form a lot of my political beliefs - similar to Springsteen and U2 and to a lesser extent Pearl Jam. I feel like their work really helped me develop a conscience. I feel like there are not a lot of acts out there today that would challenge their audience to think about what's going on in the world.
October 13th, 2016 at 5:26 PM ^
Yeah, I've seen them and he kills it on stage. I've also seen Audioslave do some of the Rage songs, and while Cornell is possibly my all time favorite, it just isn't the same.
October 13th, 2016 at 10:57 AM ^
Only one person has listed Axl Rose and he misspelled his name. Cumong guys!!! In his prime there was nobody better then Axl! Also sad that nobody has Brian Johnson or Bon Scott from AC/DC. Here's some from the Metal world that deserve a mention!
Phil Anselmo from Pantera
Dave Mustaine from Megadeth
Mike Muir from Suicidal Tendencies
Rob Halford from Judas Priest
Alice Cooper from himself : )
October 13th, 2016 at 11:02 AM ^
Axl is great, but I kinda feel like Slash steals the show with GnR
October 13th, 2016 at 11:59 AM ^
another point in Axl's favor is that he is now fronting AC/DC. Talk about a resume.
October 13th, 2016 at 11:17 AM ^
I loved GnR, but the one time I saw them Axl wouldn't shut up. Between that and the 47 Slash guitar solos, I went to sleep. Just an awful show. However, Phil Anselmo is the shit. No chance I was gonna get bored when I saw Pantera.
October 13th, 2016 at 4:38 PM ^
I never got the chance too. I actually had planned to go see Damage Plan in Columbus when Dime got shot, but my buddy cancelled on me so I ended up not going, crazy.....RIP DIME
October 13th, 2016 at 11:00 AM ^
Lots of great ones noted throughout the conversation here. I think Joan Jett deserves a mention.
October 13th, 2016 at 11:13 AM ^
I actually considered putting Pat Benetar on here, as well. But didn't have the 'nads to take on the neg-banging barrage which would undoubtedly follow such blasphemy...
October 13th, 2016 at 11:22 AM ^
I too limited it to guys. If it was front-woman, you'd have to throw Chrissy Hynde and Annie Clark on the list.
October 13th, 2016 at 11:32 AM ^
Stevie nicks & Janis Joplin
October 13th, 2016 at 11:47 AM ^
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October 13th, 2016 at 12:02 PM ^
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October 13th, 2016 at 12:08 PM ^
Jesus Christ, dude...
October 13th, 2016 at 12:20 PM ^
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October 13th, 2016 at 1:24 PM ^
and superstar!
October 13th, 2016 at 12:36 PM ^
Hell yes.
October 13th, 2016 at 11:12 AM ^
Bobby Plant, dude!
And how about the supremely talented Geddy Lee? Less of a traditional "front man" but a great multi-instrumentalist with a great voice (in his day).
October 13th, 2016 at 11:20 AM ^
Yeah, I was just telling someone that I was surprised that Geddy Lee didn't get a mention. Personally, I can't stand his voice, but I realize I'm in the minority there and I recognize his greatness. It just doesn't appeal to me.
October 13th, 2016 at 11:27 AM ^
I get it, but I sure don't feel it.
HOWEVAH, it reminded me that Gord Downie would be high on my list. Amazing live performer, and a true front man.
October 13th, 2016 at 11:28 AM ^
October 13th, 2016 at 11:36 AM ^
Bono, Daltrey, Cornell, Vedder, Axl, Hetfield, the Boss, Jagger, Dave Davies, Noel Gallagher (lacks some on-stage intensity though - but a great singer/song writer).
Don't know a lot of contemporary bands but I dig Mark Foster from Foster the People.
(Can't believe I forgot Bono first time around)
I also forgot Maynard & De La Rocha . Maynard's cameo on Know Your Enemy is unreal.
October 13th, 2016 at 12:25 PM ^
Noel now that he is free the shackles of a dipshit kid brother is far more entertaining live. His ability to banter with the audience is hilarious
October 13th, 2016 at 11:33 AM ^
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October 13th, 2016 at 11:34 AM ^
October 13th, 2016 at 11:48 AM ^
No Roger Daltrey or Robert Plant? Also, Aerosmith is the most overated band in rock. Their career was in the crapper before they hired Desmond Childs to write their music for them.
October 13th, 2016 at 12:11 PM ^
October 18th, 2016 at 10:05 PM ^
Freddie Mercury is the only only other person that I think you could make an argument for as GOAT.
October 13th, 2016 at 11:48 AM ^
1. Freddie Mercury (duh)
2. Robert Plant (Zeppelin)
3. DLR (Van Halen)
4. Joe Elliott (Def Leppard)
5. Axl Rose (Guns N' Roses)
October 13th, 2016 at 11:50 AM ^
It's Angelo Moore
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QszEuCW4QKc
Not his fault that he shared the spotlight with his bandmates.
October 13th, 2016 at 11:55 AM ^
GOAT is David St. Hubbins.
October 13th, 2016 at 12:01 PM ^
Shark Sandwich was the shit. I loved that album.
October 13th, 2016 at 1:33 PM ^
That's not real, is it?
October 13th, 2016 at 3:44 PM ^
that's one of their albums Marti DiBerghi asks them about, so no, it's not real. But they did make at least two albums after the movie came out - "Break Like the Wind" and "Back from the Dead." I bought "Break Like the Wind" and that's when I realized I had taken the joke a little too far.
October 13th, 2016 at 11:59 AM ^
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October 13th, 2016 at 12:02 PM ^
October 13th, 2016 at 1:28 PM ^
while you are correct about the stage presence, he is one of the best metal vocalists of all time. Not to mention He is still making amazing records with Testament!
October 13th, 2016 at 12:21 PM ^
Al Yankovic
October 13th, 2016 at 12:14 PM ^
October 13th, 2016 at 12:14 PM ^
McKenna Thayer, but that could be recency biased.
October 13th, 2016 at 12:18 PM ^
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October 13th, 2016 at 12:18 PM ^
October 13th, 2016 at 12:19 PM ^
That is what I was thinking when I first clicked on the thread.
October 13th, 2016 at 12:26 PM ^
That is all.