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 9:51 AM ^
October 13th, 2016 at 10:58 AM ^
nobody's ever heard of. Dude is literally a musical genius
October 13th, 2016 at 6:35 PM ^
So Id never heard of him and decoded to give a listen after these two posts. Definitely my cup of tea. Its weirdly brilliant.
October 13th, 2016 at 9:52 AM ^
October 13th, 2016 at 9:55 AM ^
Yeah. I love Eddie Vedder. He's on my "not sure where to put him" list, since the above are my abolute favorites. But I agree -- he a solid consideration.
October 13th, 2016 at 12:01 PM ^
Eddie Vedder > Dave Grohl
BUT
Robert Plant > Eddie Vedder
And I can't even see Dave Grohl in the same conversation as Robert Plant. Come on now!
October 13th, 2016 at 6:21 PM ^
Nobody comes close to Robert Plant.
October 13th, 2016 at 6:21 PM ^
Nobody comes close to Robert Plant.
October 13th, 2016 at 9:54 AM ^
October 13th, 2016 at 9:57 AM ^
It's not even close. Freddie is a moderately better performer than any of the others, and a much, much, much better singer than any of the others.
October 13th, 2016 at 10:09 AM ^
I agree , Freddie head and shoulders above all others . Great show man.
October 13th, 2016 at 11:49 AM ^
Great song writer as well. I think that counts for something.
October 13th, 2016 at 1:47 PM ^
I never saw Freddie Live, but I did see Mick and I have a hard time believing that someone is far and away better, the dude holds a crowd, has great stage presence and if you hear Keith sing you immediately appreciate Mick's voice.
October 13th, 2016 at 9:55 AM ^
October 13th, 2016 at 9:57 AM ^
Elvis falls into the category of not being a band, per se. He's a solo act with accompaniment.
October 13th, 2016 at 9:50 PM ^
October 13th, 2016 at 11:00 AM ^
and man he was kick ass!!!
October 13th, 2016 at 9:57 AM ^
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October 13th, 2016 at 9:57 AM ^
October 13th, 2016 at 12:10 PM ^
You mean Drunky McDrunkerson in his concerts?
From everyone I know who saw him live I have yet to hear a single person say they saw him perform sober or even able to sing coherently.
October 13th, 2016 at 9:58 AM ^
I beleive there is a very short list of men who are true "Front Men". Only three that pop into my mind immediately are:
1. David Lee Roth (probably would rank #1...not saying he is the greatest singer or most talented....just nails the stage presence and owning the performance)
2. Bono. Dude is simply incredible
3. Mick Jagger
I think to be a "Front Man" you have to be larger than life. Someone like Dave Grohl, whick the Foo Fighters are one of my favorite bands, is way to "normal'...which makes him so loveable and likeable. But just as Dave, and he will tell you he is NOT a rockstar.
October 13th, 2016 at 9:58 AM ^
October 13th, 2016 at 10:00 AM ^
Yes, definitley Freddie Mercury. 100%
October 13th, 2016 at 9:59 AM ^
100% agree with this.....
October 13th, 2016 at 10:01 AM ^
Tradition, GREAT post by the way. A fun topic on a Thursday Bye week.
October 13th, 2016 at 10:00 AM ^
Tradition that Counts, I would add one more qualification to your list, and it may be the most important quality. The great transcendant "Front Men" are larger than life. Thus, even though I love him and would want to have a beer with him over anyone on your or my list, I would not put Dave Grohl on there.
October 13th, 2016 at 10:05 AM ^
You make a great point, LakeYale. Who on my list would I want to have a beer with first? No doubt about it -- Dave Grohl. David Lee Roth is an asshole. Freddie Mercury, were he alive -- would probably scare me. Mick Jagger I can't understand. Steven Tyler seems like a blast (still), but he's not exactly someone you could chill with.
Grohl knows how to chill, for sure.
October 13th, 2016 at 10:00 AM ^
October 13th, 2016 at 10:01 AM ^
Freddie Mercury #1
Just to add some modern ones that I think killed it in the aughts:
Julian Casablancas (The Strokes)
Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys)
October 13th, 2016 at 10:03 AM ^
October 13th, 2016 at 10:06 AM ^
October 13th, 2016 at 10:02 AM ^
Mick Jagger
Robert Plant
Roger Daltry
James Allen Hetfield
October 13th, 2016 at 10:07 AM ^
Shit. Forgot about Robert Plant. I freaking love Robert Plant. Although, Jimmy Page was a co-front man of the band, wouldn't you agree? If so, does that disqualify him from this list?
October 13th, 2016 at 10:38 AM ^
DLR as well, imho. Eddie Van Halen was just as popular (esp. with the ladies) back in the day.
October 13th, 2016 at 10:09 AM ^
Hetfield was right there in the also recieving votes for me. It's a tough question.
October 13th, 2016 at 11:58 AM ^
October 13th, 2016 at 11:26 AM ^
I actually think Daltry was a shitty front man. Shit voice, shit moves, shit look. He was the weak link in an incredible band.
1. Roth
2. Plant
3. Jagger
4. Bon Scott
5. Bono
October 13th, 2016 at 12:43 PM ^
Logged in to add James Hetfield. I'm not sure he's top 5 in a Rolling Stone list but he's one of my top 5.
Also like Robert Plant, Brian Johnson, David Lee Roth, among others that have already been named.
I also like Chris Cornell from Soundgarden/Audioslave. Probably not top 5 but I think he's solid. Also a little embarrassed to admit I also enjoyed Layne Staley a lot as a teenager.
October 13th, 2016 at 1:55 PM ^
Don't be embarrassed by that, Alice in Chains is AWESOME!
October 13th, 2016 at 10:03 AM ^
Real Answer: Freddie Mercury, Queen
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October 13th, 2016 at 12:07 PM ^
1. David St. Hubbins
2. Jake Blues
3. Davy Jones
4. Meatloaf
5. Glen Danzig
There should be no debate that Glen was the greatest one-hit wonder frontman of all time. He redefined the front-man position. Before he came along, frontmen were skinny, British dudes with high pitched, almost feminine voices (think Jagger, Plant, Daltry, etc.) Along comes Danzig who looks more like a body builder who stopped training a few years ago, is rockin' massive sideburns, and sings with driving bass vocals. He's really quite unique.
October 13th, 2016 at 10:03 AM ^
October 13th, 2016 at 10:07 AM ^
October 13th, 2016 at 10:08 AM ^
October 13th, 2016 at 10:05 AM ^
Bob Mould - Still going strong after almost 30 years. He fronted Husker Du for almost a decade, put out a couple of great solo albums, fronted Sugar for 3 albums, and has put out another ten or so great solo albums.
October 13th, 2016 at 10:09 AM ^
October 13th, 2016 at 10:08 AM ^
1. Freddy Mercury
2. Robert Plant
3. Axel Rose
4. Tom Petty
5. Matt Shadows (Avenged Sevenfold) or Matt Belamy (Muse)
October 13th, 2016 at 10:49 AM ^
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October 13th, 2016 at 10:12 AM ^
Springsteen is hard to ignore. He is THE classic front man. And I'm not sure there's anyone better in front of a live audience. He's certainly the most loved -- but not sure he's top 5.