Rock's Greatest Frontman

[Meathead]

Folks, we're lagging in our efforts of becoming the preeminent music site on the internets. With that end in mind, I start by posing this question: who is rock's greatest frontman?

A few years ago, Spin Magazine featured an article as to who is rock music's greatest frontman. I can't find the direct link, but through other sources, I was able to get the criteria for their selections, which are as follows: (1) sex appeal; (2) presence; (3) fashion sense; and (4) music ability. Each criterion on a scale of 1 to 10.

The selections were not limited to simply rock n' roll music. The selections were not limited to just men. The rock n' roll aspect seemed more to suggest the time period, i.e., approximately since 1955.

If you didn't chance upon that article, I'm sure some of the results will surprise you. But before I disclose their top ten list, who do you think is rock's greatest frontman?

Another question: which frontman do you think deserves more credit than he/she actually gets?

[Matty]

phew. Daltrey has to be right up there for the lot i'd have thought.

I think Chris Cornell is possibly the best rock vocalist but falls foul on some of the others.

Interesting, i have to scoot home now but i shall be pondering this question overnight.

[miss djax]

i'd have to say freddie mercury - pure genius

[nygreenguy]

James Hetfield

Without a doubt.

[Magdlyn]

Robert Plant

Eddie Vedder

John Lennon or Paul McCartney

(not my taste but) Mick Jagger

David Bowie

Jimi Hendrix

Eric Clapton

[Pendaric]

i'd have to say freddie mercury - pure genius

Beat me to it.

Game over, no other answer acceptable.

[miss djax]

Beat me to it.

Game over, no other answer acceptable.

great minds think alike

[Matty]

the OP said ROCK, not ham opera
sheesh.

Robert Plant, Eddie Vedder, John Lennon or Paul McCartney, (not my taste but) Mick Jagger
David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton

Thats a solid list though i'd take Jagger over either of the boy band members any time.

Vedder is a good call. As is Bowie.
I'll have to throw in my extras which would be early Rod Stewart and Lou Reed. Cream era clapton is also a solid call but i bet he suffers from the safely safely image he's had for a good few years now.

I also think Warren Haynes is a fucking great front man, though he aint pretty thats for sure, not too many points on the sex appeal unless you happen to like amazing guitarists that look like Gimli.

[JamesBannon]

interesting, Freddie Mercury was the first one I thought of, even though I'm not a huge Queen fan.

[socle]

Jim Morrison?

[Matty]

good call, cant believe we got this far without a mention of him.



To be fair to dead freddie, i have more of an issue with May than him. Not much, but some.

[Thalia Thinks]

David Lee Roth in his hay day.

[Magdlyn]

Well since the OP said women, what about Janis Joplin or Ann Wilson?

Let's add Kurt Cobain too. Prince?

(not my taste but) Bruce Springsteen?

[Matty]

cmon, you must have heard the rumour that Kurts best release was the safety?


And Nick Cave should get a mention.


As for women, Grace Slick is a contender i guess, as well as Stevie Nicks.

[Magdlyn]

Ozzy. When he was younger.

Bono.

David Cook.

[Matty]

I suspect/know you only put that there to get a rise, you certainly cant be serious, but i'll do the predictable and simply state that Dave Cook is frontman for a karaoke machinen and destined to be forgotten about in less than a years time. I think that invalidates his inclusion somewhat.

And bono is a tool on almost every level. Any tosser who flies his lucky hat from London to New York, first class becasue he is too precious to go onstage without it, and whilst making long winded statements about global warming, is an asshole.

Its OK though, he bought a clean air credit after the papers reamed him for it.

How about Stevie Wonder, if the rock classification isnt cast iron? George Clinton.
I'm also a bit remiss in mentioning Peter Gabriel, the missus'll kill me.

Anthony Kedis is a decent frontman despite a total lack of musical abilty, got to be something to be said for that.

I hope it isnt the case in this one too, but Gallagher inexplicably often makes an appearence in these type of polls too. Alban occasionally too.

[socle]

Yes, definitely George Clinton. And perhaps James Brown as well.

[Magdlyn]

I suspect you only put that there to get a rise, you certainly cant be serious, but i'll do the predictable and simply state that Dave Cook is frontman for a karaoke machine. that doesnt count.

I was kidding. He's young yet. But he did have a band with orignal material, and will again, to a larger audience.

And bono is a tool on almost every level. Any tosser who flies his lucky hat from London to New York, first class becasue he is too precious to go onstage without it, and whilst making long winded statements about global warming, is an asshole.

The question was, did he meet the criteria? Never mind if he's an asshole, I'm just answering the question. Warren H doesnt even meet the criteria.

How about Stevie Wonder, if the rock classification isnt cast iron?

More of a solo artist. Not enough of a team player.

George Cliinton,

Anthony Kedis is a decent frontman despite a total lack of musical abilty, got to be something to be said for that.

4) Musical ability

[Matty]

I know i know, just musing sorta aloud more than anything.

[Magdlyn]

Marilyn Manson

Axl Rose

Bob Marley

I know I mustve hit all the top ten by now

[Matty]

Bob Marley is a good call.

I canthink of a bunch of them that fill three of the four highly sunective criteria (inc Bono IMO, if every time you see him you think "wanker" i'd say thats -10 presence)

i'd say Jim Morrison is the best bet so far but its too predictable.

[Testy Calibrate]

Bon Scott

[rednoise]

In addition to most of those mentioned here, I'd throw in Ian Curtis from Joy Division.

[Meathead]

cmon, you must have heard the rumour that Kurts best release was the safety?

OMFG

ROFLMAO

So wrong...and yet so right.

More of a solo artist. Not enough of a team player.

Yeah, Spin's list certainly isn't limited to rock n' roll. They've included basically all the other genres like soul, r & b, metal, etc.

Also, they've included the super duper solo artists like your Madonna, Elvis, and so forth. Speaking of Elvis...

[Matty]

i cant take credit for that cobain line, i picked it up at either IIDB or RnR. cant remeber which but i know i lost my coffee over it.