The best frontman of all time?

Goddamit! It posted before I could add the poll!

1) Freddie Mercury

2) Mick Jagger

3) Other

OK, I'm going to be torn to shreds but: Phil Collins

A great frontman isn't always the greatest singer though...

OP I mis-read your opening statement. I thought the frontman had to be a musician in the band...an actual part of the band, not just the singer. Sorry.

David Lee Roth.

David Byrne, Martin Fry, Tony Hadley, Richard Butler, Matt Johnson, Jim Kerr, Boy George, Tracey Thorn, Siouxsie Sioux, Debbie Harry

Diamond David Lee Roth.

And of course the David Sylvian

Gonna throw the fabulous Roger Daltrey in here, but also agree strongly with Mercury, Jagger, and Roth.

I'll throw in Robert Plant's name.

For male singer I would choose Burton Cummings.

And he can still sing well today.

If you were also asking about female singers I would choose Ann Wilson.

The INXS guy.

Bootsy Collins

Smokey Robinson

Nina Persson

R11 I agree about Burton Cummings. He is a very under appreciated singer. The Guess Who were always ten times better than The Who. I never really got the big deal about the latter. Freddie Mercury is up there too. He actually didn't think the public had ever heard him sing for real. For that you have to listen to "Ensueno" off the opera album he did with Montserrrat Caballe.

A good frontman is not only or necessarily a good singer, but a good showman too.

A good frontman is not only or necessarily a good singer, but a good showman too.

Mamas and Papas' Denny Doherty

Dave Gahan, even his vocals are great too.

My votes are for Mick Jagger and Kurt Cobain.

Neither man's band would have the same sound or same songs or same style and swagger without their frontmen. Also, these two frontmen fit in easily with their bandmates (ie, one of the gang) unlike Freddie Mercury who seems like he's an outsider compared to the other 3 guys in Queen. Finally, you absolutely, positively cannot take your eyes off of Jagger or Cobain.

Honorable mention to David Lee Roth for the reasons above. I saw Van Halen and DLR solo in concert and Dave had the audience in the palm of his hand throughout both shows.

Bono

It’s Dave Roth. He gives it his all. Always. Still!

Tom Petty

No one appreciates Steve Perry? He had a great voice imo.

Donald Fagen of Steely Dan

Grace Slick

Jim Morrison . When he wasnt higher than a kite he owned the audience . Mesmerizing sexuality .

Mick Jagger could never sing for shit, but he's a great frontman nonetheless! Incredible charisma, knows how to work an audience like nobody else.

But I voted for Mercury, because he could do all that, plus he could actually sing live.

Bruce Springsteen

Stevie Nicks

Brendon Urie from Panic! At the Disco

STeve Perry was an exceptional singer, but not an outstanding frontman. just a good one.

I would agree that Roth holds the top. Mercury was very good, as was Plant.

i will nominate someone whose music i don't really like--Jon Bon JOvi.

also, Scorpions' own Klaus Meine. holding his own onstage when he is only 4' tall (ok, not literally) and the guitarists were always what people really came to see. underrated as a vocalist as well.

another Meine example:

Mike Patton.

Frontman for Faith No More, Mr Bungle, Tomahawk, and Peeping Tom (among other bands)

Did I ghostwrite R27’s post?

Bono. Thread closed.

Jim fucking Morrison. Come on. (Yes he's been mentioned, but worth mentioning again).

Freddie.

Always and forever.

There’s Mick Jagger, then there’s everyone else.

A slight mention for Pelle Almqvist.

Bruce Fucking Dickinson, you bastards.

Rod Stewart - the man put on a hell of a show.

Roger Daltrey

Robert Plant

Tom Petty, because that's more my kind of music, but he never had the sexual charge of the three aforementioned frontmen. My best friend's mother had thing for Rod Stewart, not because he was handsome or anything. She thought he was a little bantam rooster and got a kick out of the show.

Bon Scott

👁’m just here baffled that no-one said Prince in the first five replies. What are u all smoking? The man reinvented lives...

He even told you this himself, in song.

Gwen Stefani, No Doubt.

Jagger and Daltrey

I love Cherie Currie from The Runaways. If I ever led a band, I'd totally imitate her.

Robert Plant - a voice like a banshee, the poses, the tight clothes, and the unmistakable sexuality. Led Zeppelin wouldn't have been the same without him. He really rocked!

Queen Bey owns this thread.

R47 There was also an androgynous vibe about him overall.

Michael Hutchence. INXS had an unmistakable and totally unique, nihilistic vibe in his day, and all because of him.

Michael Hutchence.

David Lee Roth, Plant, Jagger are a tie, Morrison, Hutchence, and then we have Mercury, who is in a league of his own

I also love Springsteen, Patti Smith, Chrissie Hynde, and another two out of everyone’s league performers: Prince and Bowie.

And yes, special mention to Phil Collins. A highly cerebral writer/performer. Daltrey’s vocals were gut wrenchingly good, whether everyone likes him or not, the best and greatest performer or showman of all, at least since the 70s, was and remains Michael Jackson.

Let’s not forget Chuck Berry, Little Richard, James Brown, or Janis Joplin, either.

David Lee Roth was gorgeous in the early days of Van Halen. He looked like he would hsve been a nasty fuck.

Some people here don't seem to know what a frontman is.

Im with R20 Another vote for Dave Gaham. Depeche Mode is a very special band but seeing the energy of this real frontman live its amazing.

Rod Stewart was never my favorite singer. But the man loved prancing around in satin, dancing with the mike stand, shaking his ass for the audience, flinging his scarves around for effect. He's fronting a great band, filled with talented musicians, but Stewart makes sure the audience has something to watch. Amazing energy. Same for Jagger, Daltrey and Plant, each with his own style. This is a frontman:

Annie Lennox in Eurythmics

Diana Ross was a great frontwoman for The Supremes because she had wonderful stage presence and charisma. But sometimes at the expense of the other Supremes - she didn't want them to steal her show. Cindy Birdsong related how Diana would sometimes put her hands up to block the camera that was showing Cindy. Ouch! And we won't even mention all the battles that they had with Florence Ballard.

Roger Daltrey, Live at Leeds, Magic Bus, ca. 1970

Lou Gramm of Foreigner.

Steven Tyler

Grace Slick

Freddie Mercury

Dave Gahan

Belinda Carlisle.

David Lee Roth was the first person to come to my mind so that's got to mean something. I don't know about g.o.a.t but since I don't think anybody's mentioned them, Anthony Kiedis (R.H.C.P.), Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day).

Siouxsie Sioux from Siouxsie & The Banshees.

Bryan Ferry

I've been listening to the Four Tops a lot lately, so maybe he's not the greatest of ALL time, but I humbly present Levi Stubbs.

Russell Hammond

Jimi Hendrix - greatest frontman, greatest showman, greatest guitar man! Close Thread.

David Ruffin

It would really help if all of us remembered the difference between a band's frontman, and a solo artist with a hired band.

Janis Joplin w/ Big Brother and Steve Tyler w/ Arrowsmith

Hate to admit it, but; if singing talent is not a mitigating factor in this consideration, then ‘80s Vince Neil. Seriously.

Morrison, Cobain, Gahan

Iggy (The Stooges), David Jow (The Jesus Lizard), Jimi Hendrix (The Jimi Hendrix Experience), Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)

R75 beet me to Iggy.

Not the greatest of all time (ok I know that's the thread) but I have to mention Jacob Hoggard of the Canadian band Hedley. He's really one of the best frontmen I've ever seen. (Recently, has been sidelined by #MeToo sexual allegations and may never come back).

Trent Reznor

* Mick Jagger

* John Lennon/Paul McCartney

* Boy George

* Roland Gift (Fine Young Cannibals)

*Dave Wakeling/Ranking Roger (The Beat)

^ ugh. Fuck that suit wearing, Grammys attending, Hollywood blockbusters soundtracks making, corporate whore. Also, he replaced the members in NIN like hundreds of times. What good frontman does that

Freddie. Still a joy to watch, never feels dated. The man was a visionary.

Can't believe it took until 60 some replies for someone to say

Steven Tyler

Scott Weiland was the most fuckable.

The Beatles did not have a front man.

R79 Fuck you!!!!

RE: Annie Lennox and Donald Fagan suggestions... if we're being technical, can a duo *really* have a frontman?

Jimi, Jimi, Jimi and...oh yeah, JIMI!

Technically the definition of a frontman is the lead singer of a band.

So an act like Prince who is the star and the entire constellation would NOT be a frontman.

Jimi Hendrix, NOT a frontman.

Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers (because Anthony K is too shy onstage.)

When I read this I immediately thought David Lee Roth. He shone as a band's frontman more than as a solo act, and shone as a band's frontman more than most of those mentioned here, except possibly Steven Tyler.

I think you have to add Freddie Mercury to that too r 90

But my vote goes to Tyler, way better singer than Roth imo.

I vote for Travis Kent

Been trying to decide between Bobby Brown & Ralph Tresvant for New Edition.

Magnetic as Bobby could be on good days, I think for professionalism, consistent energy and sheer work-rate Ralph smokes him. Ultimately Bobby was better on his own.

Neither Bobby Brown or Ralph Tresvant qualify as other members took lead on some songs as well at times. Boy bands don't have frontmen.

A frontman is the lead singer, usually only singer of the band.

R89, not sure if Anthony Kiedis is the GOAT frontmen, but he’s definitely the hottest, at least in my book.

😍

LOL!

Oh, and Adam Ant comes in 2nd after Kiedis. He was a BABE, as was Michael Hutchence.

Another vote for sir Paul. Technically he was the Beatles' front man. #2 When I was a teenager, there was a guy named Jim Morrison who attracted quite a lot of admiration.

R88 Jimi was the singer in the band, genius

Current frontmen who are quite good

Dave Grohl - Foo Fighters

Matt Shultz - Cage the Elephant

Brandon Flowers - The Killers

Marc Bolan, gone too soon

Joe Strummer.

I'm surprised the Belinda Carlisle troll hasn't popped his head in here yet.

OT: Another vote for Weiland. Sometimes they had to pick him up off the ground and push him onstage. But the minute he was in front of a crowd magic happened. Saw STP several times during their heyday.

Corey Feldman.

Another current frontmen who are great:

Alex Turner from Arctic Monkeys Tyler Glenn from Neon Trees (bonus: he’s gay!) Josh Kiszka from Greta Van Fleet (He’s a short little hobbit looking guy but man can he sing.)

Ah shit, fucked yo the formatting and had a typo. Here it is again:

Other current frontmen who are great:

Alex Turner from Arctic Monkeys

Tyler Glenn from Neon Trees (bonus: he’s gay!)

Josh Kiszka from Greta Van Fleet (He’s a short little hobbit looking guy but man can he sing.)

Michael Hutchence

Wonder if karma will ever come for Bob Geldoff, or perhaps it has?

Geldof looks like hell, I think karma's already gotten to him.

I was thinking of Peaches, R106.

I love jackasses like R88 who come on so smug and condescending while being completely dead WRONG. Prince and The Revolution WAS a band and he was the lead singer in the same way Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers was a band. Jimi Hendrix was the lead singer in a band called The Jimi Hendrix Experience and another band called BAND of Gypsies. R88, you really shouldn't enter into a conversation when you're too stupid to understand what's being discussed. Go away.

The difference between a band that has a frontman and a solo act that has a backing band is legal and financial. Were all members of the Jimi Hendrix Experience co-owners of the band, or were they employees of Jimi Hendrix or Jimi's manager?

I have no clue, and only the biggest geek in the world would, but the fact is that Hendrix is generally thought of as a solo act.

R109 Good point. How often does one really hear someone refer to "Purple Rain" or "Little Red Corvette" as their favorite Prince & the Revolution song? I'd say almost never. I mean, who considers Bruce Springsteen the "frontman" of the E. Street Band? No one, because they're HIS backing band.

R109 that is the stupidest rationale I've ever heard. You don't have to be co-owner of the band to be in a band. You think all the members of Aerosmith are co-owners? Or Bon Jovi? I got news for you. They aren't. And R110, yes people do refer to Purple Rain as their favorite Prince and The Revolution album, add to that the fact that Wendy & Lisa, who were members of the band co-wrote songs with Prince. Prince was a frontman and so was Jimi. You morons trying to split hairs doesn't change that.

Cool, let's derail yet another thread with an asinine argument because not only are some people too stubborn to admit they're wrong, they're too stubborn to walk away and the adults talk.

Tex Perkins. Christie Amphlett.

^ damn auto correct. Chrissie Amphlett

The Cruel Sea - Tex Perkins

"[R109] that is the stupidest rationale I've ever heard. You don't have to be co-owner of the band to be in a band. You think all the members of Aerosmith are co-owners? "

No, really, that IS the legal difference between being a band member or a solo act - who owns the act!

Okay, correct me if I get any of the details wrong here... I remember that the Beatles were all partners in the band and their various side businesses, and shared common royalties,. When the Beatles broke up, McCartney formed Paul McCartney and Wings, but the musicians of Wings were salaried employees and did not have a share of the royalties and profits. And when Ronnie Wood joined the Rolling Stones, there was a period of 10-15 years before he became a full member of the band, that is, a long waiting period before he became an official partner in the big-money company that is the Rolling Stones. The guys of Queen were all co-owners of their band, and ended up sharing song-writing royalties as well as band profits four ways. And that's as much as I know about the business of Rock bands, and I don't know what happens when one member is kicked out of a band, as Brian Jones was.

So yes, that's the difference between a solo act, a solo act hires backing musicians, and a band has members who all have a stake in their music-making business. Billing doesn't tell you which is which.

One word - Lemmy

Okay, all of you need to get a grip. This argument over "legal definition" of a band is irrelevant to this discussion. We're talking about the guy who fronts the band. Axl Rose owned the Guns & Roses brand and only he could use it but nobody thought of it as a solo act -- HE was the f***ing frontman. Somebody mentioned Bon Jovi. He owns that trademark and pays the other members but everyone thinks of Bon Jovi as a band and he's the frontman. Same with Van Halen and Van Hagar. Eddie and Alex own it, David Lee and Sammy were the frontmen. We're not going by the law here. We're going by who was out front regardless of the contractual arrangement they had amongst themselves. Geezus, way to take the fun out of this by bringing up legal technicalities.

Diana Ross

I’m still all about AK.

Where is that man?????

R112 I'm heading outside to get some fresh air. You're welcome to join me.

Another vote for Scott Weiland; he was like the second coming of Mick Jagger.

Dave Matthews

Michael Stipe is one of my personal favorites, followed by Peter Murphy of Bauhaus, and Dave Gahan of Depeche Mode.

Freddie Mercury easily.

Oh and I'd throw in Thom Yorke from Radiohead as well

Whenever Diana Ross sings with other singers, she adds extra notes that they don't, especially on long notes, to make sure you hear her and not them.

Robert Plant's high-pitched tenor voice was the perfect counterpoint to Led Zeppelin's masculine heavy metal sound with the big booming drums, deep pulsating bass and forceful guitar sounds. A low, masculine voice would have gotten lost in all that deep, low sound.

109 is right, and his definition is by no means stupid nor wrong.

David Bowie also toured with a band, but you would never call Bowie the frontman of the band. The band was there to back him up, to play his music.

Freddie Mercury, Brian May, John Deacon and Roger Taylor are all pretty unique artists in their own right, who contributed their own songs to the ensemble.

Scott Weiland? STP were one of the most ridiculous post-grunge MTV mainstream Nirvana copies. But they were a lot closer to 80s Sunset Strip macho hairspray metal than to alternative and punk scene

PAUL SHAFFER

R130 all I ever think of hearing about Schaffer is, "Caribbean is a type of music I regret to say has not been, is simplynot, nor will ever be a part of this band's repertoire."

Cab Calloway

i'm sorry, but i nominate Scott Weiland. He lived and breathed this rock n roll life he was charismatic, tragic, I loved his vocals. and he died doing what he loved the best (not that that's a reason to vote for him). he was a true frontman to me. lived and breathed his music to his very end.

R133 weird flex but ok

R118 guess Bill Bailey’s off his meds again...

If it’s not Wendy O. Williams then what’s the point??

Ones I actually saw: Joey Ramone (Ramones), David Johansen (New York Dolls). Mark Hoppus (Blink 182), Alex Gaskarth (All Time Low).

Freddie, Mick (I don't like the Rolling Stones,but he's a good showman), and I'm loathe to admit that Axl Rose was very good for his genre of music.

I agree with R109. A solo act like Prince does not have a frontman.

[quote] loathe to admit that Axl Rose was very good for his genre of music.

I don’t think we should give him the satisfaction of admitting or acknowledging that. He beat his first ex-wife and threatened to shoot her on the reg, and threw his subsequent girlfriend down a flight of stairs breaking her rib and puncturing a lung. He should be in prison.

Also, those shite interminable ‘ballads’ of his choked the last breath out of AOR. There seems to be a pattern of him trying to murder perfectly innocent lovely things.

Being sane isn't a requisite for being a good frontman. Probably the opposite. You want Michael Buble?

Dutchie and R139, Prince and The Revolution is a BAND in the same way Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers is a BAND. Prince was the frontman of that BAND. Get it into your cement heads. They recorded the Purple Rain album with him, they weren't just a touring back up band.

Oh shut up, R140. What do you mean by "we" should not give him the satisfaction? Who do you think you speak for? The entire board? The OP asked about showman in rock groups, not to judge them by their behavior and morals - if he had, then certainly Mick, Michael Jackson, Steven Tyler, and David Bowie shouldn't be named here either. And why are you referring to women as "things"?

Nadine Coyle from Girls Aloud

Shirley Manson of Garbage is right up there with the others. Charismatic and engaging, she puts on a hell of a show. Plus, unlike a lot of others listed in this thread, she can sing live.

Dave Grohl

Dave Grohl

Paul McCartney

David Knopfler

Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane/Starship.

Minnie Riperton of Rotary Connection

Michael McDonald of The Doobie Brothers

Another vote for Jagger. He never slowed down. Here is a video of him dancing at 75 after heart surgery.

The Stones have been touring for 56 years. And I never thought Keith would still be alive.

Cheryl Tweedy-Cole-Fernandez-Versini from Girls Aloud

If I had to pick the greatest rock frontman of all time it would have to be Mick Jagger. As Bill Graham said "that cunt is a great entertainer."

R142, Prince was always known by Prince, never Prince and the Revolution. Yeah, sure it was a band but he assembled it to back him up and he went through many band changes and yet it was always Prince. Why are you so obnoxiously stubborn and dumb-headed? It's like calling Cher or Madonna a frontman of their band.

Freddie for me

I think it's between Freddie and Mick, in general. Personally, I think Mick is a more compelling performer. Freddie became pretty mechanical after awhile.

r157, Wow, I forgot what the Stones use to look like. I still vote for Freddie though.

R155, you're such a pea-brained moron. Go find the album Purple Rain, you stupid jackass, and right on the cover it says Prince AND THE REVOLUTION. Pick up Parade and right on the cover it says Prince AND THE REVOLUTION, you idiotic assclown. Pick up Around The World In A Day and it says right on the cover Prince AND THE REVOLUTION, you low I.Q waste of space. To say he was never known as Prince and the Revolution is an obvious, provable lie told by subhuman trash who can't defend their clearly WRONG opinion. Cher was never in a band. Madonna was never in a band. Prince WAS IN A BAND, something even he admitted. He wrote songs with them and made albums with them. He was the frontman. Now do the world a favor and drop dead.

Gotta be Jagger.

AK, ‘morning, babe!

Still think that Weiland was so strong even when he was fucked as hell. I know, he had concerts when he was fucked up as hell, but i still feel that he was very strong vocally. Never heard a song from him i haven't liked.

What's with DL and their hardon for this fake watered down grunge/alternative star Weiland

Frankie Valli.

Jim Morrison.

Personal favorite: Rob Halford

Steve Perry from Journey was an incredible vocalist. I still love this song.

Best? Not sure, exactly. But Robert Plant is definitely in my top three.

John Lennon

Agree with the greats already mentioned.

Paul Rodgers of "Bad Company".

Seriously, the first time, decades ago, I heard his voice in "Can't Get Enough of Your Love" I was smitten, and still am.

Years ago, a rock critic once wrote that front men can be divided into two classes- those who sound like men or those who sound like teenagers, no matter what age they are.

Paul Rodgers, Gregg Allman, Jim Morrison, for all his youth, and the aforementioned Levi Stubbs sound like men.

David Lee Roth, Billy Joel, at times Jagger, and Daltrey, sound like teenagers.

Mercury is in a sounds-like class all to himself.

Weiland

I saw STP about 9 years ago in Newark (the link is the opening number there).

They started off with a bang, with the audience singing along, and they never let up.

Jim Morrison

Ozzy, baby!

Mickey Thomas, Starship

Finally someone mentioned Ozzy at R173. Quite the character when he fronts for Black Sabbath. He's a mediocre vocalist at best when he doesn't trash his voice by yelling "let's go crazy" every 5 minutes, but the guy has the energy to work a crowd. He also needs to retire.

Off the top of my head, Dave Gahan or Alex Turner. I'd throw in Marcus Mumford and Dan Reynolds in there too.

Alvin from Alvin and the Chipmunks.

Mumford and Sons, Starship, Stone Temple Pilots. Don't know if you guys are trolling are actually being serious

Neil Sedaka. End of