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The 20 Greatest Frontmen in Rock

Jan 15th 2010

What is it that makes a man a great rock frontman? A rare mixture of style, swagger and charisma ? and having the vocal chops to back it all up certainly doesn't hurt, either. But this isn't a list of the greatest singers of all time here ? and things like No. 1 hits or platinum album sales don't even factor. Instead, let's look at those male vocalists who just exude cool every time they take the stage and see if it is possible to pinpoint what sets them apart from the also-rans.

5. Axl Rose

Axl Rose has attained an almost mythical status -- and not only for his onstage presence. Rose is a lightning rod for controversy, be it punching an unruly reporter or taking 14 years and $12 million to make an album. Despite all that, when he is on his game, there is no one better. Barely contained intensity mixes with manic energy to make him an attention magnet. And even with the depth of talent that the other members of Guns N' Roses possessed, it was impossible to keep from watching Axl as he rushed across the stage, belting out notes that could shatter glass or bloody eardrums.

1. Elvis Presley
2. Freddie Mercury
3. Mick Jagger
4. David Lee Roth
5. Axl Rose
6. Gene Simmons
7. Ozzy Osbourne
8. Iggy Pop
9. Jim Morrison
10. Alice Cooper
11. Steven Tyler
12. Bruce Dickinson
13. Bruce Springsteen
14. David Bowie
15. Marilyn Manson
16. Robert Smith
17. Bono
18. Rob Zombie
19. Ted Nugent
20. Robert Plant

http://www.spinner.com/2010/01/15/greatest-rock-frontmen/

well.. Axl should be among the 3! Axl, Freddy and Steve Marriot

Where's Rob Halford ? ???

how is gene simmions on there when Paul does a lot of the work. plus Elvis should not be a frontman when he was a solo act.

pull out ted nuggent and put in Ian Curtis from Joy Division

That list sucks!

Here's mine:
1.   Axl Rose
2.   Freddie Mercury
3.   Jim Morrison
4.   Ozzy
5.   Bono
6.   Rob Halford
7.   Robert Plant
8.   Alice Cooper
9.   Bruce Dickinson
10. Ronnie James Dio

Honorable mention: Scott Weiland (wait, just kidding  :hihi:)

Rob zOmbie?  :confused:

I like your list Kev Money

halford and DIO definitely should make the list : ok:

No James Hetfield or Baz?

I'm a huge Elvis fan but there's always the debate over whether or not he was a "frontman". From 1970 on, I definitely say so.

But as far as "entertainers" go, my top 5 is close to theirs.

I'd say:

1 Elvis Presley
2 Michael Jackson
3 Axl Rose
4 Freddie Mercury
5 David Lee Roth

Elvis is the king,but the best frontman ever is Axl Rose

ditto the best frontman knows how to draw out his bandmates potentials
and shine them.

I'd say Elvis was a frontman, he fronted 'bands' with two of the best guitar players in their genre. Scotty Moore and James Burton... Plus no one did what he did on stage before that.

And to the person questioning Rob Zombie, have you ever seen him live? You may not like the music, and may not find alot of deep meaning in his lyrics.... but the man busts his ass on stage and puts on one hell of a show... which is what being a frontman is all about.

Why is it writen in past ... The greatest frontman in rock is out there kicking ass at the moment.

Ive seen rob zombie several times. I loved White Zombie!!!  the man can put on a show.

Eddie Vedder should be in there.

They also say this... :)

Axl should be #1! He is WAYYYYY better than David Lee Roth. :rant:

Id def put him over Roth and Mercury... I can Jagger just cause of the history etc

real shocker is Robert plant at 20...... I don't like Plant but he has to be recognized higher than that.

Just to add another indignant comment onto the pile: Robert Plant at #20?! Get that man in the top 5 at least.

Get Liam Gallagher on there too. ;D



But #5 isn't bad I guess, out of all the frontmen in the world, though I've never really considered solo guys like Elvis or Bowie  frontmen.

Yeah, I agree. Hilarious how Gene is number 6 and isn't even the best frontman in his own band.


Axl being number 5 is still great though, especially when u factor in media bias etc



Jon Bon Jovi not on the list is the true crime.

David Lee Roth number 4 ????? wtf!  :rant: :hihi:

1. Axl Rose
2. Freddie Mercury
3. Ozzy
4. Sebastian Bach

 ;D

Definitely !

But then with such lists there's always someone missing. I don't know I'm not a fan of such lists ;)

Sorry but Elivs is not Rock and Roll IMO.  He might have being a great front man but he was not Rock. 

It's hard to say who is the "best". I think Elvis is in a category of his own -- the greatest singer/entertainer of all time (i'm actually going to see an Elvis impersonator -- actually 2 of them; young Elvis/Vegas Elvis -- this weekend). When he was the young hillbilly cat there was nothing else like him (kinda like when Axl first came on the scene); in the leather outfit in '68 he was about as fucking cool as you could get; and when he was older he definitely had a charisma that is unmatched -- just look at some of the old footage of how crazy those bitches at his shows acted. Hell, they act that way for the impersonators!Nobody else could pull off wearing the jumpsuits and capes (except for Evel Knievel), and i think his voice sounded better and more powerful as he got older (i also feel that way about Axl's voice).
As far as rock bands go, for me it isn't even close -- Axl Rose is THE greatest frontman in my opinion. He has such a powerful voice and stage presence.
I would personally put Diamond Dave at number 2. I graduated when 1984 came out, so i remember when Dave was the biggest rock star in the world. Maybe not a great singer -- i always thought his voice had more attitude than "technical" talent -- but he was (and is, when i saw him with Van Halen a few years ago) a great entertainer. I saw him solo at a smallish club about 2 years before the VH reunion and when he walked on stage with that cheesy fucking grin of his, he had the crowd held tightly in the palm of his hand and never let go. I've talked to people who saw Van Halen back in the late 70s/early 80s and they said he was amazing to watch performing live.
I think i would put Robert Plant -- during the Led Zep years -- at number three. Just watch "song Remains The Same".
There are so many great frontmen over the years...Some of them you just don't realize how great they are unless you see them live. it really is subjective, depending on your personal tastes.

But nobody in my book comes close to Axl -- whether it be when i saw them in '88 or right now. 
AXL IS THE FUCKING MAN!!!

Gene Simmons is a goof  :rant:  and shouldn't even have made that list. Sorry. Just my opinion.

Bon Giovi isn't all he's cracked up to be either.  :nervous:  He's just a pretty-boy and a candy-ass.   :beer:

I'm not gonna bitch and moan about who is and isn't on there, and who should be higher, etc. I'll just say that my list would look quite different... but then everyone's individual lists would be corrupted by their personal opinion.

Yeah, he just created the whole fucking genre. ::)

it doesn't mean anything if you put a number next to these great frontmen!

i'm glad to see axl in top 5(although in my opinion he should be first :P... that's my own point of view)... but everyone has sth special

It's not necessary to stuck in these polls! even about the frontmen or guitarist or anything else. people know! ;D

True

IMO, the 10 greatest frontman in Rock (Hard) are:

1- Freddie Mercury
2- W. Axl Rose
3- Rob Halford
4- Mick Jagger
5- Robert Plant
6- Steven Adler
7- Bruce Dickinson
8- Geoff Tate
9-  Ozzy Osbourne
10- David Lee Roth

Is #6 a mistake, did you mean Perry, or are you just being "fuuny"   :-\

*ahem* I direct you to Chuck Berry. Elvis was the first white rock n' roll artist, but there were plenty of black ones before him.

I Meant STEVEN TYLER, sorry hahahaa....

And I think kev money meant Tyler also. :hihi:

I know him, thanks. I even said the same before, but the post got deleted.