Thread: Best Front-man in Music History

Michael Jackson, best front-boy in history. Nobody else has matched his solo career after leaving the group. I think Phil Collins is the closest to do so, other than maybe Lionel Ritchie.

Jim Morrison's stage presence was in sure contrast to his early performances, when he was so shy he performed with his back to the audience.

What? No love for David Lee Roth? I'm not a big fan, but when I read the title of this thread he's who I thought of first.

Originally Posted by Edgewise

I can't believe nobody has mentioned Chuck Berry yet.

Probably because he was never a front-man, he would pick up cheap musicians wherever he was, pay them naff all, collect the money and run - Imagine how good he would have been if he wasn't too tight to pay for a first-class backing band.

What era? Should we start with King Oliver, work our way through Bix Beiderbecke, Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker up to the present day - Can I include Anita O'Day, one of the best jazz singers there ever was. How am I to decide between Stefan Grappelli and Django Rheinhardt? Or do only singers count? Could we leave out Frank Sinatra, probably the best pitcher of a song that ever was, a singer who could phrase an instruction manual in a way that would make me pay attention. Where do we start with Jaques Brel, a one-man grand opera who emoted himself into an early grave. About an encyclopedia later we may run out of names...

But for me, the person who was the best front-man I've ever seen (but sadly never live) was Layne Staley. Not only did he own the stage, he also owned the chairs, the wooden floor, the bar, the beers, and everything else in whatever arena he played in. He was a nonpareil front-man

.

Alice in Chains was my favorite band back in the day. Unfortunately, I never got to see them live.

The best front-man I have ever seen? Phil Anselmo. At a concert in Toledo, someone towards the front asked him if he wanted to smoke a joint. He stopped the show, layed down on the stage and passed it back and forth with the guy while just talking to everyone. He was hilarious.

Strictly zeroing in on classic rock, Jagger has to get the nod--"I can't get no . . . no . . . no . . . no. When I'm drivin' in my car, and a man comes on the radio . . . ."

That sound is one for the ages.



John Foggerty isn't any slouch either: "Rolling, rolling, rolling . . . ."

Neither was Jimi or Janice (a gal though).

Robert Plant... I don't think any one man or band has ever put out such a large amount of music of which I can't think of one song I dislike. That sentence felt akward.

Neil Fallon, of Clutch. Incredible voice, brilliant stage presence (while remaining completely unpretentious) and a lyricist of power, poetry and grandeur.

And Maynard, of course.

Chris Cornell is up there, too.

Mark E. Smith from The Fall is the best frontsman I've seen live.

I'd say Screaming Jay Hawkins is the best of the ones I haven't seen live.

layne staley is actually my favorite frontman of any band, also. a shame i never got to
see him live. as far as the live shows i've seen? a couple decades ago, steven tyler of
aerosmith put on probably the most entertaining show. i love ozzy, but when i saw him,
it was when sharon was in the hospital with cancer, and he really didn't look too much
into performing.

Originally Posted by Terry D

What? No love for David Lee Roth? I'm not a big fan, but when I read the title of this thread he's who I thought of first.

I actually mulled over whether to mention him or not!

I had to really think on which qualities I was going to include in "front man" ranking, and decided to move away from the bad boy direction and into pure stage and singing qualities. If you're looking for a showman on and off the stage, living the rocker lifestyle he's certainly in the conversation. You could also toss in the Toxic Twins at their peak, and I'm sure a couple more notables.

The best one i have seen is "Bono" with U2 but the one i'd like to see is "Bruce springsteen" who i think is both the best front man and song writer of his generation.