The Old And Listless: Top Ten Frontmen, Er, Singers In Rock?

Today's post is from our friend HIM.

 

As many of you know, I treat top ten lists like I treat exercise. By which I mean, I find them only occasionally interesting. These sorts of lists are like puzzles designed to keep old people’s brains sharp, of dubious overall value though good for a bit of entertainment.

 

On April 7, the Cheat Sheet—a paragon of all things listed and lightly sourced—published “The Top Ten Best Frontmen in Rock” by Robert Yaniz Jr. With no disrespect to Yaniz Jr., it is clear that this is an opinion piece meant to elicit some sort of response. So I am responding. Well played, Robert. Well played.

 

The first thing I noticed is that there was a caveat re: who qualified. If a band had two frontmen (we will get to that issue in a moment), then they weren’t included. So that means you weren’t even in the running, Matthew and Gunnar Nelson. Secondly, you don’t need to actually need to be, well, a man (see number seven). So that might mean that Doro was considered.

 

Here is the list as presented:

1.      Mick Jagger

2.      Jim Morrison

3.      Robert Plant

4.      Freddie Mercury

5.      Kurt Cobain

6.      Roger Daltrey

7.      Stevie Nicks

8.      Joe Strummer

9.      Bruce Springsteen

10.    Bono

 

Honorable mention to (in no particular order, I assume): Steve Tyler, Axl Rose, James Hetfield, Eddie Vedder, and David Grohl. Hey, it is an honor just being nominated.

 

Now I am wondering whether the caveat was even necessary, seeing as how it is violated in at least two places. Stevie Nicks wasn’t the only frontperson in Fleetwood Mac (the name gives you a partial hint, as does the presence of a certain Buckingham who is not a palace). And I suppose Mick Jones just sorta’ hung out in the back so as to not clash, a train in vain to the chugging locomotive that was Strummer.

 

Of course, the substance of this list is, well, the list itself. One need not challenge the people represented.  But you could. One need not question the order. But you might. One need not substitute someone not listed for someone on the list. But it is possible.

 

So what say you? Has Robert Yaniz Jr., writer for hire, finally got it right? If not, what did he get wrong . . . in your humble opinion?

 

I await your reply. In the meantime, I am going to listen to some early-era Van Halen and Heart. If I have a chance I might even give some Mach II Deep Purple a spin. Why? Oh, I don’t know. Something about this list I guess.

Comments

[Jakki Steal]

My Top 10 Best Frontmen/Women Of "Rock"!

10. Perry Farrell
9. David Lee Roth
8. Shannon Hoon
7. King Diamond
6. Su Metal
5. Michael Monroe
4. Vince Neil
3. Johnny Rotten
2. Kurt Cobain
1. Axl Rose

[stu]

i can't agree with nicks, strummer or cobain. in their place i'd have to put john fogerty, ronnie james dio and paul rodgers. granted dio and rodgers fronted several bands and some of those bands had multiple frontmen, but if yaniz can cheat, so can i.

[Gary]

Steven Tyler needs to be on that list, as does everybodies favorite bi-polar ginger nutbag Axl. Kurt Cobain and Stevie Nicks could be jettisoned to make some room IMO. I'd also definitely have to put Ozzy in there, so see ya Bono.... 😊

[Shawn]

Him - you summed it up perfectly "Opinion Piece" It is just an opinion piece and every position in the list could be argued and I am getting to old to argue but I agree with Gary and what an analysis - made me laugh so hard - Bi Polar Ginger Nutbag but he is still one of the best.. Stu love Paul rogers he is also one of the greats. But I want a shirt that says Bi-Polar Ginger Nutbag - Gary you should copyright that - it is just as good as Beach Ball Sized Lady Nuts (Walking Dead)..

[Bkallday]

*If your list doesn't include Bon Scott, then it's an invalid list.

[Gary]

@Bk. DAYUM. How the hell could I forget Mr. Ronald Scott?? Springsteen is gone,Bon is in on my list. For Chrissakes I should force myself to listen to Barry Manilow or the frickin' Bay City Rollers for an hour for forgetting him. Lol.

@'Shawn "Lady nuts" makes me laugh everytime I hear or read it, let alone "beach ball sized" ones. (Guess it's from the 11 year old that lives within my broken down 53 year old body) 😂😂😂

[Kenny Ozz]

Cobain and Bono are a disgrace to the list.

[Bkallday]

Agreed Kenny!

[hlbetz]

Rob.Halford.

[Mike]

WHAT A CROCK OF FUCKING SHIT.

There is absolutely no parallel universe where Cobain, Bono or Vedder are better rock frontmen than DAVID LEE ROTH.

That's not opinion, that is a motherfuckin FACT, jack!

[Darktown]

Maybe Bruce "The air raid siren" Dickerson?? Rodgers for sure, Freddie should be higher, Halford top 5. Bon at least top 8.
Agree, just ANOTHER list from a long list of who you think versus who I think, for sure too old to really care, I like who I like, I'm good with that!

[Metalboy!]

Huh-uh-lo-oh!!!

IAN GILLAN, anyone?

This isn't just an opinion piece, it's an opinion piece by someone who doesn't know what the hell they're talking about!

With help from nearly all of the astute comments above, I give you the list from a parallel universe:

1) Robert Plant
2) Steven Tyler
3) Ozzy Osbourne
4) Rob Halford
5) Ian Gillan
6) David Lee Roth
7) Johnny Rotten
8) Joey Ramone
9) Axl Rose
10) Robin Zander

Honorable Mentions: Brian Johnson, David Coverdale, Peter Wolf, Debbie Harry, Michael Monroe, Kurt Cobain, Grace Slick, Cherie Currie, Steve Perry... I'm sure there are others that are blatantly obvious, as well... but, alas, my brain has stalled out and probably decades before writing this tonight, haha!!... Jagger is the obvious automatic go-to #1 of any list so I just left him off but I guess the above is more about personal preference, not that I don't love him. Some are listed regardless of the Love/Hate fan-to-idol (Wait! Billy Idol of Generation X!) I experience with many of them (Axl, anyone?). Funny Gary, I caught that line while watching "Walking Dead", as well! Instant classic and I would have laughed a lot harder had it not been delivered during such an emotionally intense scene.

[Metalboy!]

Doh!... As originally listed, Roger Daltrey and Freddie Mercury cannot be overlooked. And let's not forget Ray Davies, Billy Gibbons, Lemmy, David Johansson and Lane Staley, for crissakes! I would also add Stiv Bators of The Dead Boys, Dave Vanian of The Damned and last but not least, Wendy O. Williams of The Plasmatics!

Another list from another parallel universe...

The Greatest Glam Metal Lead Singers of All Time:

1) Michael Monroe
2) Vince Neil
3) Kevin Dubrow
4) Axl Rose
5) Tom Kiefer
6) Stephen Pearcy
7) Brett Michaels
8) Don Dokken
9) Mark Slaughter
10) Janie Lane
11) Jizzy Pearl

Honorable Mentions: In no particular order... Michael Matajevic, Marc Torien, Dave King, Lizzy Borden, Jason McMaster, David Roach, Phil Lewis, Taime Downe (hahaha!!!), C.J. Snare (this list just keeps getting funnier and funnier, doesn't it?), Kevin Steele, Steve Summers, Mickey Finn, Jon Bon Jovi, etc., etc....

[Shawn]

aaaghhhh Metal Boy you never disappoint - great lists and honorable mentions I would probably have Jani higher on your list but at least he made it :) The almighty godfather of front men Mr. Robert Plant at the top of your other list. Set the bar for all to follow.

[Darktown]

Plant and DLR, not because he had the best voice but because he was the one to set the bar high for all who came after. Vince too (Kind of forgot about him) he did have a kick ass voice before he resorted to every third word or having me help him sing the songs, haha. I've always been amazed with Kiefer's voice, even live, it's amazing.

[Metalboy!]

Thanks, Shawn. And, you're right, Jani Lane should be a lot higher... And how the hell could I forget Steve Whiteman, after all, I am a true Kixonian, having seen the nearly 40 times!

[Metalboy!]

p.s. BTW, Shawn... I noticed in some of your recent comments you mentioning you served in the military. I just want to say "Thank You!" for your service. I'm also curious to know, if you don't mind me asking, during your time spent in the military, did you ever listen to Heavy Metal on and/or off the job? And, if so who are the band's you were jamming out in.

[Him]

Great conversation, folks! Many thanks. I really do think these sorts of lists are only interesting if they inspire better and more nuanced lists and comments. We have that here in spades!

I don't begrudge the author his inconsistent stab at the impossible. I hope he got paid. I just hope he didn't get paid a lot. Again, he at least started an interesting conversation. So that's something.

And, Gary, you win again! When you hit it outta' the park, you HIT IT OUTTA' THE PARK!!! But, bkallday, you are spot on in referencing Bon. No other singer brought the sleaze that pleased and the smile that beguiled. I certainly think people like Cobain were talented. But Bon's loss, in terms of music that might have been and songs that always will be? No comparison. None. At. All.

[Shawn]

Metalboy and Gary thanks guys it was my privilege to serve. 22 years 3 months and 18 days not that I was counting LOL -Navy - starting in Long Beach CA in 1986 - Music is a HUGE part of deployments - I could talk for hours about music but you get 500 guys together and you get exposed to every type of music.

G n R, Poison, Cinderella, AC/DC, everything we love and discuss on these pages plus VH, Sabbath, Ozzy, Metallica, everything metal, classic , and heavy. Played in a couple of ships bands. Every time you refuel at sea or do a replenishment you practice an emergency breakaway and blast a song - nothing like hearing Crazy Train or Rock You Like a Hurricane blasting through the ship and topside as you pull away with the huge battle flags flying. I hope that answers the question and sort of paints the picture. I was lucky to work with people that mostly loved good music but you always had to be considerate of others so I was exposed to so many other types of music and developed a greater appreciation of music in general because of that.

One side note I met Hugh Syme on a dependents cruise. His cousin was on the same ship. He did album covers for Great White and others because of that we had a bootleg copy of Whitesnake's 1987 album before it came out... Thanks for asking and appreciating my service. I retired in 2008 but the struggle continues for all of my brothers and sisters in arms, please keep them in your thoughts and remember that freedom isn't free. I may not agree with foreign policy but the people that serve for us do it for each other because when your out there that is all you have is each other.