We think our gallery of rock’s all-time best frontmen and women, well, rawks, but if your favorite frontperson got shortchanged, we feel your pain. We had a hard enough time winnowing down the list to about 30, and we all had favorites who didn’t make the cut. (A couple of mine: Peter Gabriel, pictured, during his early-’70s tenure as the theatrically flamboyant singer for Genesis, and Thom Yorke, who never ceases to dazzle as the voice of Radiohead.) Here’s your chance to tell us where we went wrong, and who was undeservedly neglected. Remeber to stick to our rules: We’re looking for people who are primarily singers (and not also instrumentalists, which is why we left off folks like Kurt Cobain and Billy Corgan) and who are not essentially solo artists backed by a band that bears their name (tough luck, Alice Cooper and PJ Harvey). Speak out now! Don’t let your favorite singers remain unsung.
Nov 19
2007
11:47 AM ET
Who's missing from our list of rock's best frontmen and women?
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Vince Neil from Motley Crue. One of the greats! He’s much better than Michael Stipe (and I’ve seen both in concert). Also, including Janis Joplin (as lead singer of Big Brother and the Holding Company) is pushing it. And you know that.
Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist of The Hives wasn’t included!? You have to fix that right away or else you’ll be sorry when the Hives take over the world…
Hello? Hello? Did I miss something? STEVE PERRY, ANNE WILSON. There is no list without these two.
Maynard James Keenan. Mike Patton.
Well for one, where the heck is Wayne Coyne from The Flaming Lips!? Have you ever seen them live? Dear me! Or how about Rivers Cuomo from Weezer? He gives them that much needed quirkiness. What with his thing for Asian women and dropping in and out of Harvard. Of course he’s good on stage too.
I’m happy you remembered Ian Curtis and Morrissey but where’s Dave Gahan?!?
I’m happy you remembered Ian Curtis and Morrissey but where’s Dave Gahan?!?
Maybe you excluded Eddie Vedder because he occasionally strums a guitar during Pearl Jam concerts. But he defined early to mid 90s front men. Scott Stapp wished he could be like Eddie and only looked foolish.
I’m all about Rivers Cuomo from Weezer.
Janis Joplin? Come on! Why not put her in a list of people that died too young, but front-person? I am surprised that you don’t have Peter Gabriel, but I guess not having died and having had a successful solo career kept him out of the running. Two names that I might add would be Mark Hollis of Talk Talk (amazing live) and Tim Booth from James. I believe he was first hired as a dancer to have on stage, but soon became their vocalist when they realized he could sing. Finally, I think a shout out should go to Holly Johnson from Frankie Goes to Hollywood. Yes, it only really lasted one double album–but the flamboyancy and campiness has not been matched since. (Oh my, I am reliving the 80s…argh)
Omigod! Adam Ant from Adam and the Ants…all that drama…all those puffy shirts…all the tribal chanting! Yes I know I’m in the minority on this one but who else better epitomizes the 80′s? Plus he taught me how to wear make-up.
And am I the only one who thinks the inclusion of Jon Bon Jovi is bending the rules a bit?
Where was Bruce Springsteen???? How was it possible for the Boss to be excluded? He is one of the greatest live acts ever! He is so much better than Bon Jovi. Come on!
Broadway, I agree with you on both counts. This is not to discount the staying power of Jon Bon Jovi, but the rules did say it couldn’t be a singer that had the band named after themselves. Which is why Bruce didn’t make the cut.
You include the flipping YeahYeahYeahs(???) and Morrissey and you forget one of the most quintessential frontmen ever – STING?!?! HEllooooooo! Especially since The Police are on their totally kickbutt reunion tour!