dAVe80 Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 If we include singers outside of Rock music, it's got to be James Brown, hands down. If you're including solo artists, then I'd go for Otis Redding every time. The voice, fantastic showman, fantastic backing band. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RunRickyRun Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 Everson Allen Dennis Brown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Rev Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 The more I think about it the more I think of Jarvis Cocker. He ticks every box really, always in the papers, definitely the face of his band (go on, how many people can name the other members of Pulp?) and really good on stage. Great fun and always has the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand. Pulp's spectacular rise to fame was largely on the back of him doing his thing when due to a bloke in Manchester falling off his pushbike they somehow found themselves headlining Glastobury 1995 and Jarvis was the star of the show. Wayne Coyne is great too. His band never had the mainstream success they deserve, but anybody who has seen The Flaming Lips live will know what I mean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thetrees Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 Glad to see that people can be a bit objective sometimes. As Freddie's already mentioned and my obvious choice I'll name two other singers that I've seen live that I think are great front men: Geoff Tate (whwich ain't a too big surprise to some either, I presume) and Bruce Dickinson. . I saw Dickinson when he fronted Samson, and he was nothing special. At the same time Iron Maiden, with Di'Anno as front man were excellent. As Maiden live continued to be excellent I concluded that it was the band, not the front man that were the driving force. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Rev Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 Dickinson does know how to fly though. You cant argue with that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Risso Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 The more I think about it the more I think of Jarvis Cocker. He ticks every box really, always in the papers, definitely the face of his band (go on, how many people can name the other members of Pulp?) and really good on stage. Great fun and always has the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand. Pulp's spectacular rise to fame was largely on the back of him doing his thing when due to a bloke in Manchester falling off his pushbike they somehow found themselves headlining Glastobury 1995 and Jarvis was the star of the show. Wayne Coyne is great too. His band never had the mainstream success they deserve, but anybody who has seen The Flaming Lips live will know what I mean. Two great choices Nays. Pulp are one of THE great English bands, and Cocker is easily one of the best songwriters and frontmen of our generation. I've seen the Flaming Lips loads of times, and Wayne Coyne is **** ace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Posted October 19, 2011 VT Supporter Share Posted October 19, 2011 I always thought that Wayne Coyne was a fantastic front man! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Rev Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 The first time I saw the Flaming Lips was when they were touring The Soft Bulletin. There was no drum kit on stage, the Drummer was projected onto a white sheet behind the band instead. Wayne Coyne came onto stage absolutely caked in blood. Race for the Prize kicks in and I knew I was in for a treat. I wasnt disappointed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Risso Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 It would have been about the same time time that I saw them, at the Bowlie festival at Camber Sands that Belle and Sebastian were headlining. What an awesome weekend that was, Belle and Sebastian, Teenage Fanclub, Mercury Rev, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Mogwai, Jarvis Cocker (DJing) and The Flaming Lips, who blew everybody else out of the water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Rev Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 Oh, and Cristiano Ronaldo deserves a mention too. He is a great front man, 96 goals in his first 100 games for Madrid, and everybody has an opinion on him, which is part of the job too isnt it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Risso Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 Oh, and Cristiano Ronaldo deserves a mention too. He is a great front man, 96 goals in his first 100 games for Madrid, and everybody has an opinion on him, which is part of the job too isnt it? His record really does stand comparison with the best players ever. 10 hat tricks for Real Madrid, and the only player ever to score 40 goals in one La Liga season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrDuck Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 Somebody agree with my Joe Strummer IMMEDIATELY!!! Great guy and an exceptional talent, but for me The Clash were always Joe and Mick. I guess my argument falls down if you think of other double acts which include a great front man (Mick & Keef, Noel & Liam) but Strummer to me is a great singer songwriter and the brains behind one of the best bands ever. I just dont think of him as a front man. Agree. It's not really fair to single out Joe, as having Joe, Mick and Paul in the band was like having 3 front men. It is entirely fair to single out Joe, because he was the front man! And a **** great one. Mick was just the sidekick. I saw Joe with the Mescaleros in New Zealand in 1999 - the only time I've seen him live - and he was just brilliant. Such a huge presence. You knew you were in the company of a bona-fida legend. And I'll add the following: Bob Marley Freddie Mercury Luke Kelly Jarvis Cocker Mike Scott Justin Sullivan Nick Cave Stiv Bators Jello Biafra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ponky Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 A few from Down Under Until he choked on his own belt.... Until he choked on his own vomit.... Until he choked on his own self-righteousness and sold out to a political party.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pelle Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 Glad to see that people can be a bit objective sometimes. As Freddie's already mentioned and my obvious choice I'll name two other singers that I've seen live that I think are great front men: Geoff Tate (whwich ain't a too big surprise to some either, I presume) and Bruce Dickinson. . I saw Dickinson when he fronted Samson, and he was nothing special. At the same time Iron Maiden, with Di'Anno as front man were excellent. As Maiden live continued to be excellent I concluded that it was the band, not the front man that were the driving force. You might be right. I've never seen Dickinson without Maiden or vice verse. But yes, the whole band is behind their great shows but as the front man of Iron Maiden I think he's very good. One of the best I've seen. And well supported. Especially by Harris and McBrain. But as said, you might be right that without the band behind him he might be average or worse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dAVe80 Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 Somebody agree with my Joe Strummer IMMEDIATELY!!! Great guy and an exceptional talent, but for me The Clash were always Joe and Mick. I guess my argument falls down if you think of other double acts which include a great front man (Mick & Keef, Noel & Liam) but Strummer to me is a great singer songwriter and the brains behind one of the best bands ever. I just dont think of him as a front man. Agree. It's not really fair to single out Joe, as having Joe, Mick and Paul in the band was like having 3 front men. It is entirely fair to single out Joe, because he was the front man! And a **** great one. Mick was just the sidekick. Bit harsh! Mick was far from a side kick. I love The Clash, and obviously Joe Strummer, but to underplay Mick and the rest of the band's contribution with a statement like that, is well wide of the mark in my opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Rev Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 Indeed. I'd have spat out my coffee had I been drinking any. The question is about frontmen, not who is your favourite band. The Clash were very much a group in my opinion. Arguing for Joe Strummer would be like arguing for John Lennon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommybringsgiants Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 I'm a big fan of Ian Mackaye and Henry Rollins when they were both credible.... As a metal head, I have to rate Phil Anselmo as my favorite but also have to mention: Manson Rob Zombie Rob Halford Alic Cooper Axl Rose Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewiek2 Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 Ooh, and how can I forget this man? In terms of sheer entertainment, simply brilliant (though Matt Berry's brand of psychedelic space-folk is a somewhat acquired taste). FAAATHHHEERRRRRR!!!! For me the 2 'front men' that really engaged the crowd when I saw them were Neil Hannon and Jarvis Cocker. But are they they best 'front man'? Probably not of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humanoid Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 Dave Gahan Bruce Dickinson Paul Di'Anno Axl Rose and Billy Idol if had been part of a band Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hev Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 and Billy Idol if had been part of a band Generation X Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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