Top Ten Greatest Rock N Roll Front-Men

Through the next ten hubs, I will be presenting my list of the top ten rock front-men of all time. Now, this list is different than say…best singer or best vocalist of all time. My top ten list will not be based on album sales, vocal range or media attention, it will be based on how they front their band with a heavy emphasis on live performances. Now, I have a list of fifty front-men that I have widdled down to a solid ten. I am sure you will be shocked with my number two man, who would actually be in the number one spot if it wasn’t for the sheer greatness of the actual number one guy.

So, as I begin this list of all time great front-men, let me first address the list of people who barely missed out on the top ten. In the eighties, or “hair metal” era, there were a number of very talented and amazing singers such as Sebastian Bach, Vince Neil, Bret Michaels & Jon Bon Jovi; any of who could be on many top ten front-man lists. I chose to not put those listed for a number of reasons. I know they are all great singers and great performers but I thought I could only put one in the top ten and my selection is head and shoulders better than those listed above. Now, as I said before, my rankings are not based on record sales or media attention because Jon Bon Jovi would have won this in a landslide…well it would be close between my selection and Jon Bon Jovi.

Then I looked at the classic rock singers and had trouble deciding who I thought were actually deserving of being in the top ten. I am not sold on any of the Beatles, Paul Rogers, Geddy Lee, Steve Perry or Alice Cooper as being in the top ten. I don’t know if Ozzy is considered Classic rock, I think he is, but some don’t… he isn’t on my list anyway. The reasons for some of these guys, such as Ozzy, Roger Daltrey, John Lennon, Paul McCartney or Geddy Lee is they simply don’t exert the emotion and energy during live performances as they do on their albums. I have seen Ozzy live and he doesn’t move around all that much other than jumping up and down from time to time and clapping here & there; he is still awesome, just not as good as my top ten. Just look at old footage from Black Sabbath; he never was a great “performer.” The same can be said for Roger Daltrey, he just didn’t perform as well as my top ten list and it pains me to say that because I think the Who were the greatest rock band of all time.

In the “grunge” era there were a number of excellent vocalists who shared their talents with the world such as Kurt Cobain, Chris Cornell, Mike Patton, Billy Corgan & Eddie Vedder. Again, I thought only one nineties front-man could be considered for my list. I am sure a lot of people have Kurt, Chris or Eddie on their list, and I was close to putting Chris Cornell on mine, but he was slightly edged out.

Lastly, before I start with my number ten front-man, I want to address the last group of people that didn’t make it into my top ten. This group of people I consider to be either from newer bands or have been in a few different genres or eras. Scott Wieland could be considered part of the grunge era if it weren’t for Velvet Revolver, same goes for Chris Cornell. James Hetfield has been metal for his long career, which has spanned through the “hair metal” and “Grunge” eras. Kid Rock is a great performer but I think he is too reliant on a stage presentation and theatrics as is Paul Stanley & Roger Waters. Also I didn’t include Bono, Billy Idol, Brandon Flowers or David Bowie because I feel they are more pop than rock.

Now, on to the top ten rock front-men of all time!

10. Layne Staley – Layne was known for his haunting and powerful voice singing songs about drug abuse, destruction and depression throughout his short career with Alice In Chains and Mad Season. I remember seeing Layne perform during the tour supporting Facelift and I got chills listening to his voice and watching his performance. He was not the type of singer to run around like a chicken with his head cut off but he was able to stand in one place yet gain the attention of everyone in the audience. Layne was dirty, had nasty dreadlocks, looked like a homeless man, sang about being a junkie yet kicked ass every time he took the stage.

I remember seeing him perform the song “Love Hate Love” and being completely in awe of his rock greatness. I consider “Love Hate Love” the best Alice in Chains song because of that performance. If you can find a copy of Alice in Chains live facelift (I think it may only be available in VHS) buy it immediately and watch that show. In that performance there are no special laser shows or fancy light display, just a band performing their songs and displaying pure emotion and rock! Layne stands front and center, shakes his dirty dreads back and forth as he sings and bleeds rock and roll; that is what gets him to my top ten greatest rock front-men list.

I don’t know what to think about the new Alice in Chains that are touring and recording a new album as of yet; I hear the new guy sounds just like Layne. Either way, I will hold my judgment until I hear the new album or see them live once again.

I didn’t put Laney Staley on the list because he was dead either. Most lists I read that talk about all time greats usually overrate musicians who have passed away. I always see top guitarist of all time and Kurt Cobain is usually on there…are you serious? Kurt was awesome, but he should never be thought of as a great guitarist. When I was a teenager, I taught myself how to play and learned all the Nirvana songs with ease. He couldn’t solo and if you can’t do that…you shouldn’t be on a list of greatest of all time. I thought I might get this negative reaction from people who read this article saying I only put him on there because Layne is dead. Nope.

9. Steven Tyler – Stephen Tyler is one of the few front-men in the history of Rock N Roll with such a distinctive voice that you know immediately who it is. No one sounds like Steven and no one can match his on stage prowess. Being the front-man of one of the most successful American rock bands for the past 30 some years would wear on most individuals, but Steven sound just as good today as he did in the seventies.

Most of the classic rock bands such as Led Zeppelin and The Who have to tune down to cater to the aging voice of their singers, but Aerosmith still rocks in the same keys they did when the songs were written. Steven still has the same stage presence he did when he was younger, still dresses the same, still moves the crowd at ease and still blows most other singers off the stage.

Not many people can perform a song like “Walk This Way” and “Love in an Elevator” whipping the crowd into a frenzy then accomplishes pulling a complete 180 by performing a ballad like “Dream On” drastically altering the atmosphere and mood of thirty thousand people and still be amazing.

Unlike some of the people on this list, Steven is still relevant in today’s music. Steven is still writing new music; still selling out arena’s and is still “bringing it” for his core fans and the new generations who are just getting into Aerosmith.

8. Mick Jagger – Mick Jagger is what most people (musicians and fans alike) think a front-man is supposed to be; outgoing, full of energy, full of emotion and lastly…full of talent. Mick has become the measuring point of front-men in not only in rock but in all genres.

When on stage, Mick has his signature moves, his signature stage persona and his unique overall stage presence. If you see a singer / front-man at your local bar, you can always tell when he is imitating the great Mick Jagger and that is probably the main reason he is on my list. Mick was and is full of life, energy and rockstardom. I just made up that word, but I like it and it completely fits Mick Jagger.

One thing I have noticed from seeing footage of him in action is how much fun the audience has while Mick is performing. He keeps things interesting in ways no other singers do. Mick can change the feel of the show with the smallest gesture that makes everyone cheer and go crazy.

I don’t think Mick Jagger will ever be on the list of people top ten singers, but it is everything else he does which makes him a great front-man.

7. David Lee Roth – Love him or hate him, David Lee Roth is one of the greatest personalities of 80’s rock. That personality is one of the major factors escalating him into the top ten front-men of all time. He is a stereotypical lead singer in every way imaginable. He is conceded, selfish, always concerned about his fame, hard to get along with and…well he kicks ass on stage.

Obviously David Lee Roth will be forever known as the first Lead Singer for Van Halen, but he was also pretty successful as a solo artist. David was also a radio talk show personality for a few months…I guess lead singers don’t make good talk show hosts.

On stage David Lee Roth is energetic, flamboyant, funny and inspiring. He has a knack for the dramatics and is always interacting with the crowd in-between songs. I actually saw him right before the Van Halen reunion at a local festival and he was phenomenal. He may have aged in appearance but he sounded just like he did as a mere youth. Playing songs from the Van Halen catalog such as “Hot For the Teacher”, “Ice Cream Man”, “Ain’t Talkin Bout Love”, “Unchained” and “Panama” made me so envious of the people who got to see them him perform in his prime. If I was able to see everyone in their prime, it would have been completely jaw dropping and this performance of David at the festival was unbelievable as it was.

Like Steven Tyler, David Lee Roth’s voice is one of a kind. From the opening lyrics of any Van Halen song, you know its Diamond Dave on vocals. He has a rasp that is perfect for rock and a stage show as grandiose as his lifestyle and personality.

6. Jim Morrison – Out of all the front-men on my list, I think Jim actually felt the music more than anyone else. I think he actually linked himself in some cosmic way to the music being played; so during his performances the music sort of oozed out of his soul. Well, it could also be all the drugs this dude did, I mean he did his share of drugs in his day…and my share and your share…etc.

Other than his legendary drug consumption, which was actually pretty prevalent in all the front-men on this list, Jim Morrison built a sort of mystique from his performances and behaviors. He became the “Lizard King”; he could do “anything” yet was pretty universally loved by all music fans in his time.

I really liked Jim Morrison because he had a pretty small range in voice, wasn’t always in tip-top shape during his shows, yet was able to achieve greatness on a nightly basis. The doors did not “rock” in terms of loud guitars, thundering drums etc; but Jim was able to “bring the thunder” as Jack Black would say. There were nights were Jim Morrison was barley coherent, unable to stand strait and mere moments away from passing out, but those were still pretty f**king cool performances. How many other artists can pull that off?

I mean, there have been other drug riddled disaster cases in terms of lead singers and front-men (I’m talking to you Scott Weiland) who get a ton of press and fans by their antics and controversies; but no one has come close to being on the Jim Morrison Level. Jim was more than a talented drug tormented artist, he was a poet, performer and a legend.

5. Robert Plant – As I watched the Grammy’s a few months ago, I watched Robert Plant and Allison Kraus win for best album. As he walked up to the Podium, they showed the reactions of different artists such as Coldplay, Kanye West and Kid Rock. Those are the big, high profile artists now-a-days and it was funny to me how none of them can hold a candle to Robert Plant or Led Zeppelin. I would have loved to see Kanye pull some bulls**t on Robert like he does at most award shows. I could just picture Robert Plant shaking his head, looking over at Kanye and saying…”do you know who I am?” “I am f**king Robert Plant, man.” Robert would have given him a proper scolding about how he thinks Kanye is a clown and acts like an ass before telling him to learn something from the true legends as himself. That’s my own make-believe world though…sigh.

Robert Plant has one of the most recognizable voices in the history of rock. Led Zeppelin was one of the biggest influences of all rock n roll bands from the past 30 years Robert was the front-man leading the charge. Although I had never gotten the opportunity to see them live, I have seen a ton of footage from their numerous shows…he is brilliant. Now, he isn’t so great now because he has a few years built up on his vocal chords and can’t hit the notes he made famous, but hey…he is no spring chicken.

I was amazed how he would interact with the band, portray the music through his body and voice and conduct the energy and atmosphere at will. He as one of those guys who would open his mouth, hit some crazy notes and leave you in amazement.

4. Axl Rose – Axl probably had the biggest reputation of being a complete bat-sh*t crazy guy who has turned into more of a myth than a person. He is a victim of all stories of him losing his mind, being a complete ass to people and thinking the world revolves around him; oh and the 14 years in the making 12 million dollar album that was just released. I take these stories with a grain of salt because as they say, the truth lies between each party’s story and who really know what truly happened to Guns N Roses. I mean, GNR were all complete disaster junkies, and they probably have cloudy memories of what happened themselves.

Anyway, recently the mythical and long predicted album “Chinese Democracy” was released to mixed reviews. You would think the release would catapult Axl back into the spotlight and sell millions of albums…unfortunately Axl decided not to promote the album, remain in his recluse lifestyle and do nothing. Yea…maybe his is a little crazy. Regardless, I bought the album and I actually think it’s great.

Axl as a front-man is fantastic. Axl puts his heart and soul into his performances…maybe a little too much. Yes he would bitch about the sound, would go on stage hours late and do some weird and unexplained things, but he wanted to give the fans a great show and he wanted to be great. I was able to see them once and I thought it was one of the best shows I had ever witnessed. Axl was crazy, running back and forth from one side of the stage to the other. As a member of the audience you couldn’t help but fixate on his performance. From time to time you obviously check out what the rest of the guys are doing, but the main attention was always Axl.

I don’t think Axl has the greatest singing voice live because after about thirty minutes his voice is cashed, but he that doesn’t stop him from entertaining you for the remainder of the show and he can squeeze out some crazy notes when he digs deep.

Axl is a lightning rod that keeps you as a band in the conversations of millions whether it be for crazy antics, refusing to play a particular show, fighting with band-mates and possibly inciting riots which makes him even that more of a great front-man. Even now, he hasn’t done a thing to promote “Chinese Democracy” yet people are talking about him.

Since I really like his new material, I really want to see them when they go on tour this summer. I wonder how much he has left in the gas tank, but even if he doesn’t, I get to see a living legend perform once again.

3. Freddie Mercury – Freddie Mercury is probably one of the greatest singers of all time. He had range for days, perfect pitch and the ability to navigate through numerous genres. In my opinion, Freddie was a musical genius who built songs and melodies unlike any other musician / singer, not only from his era, but to this day. Has there been another Bohemian Rhapsody type song…nope. Now, I am not taking anything away from Brian May and the other members of Queen, but when you think Queen, you think Freddie Mercury.

Queen was great, had awesome songs, huge hits and complicated arrangements, yet they could pull it off live. I have a bunch of Queen DVD’s and I am amazed every time I watch them how spot-on Freddie is with this vocals. I never hear him hit off keys, he is never pitchy (like Randy Jackson likes to say) all while exuding unbelievable energy and stage theatrics.

On Bohemian Rhapsody, obviously it is very difficult to pull off live due to the instrumentation and production involved. As I watch Queen perform that song, I thought this is where the wheels would come off and expose the lack of musicians and back-up singers…but I was wrong. Even though they sing the middle of the song to a recorded track, Freddie is able to keep you invested and interested in what HE is doing where you don’t need the organic musical performance from the album. That alone makes him great.

2. Phil Anselmo – Phil Anselmo is a beast...period. I have never seen a front-man exude power as Phil Anselmo. In my youth I was able to attend numerous Pantera concerts growing up and was able to see Phil grow from tour to tour as a front-man. I haven’t seen a front-man work the crowd into a crazy, out of control, moshpit-frenzy like Phil. Phil conducted chaos and aggression with ease as he screamed lyrics of anger, power and rebellion over a symphony of metal.

Phil was the front-man of Pantera, Down, Superjoint Ritual and a bunch of other side project bands that no one really cared too much about. In my opinion, Phil made Pantera great. Many say Dimebag and Vinnie were the driving force behind Pantera and its success, but where would they be without Phil? That is like saying Guns N Roses were Slash, Duff, Izzy & Steven…when everyone knows it was Axl. Guns N Roses with no Axl is Velvet Revolver, still good, but not great…that is what I am saying about Pantera and Phil Anselmo.

If you ever attended a Pantera or Down show, you can see how Phil embodies metal. There is something completely bad-ass about him that can be seen from the moment he steps on stage. He interacts with his audience as if we all were old drinking buddies and gives 100% at every single show. I have watched hours of footage and attended 5 shows of his over the past 20 years of my life and he puts his heart and soul into every performance and every song.

Now, Phil has had his share of problems and negative media attention, but he is a lead singer…you have to expect that; especially if you are great. Just look at the list thus far, there are a bunch of great front-men and a bunch of crazy head cases as well (Axl, I’m looking at you). Phil has had drug problems, medical problems, fought with his bandmates and made some poor choices, but none of that can eclipse his undeniable raw talent as being a great front-man. Like I said earlier…Phil is a beast.

1. Elvis Presley – Elvis is the greatest of all time…do I really have to justify this? It’s been 32 years since his death and everyone, even children, still recognizes him on a first name basis. He is the King and there will never be another like him.