Best Frontman

Fat Freddy wrote:

My inner KISS fanboy wants to know why Paul Stanley/Gene Simmons were not included in the list... yeah, I know, they're older than dirt now but back in the day nobody could touch 'em. Double the frontmen, double the awesomeness.

I hear ya. I wanted to glance at frontmen that weren't married to an instrument. Perhaps another poll with frontmen with instruments will come about.

If only the max for a poll was 15; this would be so much easier...

Robert Plant

and another one that should be on the list: Roger Daltrey

I chose "Blitz". He really knows how to talk to his audience, between songs.

S.D. wrote:

Robert Plant

and another one that should be on the list: Roger Daltrey

Yeah, now I feel like shit. Here I am always complaining that The Who are ignored too often in the hard rock and metal crowds and I go and leave his name off the list. I'm dropping Bobby and going with Roger.

So the poll doesn't matter much anymore, but this is a great discussion!  

The instrument thing is a weird one because there are some great Guitar/Singer showmen, Hendrix, Nugent, those make up wearing dudes, but I can understand why you just went for out front singers.

I've seen a fair few of the guys that have been mentioned over the years, Dickinson, Ozzy, Dio, Maine, DLR, Gene & Paul, Lemmy, Iggy, Chuck, but for sheer stage presence, I don't think I've seen anyone better than Andrew Eldritch (Sisters of Mercy) I saw them in an open air gig supporting Depeche Mode, it was a bright sunny day, not a very good version of SOM and I didn't think that it was going to work, but they were brilliant! He just had a way of drawing you into his world, even in the sunshine, a brilliant frontman, the perfect mix of Bowie & Iggy.

I would have loved to see Freddie and Mick in their pomp, I was tempted to go with either of those, but I never saw either so I went with guys that have actually blown me away.

Roth is also up there for me because he was so much damn fun to watch, even at the reunion show. Watching the later shows from the 1984 tour though he was pretty faded.

With Daltrey I saw him solo back in...'94, I think. I went to the show with my dad, thinking, okay this should be an OK show. I've not forgotten it since. Roger was all over the place, lassoing the microphone and walking out in the audience. Entwistle was with him and the two made an awesome pair. I remember being skeptical when the second scream was coming on Won't Get Fooled...good Lord, the whole fair was talking about that scream the rest of the night.

Bon Scott  

Dee Snider!!

And if you didn't vote for Dee, you clearly never seen the guy live!

kmorg wrote:

Dee Snider!!

And if you didn't vote for Dee, you clearly never seen the guy live!

I haven't but my enduring memory of the live Dee Snyder experience was a radio airing of their Monsters of Rock set from 1984. The Donington crowd just didn't get TS and were giving the band serious abuse. Dee went into an amazing rant and threatened to beat the $h!t out of the whole crowd! (all 70,000 of them  ) At 13 years old, this level of swearing was hilarious! I don't think that they ever played MOR again.

That said, my cousin who's musical taste never really leaves the realm of Black Metal and Dark Ambient, saw them live a couple of years ago and said that they were brilliant.

kmorg wrote:

Dee Snider!!

And if you didn't vote for Dee, you clearly never seen the guy live!

Finally saw TS back in may and it was a great show - I was surprised at how good they are live. TS has not been able to capture it on video

Voted for Bruce but but before I even saw the list my first thought was Steven Tyler. Follow-up would have been Michael Sweet.

Since my favorite as in the ones I enjoy the most was not listed I went by talent and that is Freddie Mercury

As for favorites as in who I enjoy, Freddie is on the list, as is Scott Weiland, Jimmy Brown II, David Bowie, and Emily Hines though she'd be a frontwoman not a frontman hehe

thejokeriv wrote:

kmorg wrote:

Dee Snider!!

And if you didn't vote for Dee, you clearly never seen the guy live!

Finally saw TS back in may and it was a great show - I was surprised at how good they are live. TS has not been able to capture it on video

No doubt. Dee commanded an audience! His in-between song banter was as entertaining as the music.

Of course I could say the same thing about Ted Nugent.

I went with Dee.Like others have mentioned,he makes you feel like apart of the show.DLR is another good choice for showmanship.

Surprised at so many votes for Bruce, I don't even think that he's the best frontman that Iron Maiden have had. He's the best singer, but Paul's banter and rapport with the audience was legendary (I think that Steve Harris has said the same thing in the past)

I've always found Bruce to be a bit too smug.

Boris2008 wrote:

Surprised at so many votes for Bruce, I don't even think that he's the best frontman that Iron Maiden have had. He's the best singer, but Paul's banter and rapport with the audience was legendary (I think that Steve Harris has said the same thing in the past)

I've always found Bruce to be a bit too smug.

\

No way - Bruce is a much better front man. Maybe Steve might have said that after Bruce left because he was pissed.......

I've seen Paul live - his rapport with the audience is legendary, but for different reasons.... i.e. telling the sound guy "I've been doing this 30 f*cking years and this is the worst sound ever - get your shit together mate! F*ck!", telling people "I'll come down and kick your ass - I'm English!" proceeded by the venue telling Paul off stage he won;t get paid unless he gets back on stage.....

Have you been to a Maiden gig recently? Bruce knows how to work the crowd and get them into the show.

thejokeriv wrote:

Boris2008 wrote:

Surprised at so many votes for Bruce, I don't even think that he's the best frontman that Iron Maiden have had. He's the best singer, but Paul's banter and rapport with the audience was legendary (I think that Steve Harris has said the same thing in the past)

I've always found Bruce to be a bit too smug.

\

No way - Bruce is a much better front man. Maybe Steve might have said that after Bruce left because he was pissed.......

I've seen Paul live - his rapport with the audience is legendary, but for different reasons.... i.e. telling the sound guy "I've been doing this 30 f*cking years and this is the worst sound ever - get your shit together mate! F*ck!", telling people "I'll come down and kick your ass - I'm English!" proceeded by the venue telling Paul off stage he won;t get paid unless he gets back on stage.....

Have you been to a Maiden gig recently? Bruce knows how to work the crowd and get them into the show.

You can't really judge Paul on what he's like now, life, and Paul himself have not been kind to him, but he was a great frontman although maybe his charm was never going to be as international as Bruce's, his sense of humor was always very East End.

I have seen Maiden with Bruce, but not recently (unless you call 86 and 88 recent  ) , he just didn't do it for me, he's a good singer, but I don't get his charisma, there was only so many times I was prepared to SCREEEEAAAAM for him.

Boris2008 wrote:

Surprised at so many votes for Bruce, I don't even think that he's the best frontman that Iron Maiden have had. He's the best singer, but Paul's banter and rapport with the audience was legendary (I think that Steve Harris has said the same thing in the past)

I've always found Bruce to be a bit too smug.

I think it's partially due to Maiden being the most beloved band of the poll here. I mean, they are definitely a very entertaining to watch, but the performance, the show delivered by say Jagger or Mercury are on the whole different level imo. Though I've never ever seen anyone live here on the poll, this is my impression through multiple youtube experiences.

Boris2008 wrote:

The instrument thing is a weird one because there are some great Guitar/Singer showmen, Hendrix, Nugent, those make up wearing dudes, but I can understand why you just went for out front singers.

I've seen a fair few of the guys that have been mentioned over the years, Dickinson, Ozzy, Dio, Maine, DLR, Gene & Paul, Lemmy, Iggy, Chuck, but for sheer stage presence, I don't think I've seen anyone better than Andrew Eldritch (Sisters of Mercy) I saw them in an open air gig supporting Depeche Mode, it was a bright sunny day, not a very good version of SOM and I didn't think that it was going to work, but they were brilliant! He just had a way of drawing you into his world, even in the sunshine, a brilliant frontman, the perfect mix of Bowie & Iggy.

I would have loved to see Freddie and Mick in their pomp, I was tempted to go with either of those, but I never saw either so I went with guys that have actually blown me away.

I've seen Sisters of Mercy and they were terrible. One of the worst live bands and biggest disappointments I've ever experienced. I actually like a lot of their studio albums, and thought they'd be great live too.

It was just unenergetic, no presence, no life, mechanically reproducing songs and I thought they'd at least get a live drummer for their show. But I guess even that was too much to ask.

Bobby Blitz, without a doubt. Brucie would run him a close second.

PS: I saw Twisted Sister in 1983 and Dee was awesome as well.

BearOnUnicycle wrote:

Boris2008 wrote:

Surprised at so many votes for Bruce, I don't even think that he's the best frontman that Iron Maiden have had. He's the best singer, but Paul's banter and rapport with the audience was legendary (I think that Steve Harris has said the same thing in the past)

I've always found Bruce to be a bit too smug.

I think it's partially due to Maiden being the most beloved band of the poll here. I mean, they are definitely a very entertaining to watch, but the performance, the show delivered by say Jagger or Mercury are on the whole different level imo. Though I've never ever seen anyone live here on the poll, this is my impression through multiple youtube experiences.

I saw Maiden in 90, live wise, brilliant, Brucie was a great frontman, but in no way the best I've seen. Maiden are too full of live overdubs for me to like. They reminded me of Queen when I saw them with about 20 guitar OD's. I honestly think Maiden are the most over hyped metal band in history. Since Beast (average at best - nothing compared to the raw energy of Dianno albums), they have produced mediocre, boring albums.

James B. wrote:

I'll flip a coin from the list between Roth and Plant

Notable mentions not listed are Steven Tyler, Mick Jagger, Paul Stanley, and Jim Dandy Mangrum

I don't need to flip a coin to call you a LUCKY SON OF A BITCH. To have seen Rob Plant live with Zepp, go back to the former to what I call you. Lucky bastard. I'm choking on jealousy in a nice way, brother,  

You who is a great METAL frontman, Katon DePena.

Chrome Locust wrote:

BearOnUnicycle wrote:

Boris2008 wrote:

Surprised at so many votes for Bruce, I don't even think that he's the best frontman that Iron Maiden have had. He's the best singer, but Paul's banter and rapport with the audience was legendary (I think that Steve Harris has said the same thing in the past)

I've always found Bruce to be a bit too smug.

I think it's partially due to Maiden being the most beloved band of the poll here. I mean, they are definitely a very entertaining to watch, but the performance, the show delivered by say Jagger or Mercury are on the whole different level imo. Though I've never ever seen anyone live here on the poll, this is my impression through multiple youtube experiences.

I saw Maiden in 90, live wise, brilliant, Brucie was a great frontman, but in no way the best I've seen. Maiden are too full of live overdubs for me to like. They reminded me of Queen when I saw them with about 20 guitar OD's. I honestly think Maiden are the most AWESOME band in history.   

Fixed it!