Who's the best front man, or woman, of all time?

bingefeller

Ronnie James Dio
Mick Jagger
David Lee Roth
Freddie

Gassage

1. Freddie
2. Bowie
3. Stipe
4. Buckingham
5. Finn

Those are the best I've seen

GSPBASSES

Freddie

vasselmeyer

1950s Elvis might be a decent shout. Certainly the (white) world had never seen anything like it before.

And as a distant second to Freddie, I saw INXS at their "Kick" height, and, damn, Michael Hutchene was utterly mesmerising.

Legionreturns

Jerry Lee Lewis wasn't backward in coming forward. Bags of charisma. 

By contrast, Dylan, at least when I saw him, briefly spoke once but otherwise just went through the motions. The crowd might as well not have been there. 

BloodEagle

Best that I’ve seen - Bruce Dickinson
Worst that I’ve seen - the haircut from The Strokes, whatever he’s called. Spent the entire gig trying to look cool but was just dull

Best Ever - Mr Freddie Mercury, obviously 
Worst Ever - Pre-GNR reformation Axl Rose, kept the crowd waiting for hours and acted like a spoilt kid when he did appear, and Robbie Williams, because I just hate him 

underdog

Legionreturns said:

I'd agree with Freddie...

Personally I really like the way Eddie Vedder gets pissed throughout the evening but still has banter... But I know he's not everyone's cuppa

Was going to say Eddie myself, seen Pearl Jam playing to 80,000 people and Eddie solo with a uke and either way he is completely captivating.

Surely in his prime Axl Rose would be up there, you genuinely didn't know what was going to happen next (provided he made it to the stage)

darcym

that is one of Eddie's strong points, he plays to 80'000 people like he'd play and engage with 80 people.

Freddie is always going to be one of the reference points for a front man, and I'm a big fan, but I wonder would his way of engaging and controlling the crowd still be a winning approach in 2018 ?

fandango

Male: Robert Plant; Roger Daltrey; John Lydon (Johnny Rotten); Sting; Chuck Berry; Ozzy Osbourne

Female: Tina Turner (already mentioned above); Patti Smith; Susie Quattro

AlexC

Agree with many that have been said - Mercury, Daltry, Lydon, Harry. I’d like to add Jarvis Cocker. Seen Pulp a few times and he’s always bang on the money. Engages the audience, genuinely funny, very professional and cool. V Festival in 97 (I think)... grand finale. He just threw a shape with a lit cigarette in his hand. Back lit. Bass and synth just ticking over. The whole band motionless for about a minute. Then he dropped his fag and, perfectly timed, the sky exploded with fireworks. Brilliant bit of rock theatre.

prowla

Alvin said:

Purely on charisma rather than singing (as that really should be a different thing) .
 
  Bon Scott .

  And i imagine a lot of people would say Liam Gallagher which i don't get as he has zero stage presence for me , looking like you want a punch up isn't good .

I was going to say Liam Gallagher - he has the most stage presence of anybody I've seen.

prowla

(Oh, and I'm not a Freddie Mercury fan...)

Phil_aka_Pip

+1 for Rod Stewart, Mick Jagger, Freddie Mercury, Tina Turner.

Pat Benatar was pretty good, too

Although James Taylor has a self-effacing manner I do like his stage presence.

Sassafras

Gary Glitter.

EricTheWeary

This is a conversation I’ve had outside guitar  forums and people always say Freddie Mercury. 

Out of people I’ve seen live ( including Freddie Mercury ) as the ones who struck me the most I’d include Phil Lynott ( I saw him when I was 15 and 19 so this is a long time ago but at a big gig and a small gig and I just loved him at both), Tina Turner (also thirty odd years ago so how well do I recall it really?), Robert Plant and Garth Brooks ( who I don’t really like on record but was just superb live). 

musteatbrain

It’s David Lee Roth for both.
close thread

Legionreturns

Phil Anselmo... He's quite the charmer

lasermonkey

Stipe
 Siouxsie

HAL9000

Agree with Jagger and Mercury. Would add Genesis era Peter Gabriel. Also Lee Brilleaux wasn’t too shabby.

Sassafras

I can't say Freddie Mercury because I absolutely loathe Queen.

I've been very impressed with Lee Brilleaux every time I've seen Dr Feelgood.
He put loads of energy into his performances.