love him or hate him, any list that doesn't have Axl Rose on it is bogus in my mind. If you've seen them play, you know.
You never know what's gonna happen. You could: see the best show you've ever seen, be in the middle of a riot, get bitten or just get rocked like nobody's business.
Bring on all the haters now...he's fat, an asshole, plastic surgery blah blah blah.
He is the last true rock star...and if he delivers Chinese Democracy as promised this fall with the North American tour, look the fuck out.
Ok....Top 5 Front men:
1. Gord Downie (obviously)
2. Robert Pollard (can't believe he hasn't been mentioned yet)
3. Freddie Mercury
4. Phil Collins
5. Dude from flaming lips.
1. Gord Downie- His presence on stage is unmatched, I also think his song writing is some of the best ever, and his voice is unique.
2. Trey Anastasio (Phish/Oysterhead)- I love his voice, and the originality of how his lyrics seem to make no sense, and because Phish was one of the tightest live acts of all-time, in my opinion.
3. Robert Plant- Great song writer, part of the most legendary band in history. One of the epitomes of rock & roll.
4. Chris Robinson (The Black Crowes)- Something about his voice does it for me, and I consider him somewhat of a throw back to the old days of rock. Even if he seems to gleam with an abundance of arrogance and confidence, that in it's own way, is a part of rock.
5. Sam Roberts- I really think Sam is something special. I'm excited to see what he comes out with in the future. I really think when his career is all said and done, he and his band will go down as one of greatest musicians in Canadian rock and roll history. Up with the names like The Hip, The Guess Who, Rush, Neil Young, and many others.
Up until yesterday Gord wouldn't have come near the top of any list I made, but the man is electrifying.
Also in the top end of the list for me would be Plant, Jagger, Mercury and the like... all the classics. For me Brian Johnson is an underrated frontman too, he's really evolved inhis time with AC/DC friom what I've seen.
Damn typos, sorry about that. )
I have to agree there are some awesome names here.
Eddie Veder is one of my favorites. Axl Rose is also one that deserves to be mentioned. They used to say that when he came on stage he was like a wild animal let out of a cage, you never know what was going to happen. Too bad he went insane, they could have been HUGE for years to come.
I hope the previous post about Sam Roberts comes true. He has a ton of potential. I used to hear him jam a lot as my office was a few doors down from the loft where his band practised and it was fun to finally hear what he was playing all those months finally on disc. Good stuff. Although, I must say, I saw him backup the Hip at Place Des Arts here in Montreal and, while great, he didn't compare to Downie as a frontman. He was a lot of fun though.
Still haven't seen a name here that knocks Gord off the top of my list.
Jack White - he puts an insane amount of energy into his performances and just gets lost in the guitar and singing. It's especially amazing to consider that most of the time it's only him carrying the whole performance.
Gord - nothing to say that others haven't said.
Robert Plant - electrifying voice and live energy.
Neil Young - Balls-to-the-wall crunchy rock or soft acoustic he just has an insane amount of presence.
A few more to throw around...
David Gilmour/Roger Waters- Pink Floyd
Paul McCartney/John Lennon- Am I really the first one to mention them
Liam Gallagher- Asshole he may be, but good performer he remains
Mark Knopfler- Dire Straits
Gregg Allman- The Allman Brothers Band
Kurt Cobain- Not one of my favorites, but he deserves to be mentioned
Jerry Garcia- Grateful Dead
Cpt. Trips Wrote:Ok....Top 5 Front men:
4. Phil Collins
Mr. Disney himself....seriously??
"tth_fan Wrote:Mr. Disney himself....seriously??
in his Genesis years he was pretty good...
Gotta add Stevie Ray Vaughan, Hendrix, Meatloaf (feel free to mock me, but the guy has charisma), and some ladies, namely Janis Joplin and Debbie Harry too...
Love him or hate him, Bono is a phenomenal performer.
As for me, it's Ed Ved or Mick Jagger; no one else I've seen is even close to those two (although Gord Downie, obviously, is brilliant...I just figured I'd diversify
).
Steve
Quote:Cpt. Trips wrote:
Ok....Top 5 Front men:
4. Phil Collins
Mr. Disney himself....seriously??
Yooooooooou're NO SON! Yooooooooou're NO SON! You're NO SON OF MINE!!!
sorry...
Thom Yorke and I can't believe it took that long to get to Bono.
ct
My favorites:
Gord Downie
Eddie Vedder
Bono
Peter Garrett (Midnight Oil)
The Boss
Hugh Dillon
Ron Hawkins (Lowest of the Low)
Jeff Tweedy
Andy Maize (Skydiggers)
Mick Jagger
Axl Rose (he was great in the old days)
Chris Robinson
Steve Earle
Chris Tanz Wrote:Thom Yorke and I can't believe it took that long to get to Bono.
ct
Yeah, I'm so glad nobody has mentioned Chris Martin though!
I thin k with Bono, people tend to think of his activities outside music now almost as much as they do about U2.
Gotta add Paul Weller and Joe Strummer to the list too...
Vedder
Bono
Garrett
Downie
Neil Young- I guess he is his own front man.
Luther Dickenson- Front man/ Lead guitar- but I am throwing him in anyway.