Top 10 Best Male Frontmen of All Time
The frontman: the face, the voice, the personality that brings a band to life. They're the ones who command the stage, engage the audience, and leave a lasting impression. But who are the best male frontmen?
Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara, 5th September 1946 - 24th November 1991) was a Zanzibari-born British singer of Indian descent, songwriter and record producer, known as the lead vocalist and songwriter of the British rock band Queen. He also became known for his flamboyant stage persona and four-octave... read more There will never be another rock and roll singer, songwriter, musician, showman, and larger-than-life personality like Freddie Mercury. He was a once-in-a-lifetime combination of talent, energy, drive, self-confidence, and self-doubt, all rolled into one extraordinary man.
He had the enigmatic ability, through his music, to touch the world with the introspection of the contradictions that were Freddie Mercury. He was like a shooting star whose lifespan was cut short by the sheer force of his journey. He was a soul never to be repeated, and the world is a lesser place without him.
Robert Anthony Plant (born 20 August 1948) is an English musician, singer, and songwriter best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the rock band Led Zeppelin. When he was with Zeppelin, he had it all. His stage presence was incredible. His voice was so unique and so damn sexy. Robert and Jimmy had this sixth sense thing going on - hell, the whole band did.
They would stretch a song to 20 minutes with melodies and all meet back at the original song at the same time. It was awesome to watch. Nobody did that. Robert Plant knows how to capture the audience like no other, and his music since Zep has been awesome. Number 1 frontman.
There's no way Freddie outdoes Robert. Robert Plant is such a spectacle to watch live. His motions work with the dynamic of the song, and even when he isn't moving, he has such a stage presence. Not to mention, he's such a great singer.
Freddie always sounded so bouncy and flamboyant and never quite reached the level of intensity of emotion that Robert could reach, even in Bohemian Rhapsody.
Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as the lead vocalist and a co-founder of the Rolling Stones. Jagger is the frontman who transcends culture - his influence still electrifies and is at the core of music today, both musically and in terms of stagecraft, vocals, and fashion. Without Jagger's inspiration, we wouldn't have so many of the names on this list. He is also one of the greatest songwriters ever.
To top it all off, while music is subjective, this is mostly considered fact now.
On another note, how isn't James Brown on this list?
I think Jagger should be number 1. I know others wouldn't agree because some prefer Freddie Mercury, Robert Plant, James Brown, etc., and that's understandable. But Mick is still surely top 5 in that scenario.
But Jared Leto? Come on, people! Who even is he?
James Alan Hetfield was born on August 3, 1963. He is an American musician, singer and songwriter known for being the co-founder, lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and main songwriter for the American heavy metal band Metallica. Agreed! Hetfield should be number one! He is a legend of thrash unlike anyone else on the list... Except Freddie, who is also a legend.
But anyway, how is he 8? And behind all these people? Like, who is number one? And Bon Jovi is not good! People vote for Jackson, why? Right, he died! If he hadn't, he wouldn't be in that spot or in the top ten.
Hetfield is number 6, and some Lauri Ylonen is in front of him? That's insane. James should be number one.
Okay, maybe number two behind Freddie, but that's it. Besides, Freddie was mainly only a singer. James is an awesome guitarist!
Paul Bruce Dickinson, known professionally as Bruce Dickinson, (born 7 August 1958) is an English musician, airline pilot, and broadcaster. He is most well known for being the lead singer in heavy metal band Iron Maiden and his solo career.Outside his career in music, Dickinson has pursued a number... read more I just don't understand how it's even possible that Bruce Dickinson, James Hetfield, and Axl Rose are behind Michael Jackson.
He has one of the greatest and most powerful voices in rock and roll history, and he still has it even in his later years.
Agreed. This list is bogus. It's all about popularity. I saw him live. He was jumping all over the place. He put on a truly awesome show.
Lauri Ylönen is a Finnish singer-songwriter, best known as the frontman of the Finnish alternative rock band The Rasmus. Because he is an excellent songwriter and singer! He has one of the most privileged voices, and his talent fills the air. He has lent his voice to other groups successfully and has even composed for a movie.
He is one of the personalities who earns the most money in Finland and has contributed significantly to the Finnish economy. He definitely deserves this position.
I love him! He is the best! I like his voice so much. I am waiting for the new album from The Rasmus, which will surely be amazing. I love The Rasmus!
We did it! He won because he deserves it. The Rasmus is a flawless band. Every member is awesome, and Lauri is the best singer of all time.
Kurt Cobain was born February 20, 1967, in Aberdeen, Washington. In 1987, he started the grunge band Nirvana, which became one of the most successful bands ever. He was a talented yet troubled grunge performer. Kurt Cobain became a rock legend in the 1990s with his band. He committed suicide at his... read more Kurt Cobain had something that so many others try to imitate. As I type this, he is placed at #18, but he will always be #1 to me. Love you forever, Kurt.
Rest in peace, Mr. Cobain. Grunge will live forever. We all miss you, and we know you're watching Dave from heaven.
Kurt Cobain was and still is awesome, an icon and legend of the music world. He deserves to be placed higher on this list.
James Douglas "Jim" Morrison was an American singer, songwriter, and poet best remembered as the lead singer of the Doors. Most influential and he's legendary because of his controversy and music. Though his music isn't the hardest, it was hard in its time and was nevertheless great. He's awesome, and he did point out several things that changed rock history forever: legends come to an end and rock is about sex and drugs.
I believe all rock stars got the idea about sex, drugs, and rock and roll from Jim Morrison, being among the first. He's got a wild personality and a great singing voice. He could also come up with the best lyrics and meanings for songs. He's a legend!
Roger Harry Daltrey, is an English singer and actor. In a music career spanning more than 50 years, Daltrey came to prominence in the mid 1960s as the founder and lead singer of the English rock band The Who, which released fourteen singles that entered the Top 10 charts in the United Kingdom during... read more How the hell is this man ranked so low? I cannot believe many of the names ahead of him.
Roger was the first proper rock frontman, along with Mick Jagger. Fellow great frontmen like Robert Plant and Freddie Mercury were influenced by him, especially Plant.
What puts Roger above the rest, for me, is how he shared the stage with two legendary rock showmen with massive stage presence: Pete Townshend and Keith Moon. Unlike Jagger, Plant, and Mercury, Roger faced fierce competition from within his own band for attention on stage. More often than not, he won.
Ville Hermanni Valo is a Finnish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, best known as the lead vocalist and main songwriter of the Finnish gothic rock band HIM. Beautiful man, beautiful singer/songwriter, and the man is intelligent, which is very refreshing in a lead singer of a band. He knows what he wants and won't compromise on his standards. He's a very underestimated songwriter. His songs can bring me to tears, make me scream and smile.
His music is the only thing that gets me through the day at times when I need something to lift me out of my depths of despair. It's as if he has been there too. It's like he senses what we fans feel as well. I could go on forever praising this wonderful man, but unless you listen to him and experience it yourself, you will never understand what I'm talking about. In our eyes, he is number one.
The Newcomers
Paul Andrews better known as Paul Di'Anno, is an English singer best known as the first vocalist to record with heavy metal band Iron Maiden, from 1978 to 1981.
David Lee Roth is an American rock vocalist, songwriter, actor, author, and former radio personality. He was extremely charismatic. He wasn't the greatest singer, but he could captivate an audience. I will give a nod to Freddie Mercury and Paul Stanley. However, both Paul and Freddie were better singers than Diamond Dave.
Despite his low vocal ability, Dave could captivate an audience in a way the other two could not have done without their voices.
One of the greatest frontmen and entertainers of all time, no one can put on a show like 'Diamond' David Lee Roth! Split leaps, kicks, and his one-of-a-kind voice are what a real heavy metal frontman is made of! Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the original, the one and only: David Lee Roth!
William Bruce Rose Jr., better known as 'Axl Rose', is an American singer born on February 6, 1962, in Lafayette, Indiana. He Is the founder and lead singer of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses. He is a celebrated but controversial figure in the world of rock. Axl Rose is the frontman of the most dangerous band in the world. He sings, plays the piano, and rants about what is happening in his life. He controls the audience to see if there is somebody who will get hurt. Many people think that he is dumb, but they are just hypocrites, unlike Axl, who is very real in his actions and words. He didn't fake a single thing that he did.
This has to be a joke. Axl is at least in the top 5 best frontmen. His stage presence is incredible, and he's got a one-of-a-kind vocal range and voice that no one can imitate but himself. The fact that he's not even in the top 10 infuriates me.
Thomas Oliver Chaplin, is an English singer-songwriter, musician and composer, best known for being the lead vocalist of British alternative rock band Keane. Tom is one of the best frontmen nowadays! For me, he's unique! He's a brilliant singer with such a powerful and stunning vocal range. His live performances are awesome and magical. His voice sounds exactly as it does on the records, perhaps even more amazing.
He sings with so much passion and puts his whole heart and soul on stage. He's genuine and very sincere, not hiding any emotion. He creates with the crowd a unique bond of complicity and, even more rarely, a bond of love. Not to forget, he can sing with the same flawlessness whether it's an energetic rock tune or a heavenly ballad - his voice comes directly from heaven, for sure!
Paul David Hewson, known by his stage name Bono, is an Irish singer-songwriter, musician, venture capitalist, businessman, and philanthropist. His original nickname was Bono Vox which means "big voice". It is really strange that people I have never heard of are ahead of this legend and his awesome band. Will people 500 years from now remember Tom Chaplin and Ville Valo? Bono is arguably number one. Being in the top five is indisputable.
He is awesome. Not only does he have a great voice, but he has also done a lot of work regarding Africa and peace in Ireland.
Epicness pervades his every characteristic, from his voice to his stage presence.
Steven Tyler is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and former television music competition judge, best known as the lead singer of the Boston-based rock band Aerosmith, in which he also plays the harmonica, and occasional piano and percussion. Should be at number one. This is absolutely ridiculous. Jared Leto? What's with the obsession with him? Jonathan Davis? Influential on metal, but not for his stage presence.
At 64, Steven Tyler is still entertaining crowds. Look at videos of him in the '80s, and he was in his late 30s, early 40s. Without him, there is no Axl Rose or energetic glam frontmen. He knows how to entertain a crowd, plus Aerosmith is amazing. I'm so stoked to see them on tour this summer.
One voice and crazy-ass flips and jumps on stage that will never be forgotten!
Jared Joseph Leto is an American actor, singer-songwriter, and director. He is well known for being the lead singer of Thirty Seconds to Mars. He deserves first place! If you have ever seen one of their concerts, you know what I'm talking about. He is an inspiration for many echelons around the world. Not only him but also Tomo and Shannon. And his voice? Well, just two words can describe it: pure perfection.
The same kind of voice on the records and in concerts. He just deserves to win because he does. There is no other way.
He is insanely talented. You have no idea what this man is capable of. He cares about the echelon, the environment, animals, and less-fortunate people. He is more than just a pretty face.
Ronald Belford "Bon" Scott was a Scottish-born Australian rock musician, best known for being the lead singer and lyricist of Australian hard rock band AC/DC from 1974 until his death in 1980. He was born in Forfar and lived in Kirriemuir, Scotland, for 5 years before moving to Melbourne, Australia,... read more What is this? Come on, he should be number one. He can front a band better than anyone who has ever been born. He could sing and write like a god. He is a god. Just like the other guy wrote, Bon is the reason why I love rock. Salute.
He gave 100% - 100% of the time! If he had lived, can you imagine? It's too bad these ratings are nothing more than an opinion because he really did give his performances everything he had, making him the best frontman of all time. This is confirmed even by other rock 'n' roll artists! (And if they're not rock, who cares what they say!) He was also a good guy. Just see what his wife and people who knew him say about him.
Stephen Ray "Steve" Perry is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is known as the lead singer of the rock band Journey during their most commercially successful periods from 1977 to 1987 and again from 1995 to 1998. Steve Perry is the most amazing singer I have ever heard, and he is responsible for co-writing many timeless hits. Journey is well known for their long and strenuous tours. Perry was able to not only sing every night but also reach heights that most singers can only dream of.
Along with his seemingly endless range, Steve Perry was capable of singing with such emotion as to give life to each song. He raised the bar for live performances, singing each song with near perfection, usually better than the studio versions. To not appreciate what Perry has done is a sad thing.
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne was born on December 3, 1948. He is also known as ''The Prince of Darkness''. Ozzy is an English singer, songwriter, and television personality. He rose to prominence in the early 1970s as the lead vocalist of the band Black Sabbath. Osbourne was fired from Black Sabbath... read more He is a legend, and in my opinion, should be much higher. We are always going to have people like Freddie Mercury, Axl Rose, Mick Jagger, Kurt Cobain, etc., above him, but in the end, Ozzy is a straight-up legend.
Number 15? Have you seen this guy? Sure, Freddie, Mick, and Robert will always be the top three frontmen, but have you seriously seen this guy? He is a very interesting frontman who needs to be higher up.
Ozzy is arguably the greatest. Eddie Vedder, Chester from Linkin Park, Sting, and Jon Bon Jovi are ahead of him? Ugh, that makes my stomach hurt, knowing there are people who believe that.
Corey Todd Taylor was born in December 8, 1973. He is an American musician, author, and actor best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the Nu-metal band Slipknot and hard rock/alternative metal band Stone Sour. I love Corey Taylor! Slipknot, Stone Sour. Two hit bands at the same time. Talk about not wasting your talent. He busts his ass to make his music. One of the best frontmen of all time.
Chester Charles Bennington (March 20th, 1976 - July 20th, 2017) was an American musician, singer, songwriter and actor, best known for being the lead singer of Linkin Park. Before he was known for Linkin Park, Bennington was the lead singer of post-grunge act Grey Daze who was heavily inspired by Stone... read more He is the best. He is unique and has his own style. His voice is legendary, and he gives 100% in every stage performance.
Chester is simply amazing in all ways! His voice is a true reflection of this. Rock on!
There's no competing with Chester's screaming and singing. He is truly the best.
Michael Jackson (Michael Joseph Jackson; August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, dancer, and songwriter. He passed away from cardiac arrest caused by a propofol and benzodiazepine overdose on June 25, 2009. He donated (at least) a remarkable 500,000,000 dollars to charity. Michael... read more He's the best child/male frontman ever, all because when you see him with his band, the Jackson 5, it always leaves you smiling with fascination and adoration. This is because he is so young and cute, yet he can pull off a voice that's far beyond his years.
He dances like an expert even at the age of 7. He can groove like James Brown and many other influences by simply observing them, and he's not even 10 years old yet.
His voice is unique and made me feel loved when I was alone. Many people don't understand him and judge him because they believe everything they read in magazines. He was an amazing artist and person and will always have a really special place in my heart. I'll never forget you, Mike.
John Francis Bongiovi, Jr., better known by his stage name Jon Bon Jovi, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, philanthropist, and actor, best known as the founder and frontman of the hair band Bon Jovi from, which was founded by Jon and his pianist, David Bryan, in 1983. He is famous for... read more Jon is the best frontman ever! He rocks the stadium with 70,000 fans, and they all have a great party. He makes you think he is singing only for you. He is amazing!
Jon has it all. He is a true talent. I have followed this incredible man since 1983. I have seen him perform live twice. His performances are spectacular.
I have tremendous respect for the man. He just has so much drive and faith. Keep rocking, Jon!
When you think of lead singers, Jon Bon Jovi "Always" comes to mind. Don't hate my opinions because "It's My Life."
Morten Harket is a Norwegian musician, best known as the lead singer of the synthpop/rock band A-ha, which released ten studio albums and topped the charts internationally after their breakthrough hit "Take on Me" in 1985. Morten has the best male voice on earth. He deserves first place. He gives wings to a song.
If any of the vocalists on this list tried to sing an a-ha song, like "Summer Moved On" or "Hunting High And Low," I'm sure they would all fail. A-ha songs are difficult and complicated to sing, and Morten is perfect at giving these songs a soul.
He was, is, and will always be number one. He has the best male voice on earth. Freddie Mercury and Morten should be at the top of this list because both have an amazing vocal range and so much emotion in their voices.
By the way, Morten is also the most beautiful man and singer.
Robert John Arthur "Rob" Halford is an English singer and songwriter, who is best known as the lead vocalist for the Grammy Award-winning heavy metal band Judas Priest and famed for his powerful wide ranging operatic voice. Come on, how is Fred Durst ahead of this man? Halford has more talent in his pinky than Durst has in his entire body!