Who's the ultimate front-man?

[FishinMagician]

Bruce sucks ass. Never liked him.

You think Bruce "sucks ass" and Mick Jagger is the greatest front man ever? Dude, what are you smoking? Vocally speaking, Jagger couldn't carry Springsteen's jock! That said, I don't think Bruce is qualified to be in the "front man" category as he's a solo act, in spite of his E. Street Band!


John from Boston

Bruce Sucks Ass!

I'll second that! Most over-rated musician in the world...with the possible exception of Neil Young.

No way Bruce "sucks ass." Dude's phenomenal. Great songwriter and an adequate musician, puts on a hell of a show... and has several albums you'll be sure to find on any "top 500/1000/etc." list. Born to Run, Born in the U.S.A., The Rising, Nebraska.... all masterpieces.

Absolutely Progrocker. You'll always get on those lists if you are the most over-rated musician in the world. Which he is.

I do like Tunnel of Love though. Has some good pop/AOR tunes and was mixed by Bob Clearmountain who helped to make ROR such a magical experience for anyone with good taste in music. And "One Step Up" is a classic track. I love that tune.

Also - Tunnel of Love didn't have that 'raunchy',over-played saxophone which marred his records with the E Street Band....and no-one was wearing a bandanna either.

I just find Springsteen's blue collar schtick so phoney. He comes on like some car mechanic who's known all these hard times in some abandoned midwest town or whatever and he sings about 'real working men like him' with those stupid veins bulging out on his neck and he wears that white t-shirt and checked shirt combo that also suggests he'd 'just an ordinary guy'...when he's NOT.

He's multi-million dollar rock icon and has been for nearly three decades. I can't understand why people don't immediately think, 'oh, get the fuck out of here' when they see him.

Henley=conservationist=walmart

[Matthew]

Henley=conservationist=walmart

What does Walmart have to do with the environmental causes Henley has supported? He tried to protect a forest called Walden Woods and some wetlands near where he grew up. But Walmart had nothing to do with putting these places under threat.

Yes, his did write "End of the Innocence" about the death of small town America and mom and pop stores and so on - and then signed a multi-million dollar deal with Walmart twenty years later. So if he ever sang THAT song then there's definitely be a whiff of phoniness and hypocrisy to be sure.

But I'm not indulging in some teary-eyed fantasy that he's "working people's musician, their champion." (Even though Henley co-founded Recording Artists' Coalition to protect the rights of ordinary musicians, which is more than Springsteen has ever done for anyone.)

No, Don Henley is best known for writing authentic songs about his own life. His most famous song - Hotel California - is about the superstar rock lifestyle. And his best album - End of the Innocence - is all about mid-life crisis. And so on. I don't see him singing about working in a steel mill or any of that kind of crap.

Plus he is second only to Perry in having the most soulful voice in rock music. So I'd say - all in all - Henley is the real deal.

[Behshad]

Bruce = BORING



Best front man???


JSS

[mistiejourney]

Bruce = BORING



Best front man???


JSS

Bingo!

[Saint John]

For me, the ultimate front man was Steve Perry. I consider the job 90% voice and 10% stage antics. Perry got a 90 out of 90 on the voice part and probably a 5 or 6 out of 10 in the other category. Don't kid yourselves folks, Perry had no more "stage presence" than the the next guy. In fact, had he not possessed what I consider to be the greatest voice of all-time, his stage antics would have probably been laughed at. He was no better or worse than the average front man. Heck, at times he was downright nerdy up there. Never mattered to me, though. He could stand on his head with a banana is his ass for all I care. Just sing, man. "Stage presence" and all of those over the top antics are for people trying to divert from the fact that their product is mediocre or shitty. Groups/acts that immediately come to mind are Gwar, KISS and, at times, my buddy Ted Nugent.

[conversationpc]

Perry got a 90 out of 90 on the voice part and probably a 5 or 6 out of 10 in the other category. Don't kid yourselves folks, Perry had no more "stage presence" than the the next guy. In fact, had he not possessed what I consider to be the greatest voice of all-time, his stage antics would have probably been laughed at. He was no better or worse than the average front man. Heck, at times he was downright nerdy up there.

I agree 100%.

In my opinion, when Geoff Tate was at the top of his game vocally, he was also way up there in stage presence.

[Rip Rokken]

In my opinion, when Geoff Tate was at the top of his game vocally, he was also way up there in stage presence.

In Dallas, I was blown away by the voice and the killer creepy stage presence -- the Geoff Tate we all know and love was back!

[FishinMagician]

Henley=conservationist=walmart

What does Walmart have to do with the environmental causes Henley has supported? He tried to protect a forest called Walden Woods and some wetlands near where he grew up. But Walmart had nothing to do with putting these places under threat.

Yes, his did write "End of the Innocence" about the death of small town America and mom and pop stores and so on - and then signed a multi-million dollar deal with Walmart twenty years later. So if he ever sang THAT song then there's definitely be a whiff of phoniness and hypocrisy to be sure.

But I'm not indulging in some teary-eyed fantasy that he's "working people's musician, their champion." (Even though Henley co-founded Recording Artists' Coalition to protect the rights of ordinary musicians, which is more than Springsteen has ever done for anyone.)

No, Don Henley is best known for writing authentic songs about his own life. His most famous song - Hotel California - is about the superstar rock lifestyle. And his best album - End of the Innocence - is all about mid-life crisis. And so on. I don't see him singing about working in a steel mill or any of that kind of crap.

Plus he is second only to Perry in having the most soulful voice in rock music. So I'd say - all in all - Henley is the real deal.

I know, i love DH, just givin you a hard time

[Lula]

You are officially the dumbest person alive.

The guy is the son of a blue collar factory worker.

He has more hits than Journey, Styx, Kiss and Boston combined.

Like someone or not, for the sake of saying "he sucks" is just showing your Euro gay self.

Oh yea, Lula said, "LOL, this coming from a guy who is in love with Jonathan Cain."

Bruce is the "working people's musician, their champion."

I thought Lula had lost the plot there for a minute...but then I realised it was just Deano at the keyboard.

yes matthew, it was dean. i gotta remember to log out... could find myself in trouble

[Pstburp]

Early Bruce Springsteen
Elvis Presley
Mick Jagger
Steven Tyler
Bruce Dickingson
Dave Lee Roth
Paul Stanley
Freddie Mercury
Peter Gabriel
Phil Collins
Alice Cooper
Robert Plant
Roger Daltrey
Gene Simmons(good show)

[TRAGChick]

GeoffTate (no space)

Hey...

Can you give a link to your "MetalSludge" thread?
I couldn't find it....I'd LOVE to read it.

Surely! Hey, dig the Rokken-style art some of the creative folks over there have added -- it's been hilarious!

http://www.metalsludge.tv/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=146174

I've let it lapse for since yesterday, but will keep resurrecting it every other day or so. Don't want to burn it out too quick. I'm running a special over there for a limited time, and that is, for anyone that takes a jab at either Double-D or myself, I'm personally replying with a custom Rip Rokken insult created specifically for them. These can be vicious, but I'm trying not to kill them -- don't really want to make enemies... LOL! But... it's a much rougher crowd over there, so I enjoy slapping them around given the chance. If you have an account there, feel free to join in the fun! Enjoy!

P.S. -- As of the Chile show news yesterday, I'm done w/Dokken threads here on MR for a while -- we finally have some great Journey news to talk about, so time to give them the floor. Sludge is a different matter altogether...

Thanx, Rip....good job!

You should have a "smackdown" between Don Dokken & Chuck Norris.

[Vladan]

Well in no particular order.

Steve Perry
Freddie Mercury
Elvis Presley

Thats about it!.

[Rockindeano]

Bruce = BORING



Best front man???


JSS

nuh huh.

You have NO idea what the fuck you are talking about. You have obviously never seen Bruce live. I love JSS, but Bruce is the man.

[T-TIME]

C,mon now all these musical professors and AXL ROSE gets left off?

1. Axl Rose
2.Freddie
3. D L Roth
4. SP
5. Mick

If you can classify Springsteen as a front man ( I don't ) then Prince would be also and I place him with Axl, Freddie and DLR

[ProgRocker53]

C,mon now all these musical professors and AXL ROSE gets left off?

1. Axl Rose
2.Freddie
3. D L Roth
4. SP
5. Mick

If you can classify Springsteen as a front man ( I don't ) then Prince would be also and I place him with Axl, Freddie and DLR

How can you not classify Springsteen as a front man? When I look up "frontman" in the dictionary, it merely says "See also: The Boss."

[T-TIME]

C,mon now all these musical professors and AXL ROSE gets left off?

1. Axl Rose
2.Freddie
3. D L Roth
4. SP
5. Mick

If you can classify Springsteen as a front man ( I don't ) then Prince would be also and I place him with Axl, Freddie and DLR

How can you not classify Springsteen as a front man? When I look up "frontman" in the dictionary, it merely says "See also: The Boss."

He's more solo even though he has used E Street for many years. He's not a front man. Is that dictionary published?

[ProgRocker53]

C,mon now all these musical professors and AXL ROSE gets left off?

1. Axl Rose
2.Freddie
3. D L Roth
4. SP
5. Mick

If you can classify Springsteen as a front man ( I don't ) then Prince would be also and I place him with Axl, Freddie and DLR

How can you not classify Springsteen as a front man? When I look up "frontman" in the dictionary, it merely says "See also: The Boss."

He's more solo even though he has used E Street for many years. He's not a front man. Is that dictionary published?

My bad my bad... it's a Deanctionary.

[T-TIME]

C,mon now all these musical professors and AXL ROSE gets left off?

1. Axl Rose
2.Freddie
3. D L Roth
4. SP
5. Mick

If you can classify Springsteen as a front man ( I don't ) then Prince would be also and I place him with Axl, Freddie and DLR

How can you not classify Springsteen as a front man? When I look up "frontman" in the dictionary, it merely says "See also: The Boss."

He's more solo even though he has used E Street for many years. He's not a front man. Is that dictionary published?

My bad my bad... it's a Deanctionary.

Very clever.

[Enigma869]

How can you not classify Springsteen as a front man?

I've always been a huge fan of Springsteen, but when I see "front man", I think the lead singer in a rock band! When it's your name appearing on all the music being sold, I don't think you qualify as a "front man". I also wouldn't put Elvis on any "front man" list! I think Elvis was the most brilliant and talented singer (only guy who could actually make gospel music compelling) this world will ever see. That said, he wasn't a "front man"!


John from Boston

[Rockindeano]

John, wtf is wrong with you, besides the fact you are from Boston?

Just because Bruce's name is on the header of the band, he is the lead singer and it is a band. Same thing with BA. He is a frontman, sings and entertains. He has a band, but his name just so happens to be the band's name.

[Rockindeano]

C,mon now all these musical professors and AXL ROSE gets left off?

1. Axl Rose
2.Freddie
3. D L Roth
4. SP
5. Mick

If you can classify Springsteen as a front man ( I don't ) then Prince would be also and I place him with Axl, Freddie and DLR

Well you're wrong regarding Bruce, but your list is pretty damned good.

The sad thing in all of this, is had JSS been fortunate enough to hook on with a band that made it big, no direspect to his guys either, but he would definitely be included here. He is every bit as good as the guys on that list.

[T-TIME]

C,mon now all these musical professors and AXL ROSE gets left off?

1. Axl Rose
2.Freddie
3. D L Roth
4. SP
5. Mick

If you can classify Springsteen as a front man ( I don't ) then Prince would be also and I place him with Axl, Freddie and DLR

Well you're wrong regarding Bruce, but your list is pretty damned good.

The sad thing in all of this, is had JSS been fortunate enough to hook on with a band that made it big, no direspect to his guys either, but he would definitely be included here. He is every bit as good as the guys on that list.

I could not agree more. I loved what Jeff brought to the table for the future of Journey. I was very critical of him singing the GH's but I know with him was a great choice for the growing process ( which is well overdue.) I'm also a huge Springsteen fan ( although we differ about being a front man.) The reason I LOVE Springsteen and PRINCE is because of the soulful lyrics. All there songs is like there personal life diary put into lyrics and music. When those two are combined you have songs and albums that will live for a 100 years. PS - when Jeff was leading Journey you felt like he was in command on stage. SA, AP seem like hired hands.

[Enigma869]

John, wtf is wrong with you, besides the fact you are from Boston?

Sorry we can't all live in LA LA Land (or as I call it, the land of Botox and Silicone). I'll take Boston all day long, over that place, Dean...the miserable winters, notwitstanding

Just because Bruce's name is on the header of the band, he is the lead singer and it is a band. Same thing with BA. He is a frontman, sings and entertains. He has a band, but his name just so happens to be the band's name.

We can agree to disagree on this point. That's why in the music industry Springsteen is considered a solo act, and Journey is considered a band. I'm pretty sure if Bruce were nominated for a Grammy Award, he wouldn't be eligible in any of the band categories. Listen, I'm not hear to criticize Bruce. I love the guy and always have. I just don't think Bruce is a band.

As for some other names on the list...I guess it really depends upon which elements are most important to you, in a front man. I actually believe singing is FAR more important than just being a showman. If I were voting for just a showman, I would rank David Lee Roth VERY high up on the list, but I thought he was a VERY average singer! I thought Mercury was probably the ultimate comination of showman and singer (but I've heard from many that he sucked, most of the time, on the live stage)! Jagger will NEVER get ANY votes for me for ANYTHING (unless it's one of the worst rock and roll vocalists, ever)!


John from Boston

[Vladan]

C,mon now all these musical professors and AXL ROSE gets left off?

1. Axl Rose
2.Freddie
3. D L Roth
4. SP
5. Mick

If you can classify Springsteen as a front man ( I don't ) then Prince would be also and I place him with Axl, Freddie and DLR

Your kdding right. Axle rose is a joke of all jokes, he's a poser to the highest degree. Personally I love to make fun of how gay he really is. Sure he sounds fine on some albums, but on stage he's complete garbage. Can't stomach his antics, he is no way in hell a good front man. He's a damn girl, and whines like a bitch on stage... yuk, rubbish. And he's drop dead ugly as well, how can you stand this tool.

But the rest of your list is pretty spot on!

[EightyRock]

From one end of the spectrum to the other.....
Steve Perry
Robert Plant

Two different eras & two totally different reasons for being the best at what they do. Plant was the ulitimate frontman with not so great vocals alot of the time. Perry was the ultimate vocalist with the charisma to draw you in and make you want to listen. Oddly enough, that charisma even came across over the radio. So I'd say Perry is ahead by "a nose".

[StoneCold]

Easy answer. Journey should've picked him up when they could've.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zcc8dTqf ... re=related

[Rick]

Easy answer. Journey should've picked him up when they could've.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zcc8dTqf ... re=related

He wasn't available, so they had to settle for Arnel.

[weatherman90]

In my opinion, when Geoff Tate was at the top of his game vocally, he was also way up there in stage presence.

In Dallas, I was blown away by the voice and the killer creepy stage presence -- the Geoff Tate we all know and love was back!

Was he ever gone? Had he been slacking off on his creepiness??

[Stoneyman]

I think the Front Man definition is a little different for some people, but it really comes down to who can capture an audience and keep them there.

Steve Perry (1980-86) is IMO the best rock vocalist of all time, with emphasis on the arly 80's. Watch the Houston dvd and you'll see.

Diamond Dave - No so much for his vocal ability, but when you are in a band with Eddie Van Halen and people still know you are a bad dude, that my friends qualifies DLR in my book. He had SWAGGER.

Plant - The face/voice of perhaps the biggest Rock and Roll band in History.

JSS - Even from his Yngwie days he was a star.

Mercury - No question about it. Even if Queen isnt your thing, there is no denying that Freddie was glam personified.

[Rip Rokken]

In Dallas, I was blown away by the voice and the killer creepy stage presence -- the Geoff Tate we all know and love was back!

Was he ever gone? Had he been slacking off on his creepiness??

The only place he lost me was when he started talking politics and said "I'm making the Smart Choice, and I'm looking forward to voting for her." I knew it was a Hillary reference, but only later realized that "Smart Choice" was one of her campaign slogans. That's ok, though... Geoff Tate could endorse Britney Spears for office and he'd still be cool!