Frontmen of DTF

[Progmetty]

Originally in this post I was asking for names for favorite frontmen of bands here, just thought to mention that so the posts below would make sense.

Now here are the fellas that made it into the competition:

James Hetfield (Metallica)
Dave Mustaine (Megadeth)
Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden)
Tom Araya (Slayer)
Phil Anselmo (Pantera)

James LaBrie (Dream Theater)
Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree)
Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth)
Russell Allen (Symphony X)
Daniel Gildenlöw (Pain of Salvation)

David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
Freddy Mercury (Queen)
Ronnie James Dio (Black Sabbath)
Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin)
Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull)

Roger Waters (Pink Floyd)
Geddy Lee (Rush)
Jon Anderson (Yes)
Adrian Belew (King Crimson)
Peter Gabriel (Genesis)

Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)
Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam)
Myles Kennedy (Alter Bridge)
Layne Staley (Alice in Chains)
Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day)

Randy Blythe (Lamb of God)
Greg Puciato (The Dillinger Escape Plan)
Till Lindemann (Rammstein)
Devin Townsend (Strapping Young Lad)
Tommy Rogers (Between the Buried and Me)

Casey Crescenzo (The Dear Hunter)
Wayne Coyne (The Flaming Lips)
Claudio Sanchez (Coheed and Cambria)
Neal Morse (Transatlantic)
Roine Stolt (The Flower Kings)

Matthew Bellamy (Muse)
Maynard Keenan (Tool)
Steve Hogarth (Marillion)
Roy Khan (Kamelot)
Ozzy Osbourne (Black Sabbath)

The groups won't be in the same order listed here, the first survivor will start in the Polls/Survivors section in a few hours, thanks everybody for contributing, this might turn out to be fun

[Adami]

Devin Townsend.


Even though I'm sure most posts will just repeat a bunch since no one will read every post, I'll just add instead of repeating.

[zxlkho]

inb4MikaelÅkerfeldtandStevenWilson

[Adami]

He already said Wilson. But way to prove my point there bud.

[zxlkho]

Damn.

I'd also like to add Bruce Dickinson and Maynard James Keenan

[skydivingninja]

Devin Townsend, Mikael Akerfeldt, Bruce Springsteen, Bruce Dickinson, and Claudio Sanchez

I figure more than enough people will say Freddie Mercury.

[Quadrochosis]

Geddy Lee, Jon Anderson and Ian Anderson would be some that I'd nominate that aren't already nominated.

[Accelerando]

Freddy Mercury
Robert Plant
James Brown
Michael Jackson
Myles Kennedy

[Progmetty]

He already said Wilson. But way to prove my point there bud.

I'd like to add Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day but I wouldn't include him -since Green Day isn't a favorite cup of tea here- unless we come out short of 20 names here.
Got 7 names so far.
I forgot to mention I'm talking about frontmen of bands, not solo acts, if the band is the frontman's name then it's a solo act hehe

[The Letter M]

James LaBrie, Geddy Lee, Neal Morse, Roine Stolt, Steve Hogarth, Steven Wilson, Nick D'Virgilio, Peter Gabriel (with Genesis, haven't really gotten into his solo stuff yet), Phil Collins (with Genesis, same about his solo stuff but I like his hit singles), Jon Anderson, and probably more, but those are the ones from my favorite bands.

I'll also echo the mentions of Freddy Mercury and Robert Plant, and toss in Roger Daltrey as well.

-Marc.

[Accelerando]

I forgot to mention I'm talking about frontmen of bands, not solo acts, if the band is the frontman's name then it's a solo act hehe

Well if you're talking about my selections...

James Brown = The Famous Flames

Michael Jackson = Jackson 5

[73109]

James Hetfield-Metallica
Bruce Springsteen-Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
Ronnie James Dio-Black Sabbath
Eddie Vedder-Pearl Jam
Bruce Dickinson-Iron Maiden

[skydivingninja]

I forgot to mention I'm talking about frontmen of bands, not solo acts, if the band is the frontman's name then it's a solo act hehe

Devin Townsend-Frontman of Strapping Young Lad, The Devin Townsend Band, and The Devin Townsend Project.

[KevShmev]

Freddie Mercury
Bono
Wayne Coyne

[Dr. DTVT]

Just to clarify - because these lists would be different - are we talking about straight-up singing ability, or as the whole package (energy on stage, ability to play other instruments, writing)?

[Portrucci]

Out of all the gigs I've been to, Devin and Akerfeldt clearly stand out. But Mikael takes the cake. Spent around 30 minutes of the gig telling stories and just mucking around with famous riffs. Crowd (incl me) just love it 

[DarkEternalNight]

Till Lindemann, James Labrie, Geddy Lee, Maynard James Keenan, David Draiman, Serj Tankian, Chris Cornell.

[Progmetty]

Just to clarify - because these lists would be different - are we talking about straight-up singing ability, or as the whole package (energy on stage, ability to play other instruments, writing)?

Exactly the whole package, I was gonna include this in the survivor itself under "Criteria", it's gonna be:

- Singing voice.
- Stage presence and energy.
- Dual instruments (plays an instrument while singing).
- Importance to the band sound.
- Contribution and involvement in the band's writing process.

[73109]

In that case, my votes still stand.

[Genowyn]

That dual instruments thing cuts out a lot of really great frontmen. Based on that criteria:

Mikael Akerfeldt and Devin Townsend are probably the greatest frontmen I've ever had the pleasure of witnessing on stage. They both performed exceedingly well and built awesome rapport with the audience, they had great energy on stage and were all around awesome. This on top of the fact that they're both the driving musical force behind their bands makes them excellent candidates.

[Progmetty]

Cool, I have 30 names now, which is too much for a single survivor, so I thought to break them off into groups of 10 names and then let the 3 finalists compete, what do you guys think?
In which case it would be better if we get to 50 names so that there's 5 finalists.

[The Letter M]

Just to clarify - because these lists would be different - are we talking about straight-up singing ability, or as the whole package (energy on stage, ability to play other instruments, writing)?

Exactly the whole package, I was gonna include this in the survivor itself under "Criteria", it's gonna be:

- Singing voice.
- Stage presence and energy.
- Dual instruments (plays an instrument while singing).
- Importance to the band sound.
- Contribution and involvement in the band's writing process.

Based on this? I'd definitely have to raise my votes for Neal Morse and Peter Gabriel, as well as Roine Stolt and Jon Anderson. Those four definitely all have such great distinctive voices, all play instruments in their bands (for Neal, keys AND guitar!), all have great energy on stage with their bands, are all very important to how their bands sound, and contribute(d) a lot to their respective bands.

I would definitely have to push for Neal because the man works HARD on stage, between his time with Spock's Beard and Transatlantic, as well as touring with his own band for his solo albums, he covers a LOT of ground, musically and as well as on stage! He jumps from guitar to keys and back in a flash! Watch his Testimony Live DVD concert and you'll see how dedicated the man is to his music, and if you can feel the music, it's almost as if you're there with him sometimes. The man definitely knows how to work and draw in an audience in with his music. I don't think he'll EVER let down, especially if the recent Transatlantic tour was ANY indication.

And even if he isn't your cup of tea, you really do have to give him some props for what he does, and being able to play such LONG shows with his band and Transatlantic, playing multiple instruments, singing, and trying to remember all of that stuff every night at every show!

Also, gotta go with my first fave band's frontman, Geddy Lee. The man can sing, play bass, keyboards, bass pedals, triggers, and have time to breath in between. If he had an extra pair of arms and hands, you'd bet they'd be covering other parts on keys or a second guitar if he could! While he's not as energetic as he used to be, hopping around on one leg and such, he still emanates a large amount of energy every for ever concert!

-Marc.

[Progmetty]

And even if he isn't your cup of tea, you really do have to give him some props for what he does, and being able to play such LONG shows with his band and Transatlantic, playing multiple instruments, singing, and trying to remember all of that stuff every night at every show!

Indeed he isn't my cup of tea but I definitely give him much props and respect for what he does, he's included of course.
All the other names you mentioned are in too.

[Genowyn]

If we can submit people who don't play an instrument, Rody Walker is a beast onstage.

[El JoNNo]

You are probably not going to get to 50 with that dual instrument requirement, at least favourite frontmen.

[wolfking]

No mention of Daniel Gildenlow yet?

What about;

Dio
Halford
Geoff Tate
Russell Allen
Maynard
Ray Alder
Matt Barlow
Ripper Owens
Blackie Lawless

[Dr. SeaWolf]

Ozzy Osbourne

Hate on him all you want, but when he was in Sabbath in the 70s, he was a force of nature on stage.

[zxlkho]

If there's a poll for this, we already know who would win.

[Dr. SeaWolf]

It'll probably either be Wilson or Gildenlow, knowing how much those two are worshiped around here.

[cthrubuoy]

It'll probably either be Wilson or Gildenlow, knowing how much those two are worshiped around here.

Pff... Don't get me wrong, I love PT. But this miserable fool as best frontman ever?

[zxlkho]

[skydivingninja]

I love PT, but SW is nowhere near the best frontman ever.

Metty: I don't agree with the rule of playing an instrument.  Peter Gabriel barely played an instrument in Genesis, Freddie didn't play an instrument most of the time, and neither did Diamond Dave or Dio.

[KevShmev]

I love PT, but SW is nowhere near the best frontman ever.

Agreed.  PT is my 2nd favorite band ever, and I am as big a fan of Wilson as almost anyone, but he wouldn't make my top 20 as far as front men go.

Metty: I don't agree with the rule of playing an instrument.  Peter Gabriel barely played an instrument in Genesis, Freddie didn't play an instrument most of the time, and neither did Diamond Dave or Dio.

Agreed (again).  Most of the best front men do not play an instrument (except maybe on occasion, like when Bono plays an acoustic on a few songs per show). 

[bodiesinflight]

Why is SW in this thread? He's a brilliant songwriter and I love PT but he's not that good a frontman. And no offence to JLB but he isn't either I don't think.

My top ones (inc. some that have already been mentioned): Dio, Bruce Dickinson, Mikael Akerfeldt, Hetfield, Joey Belladonna, Eddie Vedder, Chino Moreno, Ian Kenny, Peter Dolving.

I've only included those from bands I've seen live, not ones I've just heard are good.

[Darkes7]

He is a great frontman. His live singing and playing is nearly perfect, he keeps a great contact with the audience (it's not so visible on the DVDs, but I've seen PT twice and both times it was like that), and in general has this kind of frontman charisma.

I think all my ideas have already been suggested so nothing new from me.