Top Ten Frontmen In Rock & Metal – Milo

Milo here, falsettoing up.

When listening to any type of music, the voice is what grabs your attention. It’s the face of the band, what can, potentially, make or break an album. I know for a fact that I’ve been completely turned off of a band thanks to me not liking the vocals, Skunk Anansie, for example. So, though the instrumentals are just as important, vocals are key to a band’s success. Anyway, enough of that crap, let’s look at the gooduns!

I’ll be ranking these frontmen, no women unfortunately, on three key aspects; voice, stage presence and look, as all come as part of the package. This will also all be my opinion, so feel free to drop a comment telling me I’m an idiot.

Quick note before we start, neither Ozzy Osbourne nor Kurt Cobain will be making an appearance because I don’t really like them. Pfffffffffffff.

10. Serj Tankian (System Of A Down)

In the late 90’s/early 00’s, System Of A Down broke the nu metal scene by adding some good ol’ Armenian weirdness to the mix. Serj Tankian is the main reason for that. Though he hasn’t a discernable style really, Serj has a hypnotic stage presence, complete with madcap facial expressions. Vocally, however, is where the SOAD frontman really shines, having a spectacular vocal range that encompasses whispering to opera-like low keys to full on screaming. Along with John Dolmayan, he makes up the half of SOAD that aren’t douchetards, so that’s also a bonus.

Particular Goodun:

Chop Suey! (Toxicity – 2001)

9. David Bowie

If you’ve been checkin’ out my favourite albums page over the past month or so, WHICH YOU SHOULD BE, you’ll notice that this glam rock legend’s made an appearance. Though I only really got into AFTER he died, making me a self-confessed ballbag, I am quickly seeing what all the fuss was about. When I put Bowie on this list, I put him on it strictly from his glam rock, 1970s, Ziggy Stardust persona, as that is obviously my favourite. Vocally, Bowie has an iconic voice, but not really one I find all that special. However, his stage presence and style have been stamped onto pop culture history. He just seems so comfortable on stage and looks like the one above cannot help but be memorable.

Particular Gooduns:

Starman (The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars – 1972)

Life On Mars? (Hunky Dory – 1971)

 

8. Zack De La Rocha (Rage Against The Machine)

Much like System Of A Down but to a much better degree, Rage Against The Machine perfected the balance between rap and rock to pioneer a genre that would later lead to Limp Bizkit. Nevertheless, where Tom Morello, Brad Wilk and Timmy C brought the rock, De La Rocha brought the rap. With the style of his main audience and a stage presence that could make an arthritic grandmother jump like a mad man, even when she hadn’t finished her Pepsi can, yo, the RATM frontman’s best attribute lied in his ability to weave biting lyrics regarding race, class, politics and greed, delivered with enough poison to kill a cobra.

Particular Gooduns:

Bombtrack (Rage Against The Machine – 1992)

Bulls On Parade (Evil Empire – 1996)

Down Rodeo (Evil Empire – 1996)

 

7. Chris Cornell (Audioslave)

Though I am aware the picture above is a lot more recent than Cornell’s Audioslave days, and that he’s also in more than one band, I feel as if it was when Chris was jamming with the RATM boys he really came into his own as a frontman, breaking his grunge mould and kicking a fair bit of ass for someone with bleach blonde tips. Though his style is probably the least notable on the list and I’m not too sure about his stage presence, Cornell has one of the most incredible voices of the last generation, especially during the Audioslave period. One wouldn’t need to look any further than Cochise to see the spectacular heights this man can reach. Some of his Soundgarden stuff was pretty special too, mind you.

Particular Gooduns:

Cochise – Audioslave (Audioslave, 2002)

Black Hole Sun – Soundgarden (Superunknown, 1994)

Show Me How To Live – Audioslave (Audioslave, 2002)

Superunknown – Soundgarden (Superunknown, 1994)

 

6.  Jack Black (Tenacious D)

Yes, he counts. Frontman of comedy ROCK duo Tenacious D, JB is already one of, if not my favourite person on the planet. While also being one of the funniest men in movies, Black has become one of the most prominent comedy musicians ever, even transferring his band into his own movie, The Pick Of Destiny, which is one of the most stupidly hilarious films I’ve seen in ages. While he hasn’t a particular look, Jables has a certain swagger that makes him godlike. His voice and stage presence, however, are what got him onto this list.

Particular Gooduns:

Tribute (Tenacious D, 2001)

Wonderboy (Tenacious D, 2001)

Kickapoo (Pick Of Destiny, 2006)

Rize Of The Fenix (Rize Of The Fenix, 2012)

Low Hangin’ Fruit (Rize Of The Fenix, 2012)

 

 5. Freddie Mercury (Queen)

Oh my Goooooooooood! Only No. 5?! Deal with it. One of the only “classic picks” featured on this or any of my lists, Freddie Mercury could not not be on this list. He is not only a frontman, he’s the frontman, and the full package. The only thing that keeps him from topping this list is that I’m not a massive fan of Queen. As I said, he’s the full package. Vocally, Mercury is a thing to behold, with a voice like an army of victory. Stylistically, how many iconic looks? The yellow jacket? The U-neck… thing? The white vest? And you only need to check out his Wembley performance to get an idea of his stage presence. Oh boy.

Particular Gooduns:

Bohemian Rhapsody (A Night At The Opera, 1975)

Don’t Stop Me Now (Jazz, 1978)

Flash (Flash Gordon, 1980)

Killer Queen (Sheer Heart Attack, 1974)

We Are Champions (News Of The World, 1977)

Somebody To Love (A Day At The Races, 1976)

 

4. Anthony Kiedis (Red Hot Chili Peppers)

Another surprise, eh?! Indeed, the frontman of my favourite band making no. 4 is shocking, watch as I am taken aback. Sarcasm aside, Kiedis is a little lower down because Flea is also a brilliant stage presence, which slightly takes from the singer. However, that doesn’t mean that he ain’t flippin’ amazin’, because he definitely is. As he has aged over the years, his style has aged with him. I mean he’s over 50, I don’t want to see his cock, regardless of whether it’s adorning a sock. His stage presence is one of jumping, some of the best dancing this side of me after a gateau and owning the stage when he’s mid-verse. Vocally, he’s like none other, with a great mixture of shouting, rapping and singing in his arsenal. And, style-wise, well, y’know, sox on cox.

Particular Gooduns:

Can’t Stop (By The Way, 2002)

Dani California (Stadium Arcadium, 2006)

Give It Away (Blood Sugar Sex Magik, 1991)

Suck My Kiss (Blood Sugar Sex Magik, 1991)

Around The World (Californication, 1999)

Easily (Californication, 1999)

By The Way (By The Way, 2002)

Ayo! Top three boii.

3. Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters)

Another frontman of one of my favourite bands and, once again, another extremely cool mamma-jamma, Dave Grohl is to the Foo Fighters what oxygen is to our lungs. Known as the nicest person in rock music, it’s hard to disagree with that statement when you watch his live performances, and the connection he makes to his audience, which is part of what makes his overall stage presence so brilliant, as well as how energetic he is, even when sitting on a throne of guitars. He also has a powerful voice, which, though there are those out there who dislike it, gives the Foo Fighters the hard rock edge.

Particular Greatuns:

Long Road To Ruin (Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace, 2007)

Learn To Fly (There Is Nothing Left To Lose, 1999)

White Limo (Wasting Light, 2011)

No Way Back (In Your Honor, 2005)

All My Life (One By One, 2002)

Everlong (The Colour & The Shape, 1997)

Low (One By One, 2002)

Breakout (There Is Nothing Left To Lose, 1999)

 

2. Neil Fallon (Clutch)

Never before have fallen in worship of a band that I’ve only heard a fraction of their discography. However, Clutch are that band, and Neil Fallon is their prophet. Everything about the frontman makes me want to better myself, and he ticks all the criteria. His stage presence is entrancing, and the pure power in his vocals can be seen in his face. Those vocals are also absolutely incredible, holding consistant shouting for entire songs, weaving the most surreal stories you’ve ever heard. And style? Well, look at that beard. My final, conclusive point must be, however, SCORPIOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

Particular Brilliantuns:

X-Ray Visions  (Psychic Warfare, 2015)

DC Sound Attack! (Earth Rocker, 2013)

Firebirds (Psychic Warfare, 2015)

Crucial Velocity (Earth Rocker, 2013)

Sucker For The Witch (Psychic Warfare, 2015)

Earth Rocker (Earth Rocker, 2013)

A Quick Death In Texas (Psychic Warfare, 2015)

Sleestack Lightning (Strange Cousins From The West, 2009)

Your Love Is Incarcerations (Psychic Warfare, 2015)

 

Ay, you know them honourable mentions? Yeah, these ‘ere be ’em.

Oderus Urungus (GWAR)

Alice Cooper

Mick Jagger (The Rolling Stones)

Ronnie James Dio

Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin)

Marilyn Manson

Prince

Iggy Pop

Axl Rose (Guns N Roses)

Cedric Bixlar-Zavala (The Mars Volta)

Jack White (The White Stripes)

Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails)

Mike Patton (Faith No More)

Lemmy Kilmister (Motorhead)

Ahh, so it wasn’t Axl, Dio, Ozzy, Lemmy, Plant, Jagger, Prince, Pop or Cooper. What could my crap tastes have picked?

1. Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden)

Ooooooooooh, am I partial to bit of Maiden. I do try to mix up the top tens on this site from the others on other sites, but how could I not pick Dickinson? Jet pilot, fencer, singer to the max. Joining the band in the early 80’s (I think), Dickinson gave the band a not that much needed shot up the ass in the form of his legendary vocals, hitting screams higher than a simile I can’t be assed to think of. I mean, as I said, his vocals are unmatched anywhere in my opinion, with enough screaming to be ultimate metal, but you can still understand the historical, epic lyrics that form their songs. Stage presence-wise, he engages the crowd like no-one else, anyone could tell you that. As for his style, he’s dressed as the motherf***ing Trooper. I’m relatively new to Iron Maiden, so I’m no superfan. However, this guy is just legendary.

Particular Legendaryuns:

Run To The Hills (The Number Of The Beast, 1982)

Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter (No Prayer For The Dying, 1990)

The Trooper (Piece Of Mind, 1983)

Be Quick Or Be Dead (Fear Of The Dark, 1992)

The Number Of The Beast (The Number of The Beast, 1982)

From Here To Eternity (Fear Of The Dark, 1992)

Aces High (Powerslave, 1984)

Holy Smoke (No Prayer For The Dying, 1990)

2 Minutes To Midnight (Powerslave, 1984)

Wasted Years (Somewhere In Time, 1986)

Alright then, are we done here? Ok.

Lots of hugs, kisses and lacerations

Milo.