If the qualifications are they have to play an instrument as well as sing, I would vote for Sammy Hagar and Lemmy Kilmeister.

 

Two Icons For Me:

Judas Priest (Rob Halford)

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=380C_nVJotY"]YouTube - Judas Priest - Breaking the Law[/ame]

Iron Maiden (Bruce Dickinson)

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZvI7gsDFoQ&feature=PlayList&p=C003E105B6A8EBBD&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=6"]YouTube - iron maiden trooper 1983 live in dortmund[/ame]

Honorable mention goes to one of the guys that was just out of control ... David Lee Roth of Van Halen.

 

While I agree, none of them meet the criteria that FFIC set forth-they have to play an instrument AND sing.

Well, I guess you could count Bruce holding a guitar during "Revelations"-but now that they have 3 guitarists, he doesn't do that anymore.

 

Bruce Dickinson, Rob Halford, Glenn Danzig, Bret Michaels..(JK about Michaels)

I liked Ronnie Dio as well.

 

Well then I want VO's answers!

Seriously though, Bruce and Rob are my vocalist heroes. There are a few newer ones I would definitely recommend-Tim "Ripper" Owens (Judas Priest, Iced Earth, Beyond Fear) and Matt Barlow (Iced Earth). Awesome pipes on those guys.

 

Dave Mustaine
James Hetfield
Tom Araya

 

It begins and ends with Dave for me. He didn't play any instrument aside from the acoustic guitar intro to Ice Cream Man. But why play when you have Eddie?

Sammy Hagar was a good singer and guitar player before Van Haggar. Again, why play when you have Eddie?

I think Tom Keifer is underrated. Good singer and guitar player.

His best work was in the 70s, but Paul Stanley gets overlooked no matter what decade you're talking about. He did a lot of writing in the 80s while Gene was off doing cheesy movies and whatnot. Him and Vinnie Vincent were a good team on Lick It Up. Paul's act itself can be cheesy. But I think he is the glue that has kept KISS alive for so long.

 

Klaus Meine was very good in the '80s... :up:

 

James Hettfield
Axl Rose

 

Greatest 80's front man ever....bar none...

Dee Snider.

Been to HUNDREDS of shows in the 80's, he might not have been the best singer, but no one ever controlled an audience the way Dee can.

 

For me it has always been
Lou Gramm

 

In all actuality, you have to really take into consideration what a "frontman" really is.

Maybe I'm in the minority, but a frontman to me is the total package. There are many who can sing and play an instrument amazingly well, but they can't talk to an audience. David Coverdale comes to mind.

Ronnie James Dio is probably the best singer in metal, but he doesn't connect to an audience the same way someone like Bruce Dickinson or David Lee Roth do.

The term "frontman" encompasses all those attributes. If you don't have them all, then you're just a vocalist.

 

As far as singing, writing, and playing I would go with Bill Henderson of a Canadian Band called Chilliwack. Simply amazing. I think Wanna be a star is my favorite ALL TIME album. From the first song to the last it was awesome. If you like drums, you have to listen to the song "Wanna be a star". My 9 year old son thinks he a drummer and wants to play like that.

 

Lou Gramm for me would be a great vocalist if I used you template. I agree with you about controlling the audience.

David Lee Roth or Ted Nugent would be high on the "frontman" list.

 

And that's all I have to say about that.:pointlol:

 

Well.....



:lol:

 

:lol: Changed quite a bit hasn't he?:knucks:

 

Oh...how the mighty have fallen. If you would have told me in 1978 that he'd eventually look like Niles from "Frasier", I'd have laughed at you!

 

So weird that you said that-I was listening to some live Sister this morning and all I could think was "Damn, Dee OWNS this crowd". Even when he called the non-participaters "Pricks with ears".

 

That's the word bro..."owns". Never saw anyone do it like him, and consistantly.

 

To run with the Dee Snider thing, he had a radio show on here locally a couple years ago (i don't know if it was just here or nationally) but anyway - he instantly became a favorite DJ practically overnight. Because he didn't try and bull**** you. He said "Look i'm not going to tell you I wouldn't love to play that song for you; but this station has a list and I have to stick to the list". The honesty and no BSing was what had me listening to him.

 

That's how he is with everything bro.

 

Jim Morrison, not a huge Doors fan, but he was bigger than life.

Mick Jagger

Roger Daltrey

The best ever???? Freddy Mercury

 

And these were all hard rock/metal um.....how? :tongue2:

 

I saw Lou Gramm mentioned didn't I??

I would say the Who and Queen were hard rock.

Classic Rock/Hard Rock it depends on how you look at it.

 

I never like Twisted Sister...EVER but Dee Snider has always been a fascinating guy and I've always loved the dues voice, just never liked TS's music. When Dee went in front of the PMRC and basically gave them the bird without actually flipping them the bird he instantly became one of my heroes.

 

Pagan...this topic had me wondering what you think of the American Idol guy Adam Lambert. If you watch the show. he's far and above ready to front a band.

 

What about Meatloaf?

 

I don't really think he would qualify, as he is kind of a solo artist, not really the frontman for a band. I will say, he has a hell of a set of pipes, though.

And ***** ****.
His name is Robert Paulson.

 

Um....no, he's not. I don't watch the show, but I've seen this EMO wannabe rocker on youtube.

The same thing was said about Constantine Moralis and Chris Daughtry.

They're all glorified karaoke singers. Don't get me wrong, they all have good voices. None of them, however, do anything that makes them stand out in a crowd. The only reason they stood out on the show is due to the subpar talent surrounding them.

Had they not been on American Idol, they'd all be in a cover band somewhere playing three sets a night for beer money.

 

Simon? :shifty:

 

My alltime favorites...


Chris Robinson (Black Crowes)

THE Iggy Pop

Joe Strummer (The CLash)
Now..for best Hard Rock/Metal frontmen from the 80's...that is easy...


Dave Mustaine (Megadeth)

duh

uh..yeah

Just...lemmy.

 

Call him by his rightful name....God.

 

I got one for ya....

 

Now...if Meatloaf cant be considered one, can Alice?