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STUCK IN THE 80's http://blogs.tampabay.com/80s/2008/02/b ... men-o.html

February 21, 2008
Who's the ultimate front-man?

They're drawn to the spotlight like a moth to a flame. A simple wink from stage sends shivers through the first 30 rows of fans. And if that one star were to ever leave the band, you can't imagine ever seeing them play live again.
That's what it takes to be a truly phenomenal front-man. And the '80s were full of some truly great ones. Still, if you had to name the ultimate '80s front-man, who would you pick?
List time again. Leave a comment with your favorite front-men. Here's some criteria to agree on. Solo artists like Billy Idol and Rick Springfield are not eligible. By the very nature of them being solo, they already stand out. And despite the term "front-man," your picks can be either male or female. (Or, in the case of Boy George, possibly both.)
Feel free to state your case for your picks. In the meantime, here are some names worthy of the title:

STEVE PERRY (Journey): Sporting those tuxedo tails, he danced around the stage like his pants were on fire. And that voice? One in a million. The band hasn't been the same without him -- so much so that when Journey picked a a new lead singer, they chose someone who sounded exactly like Perry.

DAVID LEE ROTH (Van Halen): Nobody should be allowed to sing "Running with the Devil" except Roth. Sure, he got a little too cabaret in the mid-80s, but his return to the band has reinvigorated a classic 80s act.

BONO (U2): A star from the moment he marched out with the white flag at Red Rocks during "Sunday Bloody Sunday."

SIMON LE BON (Duran Duran): Give Simon bonus points for standing out in a band already full of pretty faces.

CHRISSIE HYNDE (The Pretenders): Can you even name another member of the band?

That was a cool blog.

Paul Stanley
Mick Jagger
David Lee Roth
Sebastian Bach
Sammy Hagar
Freddie Mercury
Ted Nugent
Bruce Dickenson

Fact Finder wrote:Jagger, case closed.

I think being able to sing should be a pre-requisite to be a frontman, and Jagger is HORRIBLE! As I've always said...more power to the guy for carving out a 40 year career with zero singing talent! I can't think of anyone else who has ever managed to pull that off! He has definitely accomplished more than any talentless fuck I've ever come across!


John from Boston

Fact Finder wrote:Jagger, case closed.

you got to love that man ...he's been kickin ass for to many decades now!!He knows how to do it......I love "the Voice" but come on 40 years..You go Mic!

http://forums.melodicrock.com/phpBB/posting.php

T-Bone wrote:Freddie Mercury

Yeah, I'm surprised Freddie wasn't even listed....

Bruce Springsteen is better than anyone listed.

T-Bone wrote:Paul Stanley

LOL

Fact Finder wrote:
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

Fact Finder wrote:

Enigma869 wrote:

Fact Finder wrote:
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.

STEVE PERRY (Journey): Sporting those tuxedo tails, he danced around the stage like his pants were on fire.

Yup....ain't THAT the truth!!

And that voice? One in a million.

So true...

...don't make me all LOONISH, dammit!

GeoffTate (no space)

Rip Rokken wrote:GeoffTate (no space)

Hey...

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

David Coverdale....


thread over!

strangegrey wrote:David Coverdale....


thread over!

Wasn't he Mr. Tawny Kitaen????

Matthew wrote:

Fact Finder wrote:

Enigma869 wrote:

Fact Finder wrote:
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.

TRAGChick wrote:

Rip Rokken wrote: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...

Rockindeano wrote:Bruce Springsteen is better than anyone listed.

Who's this Bruce fellow?

weatherman90 wrote:

Rockindeano wrote:Bruce Springsteen is better than anyone listed.

Who's this Bruce fellow?

Haha you've GOTTA be baiting the big man!

Enigma869 wrote:

Fact Finder wrote:Jagger, case closed.

I think being able to sing should be a pre-requisite to be a frontman, and Jagger is HORRIBLE!

Tell that to the fans that paid over $400 million to see their last tour.

I never cared much for the Stones, but I saw some recent concert footage of them, and I can see why people love them in concert. Mick Jagger is a killer frontman. He works the crowd like nobody else. I was really impressed, but still not much of a fan of their music.

Steve Perry
Sting
Bono
Sammy Hagar
Roger Waters
David Coverdale
Rob Halford
Jon Bon Jovi

ProgRocker53 wrote:

Matthew wrote:

Fact Finder wrote:

Enigma869 wrote:

Fact Finder wrote:
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.

Voyager wrote:Tell that to the fans that paid over $400 million to see their last tour.

I never cared much for the Stones, but I saw some recent concert footage of them, and I can see why people love them in concert. Mick Jagger is a killer frontman. He works the crowd like nobody else. I was really impressed, but still not much of a fan of their music.

I would NEVER deny (and didn't in my original post) the fact that The Rolling Stones are a legendary band. Their longevity speaks for itself. I'm well aware of the cult-like following they've always had. I've certainly never understood the following they've had, because I always thought their music sucked. Jagger can have all the energy in the world, up on the stage, and it will never change the fact that the guy can't sing a lick! His voice actually grates on my nerves! As I said, more power to the guy. Rock and Roll music has NEVER had ANYONE who has made more money, with less talent than Mick Jagger! The Capitalist in me congratulates him! I can honestly say that I wouldn't go to a Stones concert if someone paid me to be in attendance!


John from Boston

ROR such a magical experience for anyone with good taste in music.

I will agree with that point there, Matthew. Love that album. In fact, I'll probably listen to it later. It's been awhile since I've had my radio.

Rock and Roll music has NEVER had ANYONE who has made more money, with less talent than Mick Jagger!

Gene Simmons?

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."

ProgRocker53 wrote:

Rock and Roll music has NEVER had ANYONE who has made more money, with less talent than Mick Jagger!

Gene Simmons?

But he wrote..."Calling Dr Love".

Lula wrote: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.

Matthew wrote:

Lula wrote: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.

LOL - just don't say anything bad about Bryan Adams.

haha, I know I'm gonna get burned bad, but I'm voting Steven Tyler. I'm with John, Jagger can not sing a not at all!