These guys rock! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at lead singers in rock bands with the most vocal talent, stage presence and overall showmanship.
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00:00Way down inside, the honey you need left.
00:05Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're looking at lead singers in rock bands with the most
00:10vocal talent, stage presence, and overall showmanship.
00:13We're not considering solo acts or front women, as they deserve their own lists.
00:18All day long I've been in your way, but nothing seems to satisfy.
00:25Number 30.
00:26Joey Ramone – The Ramones
00:28Jeffrey Hyman was a trailblazer of punk rock under the faux-family stage name Joey Ramone.
00:38He only provided vocals in The Ramones, but with an upbeat intensity to make their irreverent
00:42lyrics come alive.
00:43His anthemic voice is unmistakable, so were the long hair, leather jacket, and sunglasses
00:52that turned an otherwise casual look into a new standard for cool.
00:56And Ramone had the onstage attitude to back it up, weaving around his bandmates with only
01:00a mic and pure swagger.
01:02Everything about him epitomized a natural rock star with no pretenses.
01:06Years after his untimely passing in 2001, Joey Ramone continues to influence punk's
01:10iconoclastic art and the image to draw attention to it.
01:18Number 29.
01:19Ronnie James Dio – Elf, Rainbow, Dio, etc.
01:24Many bands' identities have been set by Ronnie James Dio.
01:32He first broke out with Elf, whose hard blues rock was distinguished by the singer's opera-tinged
01:38wailing.
01:39Deep Purple guitarist Richie Blackmore widened that following with Rainbow, before Dio replaced
01:43Ozzy Osbourne in Black Sabbath.
01:49Finally, the group simply known as Dio cemented him as an independent force of nature.
01:57Dio's influence was key to the development of the heavy metal vocal style.
02:01He also popularized the devil horn's hand gesture.
02:04He didn't need to ham up live performances to command audiences with his epic voice and
02:08visible emotion.
02:09This made Dio one of metal's most sought-after vocalists in his lifetime, with a legacy as
02:14one of the genre's defining icons.
02:20Number 28.
02:21John – Johnny Rotten – Lydon – Sex Pistols and Public Image Limited
02:25As one of mainstream punk's rowdiest acts, the Sex Pistols were as wild in their public
02:30image as they were in their music.
02:39At the front of the chaos was the spiky-haired Johnny Rotten's unhinged vocals and energetic
02:43command of the stage.
02:44At least this distinct edge remained when he tamed it and returned to his legal name
02:48to lead Public Image Limited.
02:49It was a more mainstream sound than Pistols, and yet it can be argued that the post-punk
02:54leader's genre experimentation and brash content are sometimes more maverick.
03:04John Lydon himself describes Pill as anti-rock, testing musical boundaries with that same
03:09intense charisma.
03:11No matter Lydon's changes in name, style, and even politics, he's never truly lost
03:16that rowdy reputation.
03:23Number 27.
03:24Anthony Kiedis – Red Hot Chili Peppers – High energy and versatility made the Red Hot Chili
03:29Peppers one of alternative rock's hottest acts.
03:35With rap, funk, metal, and more, Anthony Kiedis has an astounding vocal range.
03:40He translates that to live performances from kicking antics to seductive crooning, all
03:45while gripping the mic in a signature way.
03:47It's only a matter of time before the showman throws off his shirt, if not more.
03:51Hey, he does have to keep up with bassist Flea on the stage.
03:58Still, Kiedis brings a commanding swagger to the Chili Peppers' staggering concerts.
04:08Even as he's matured past scandal and substance use over the years, his vocal and physical
04:12prowess never fails to captivate the audience.
04:23Number 26.
04:24Tom Yorke – Radiohead – The Smile With all of Radiohead's innovative genre-bending,
04:29Tom Yorke is a spectacle just by himself.
04:36The multi-instrumentalist is crucial to the band's elaborate sound and striking, often
04:40politically charged lyrics.
04:42None of it is too big for Yorke's deeply soulful vocal style.
04:52And none of that can prepare listeners for the ethereal stance or erratic energy he brings
04:56to concerts.
04:57His iconic neck flailing does seem to put the head in Radiohead.
05:01With the rest of the band focusing more on technical craft, the renowned alt-rockers
05:05are a truly complete live music experience.
05:08Yorke's thrilling work with The Smile and as a solo artist confirms that he doesn't
05:12just contribute a leading energy to Radiohead's genius.
05:23Number 25.
05:24Joe Strummer – The Clash and The Mescaleros While London's punk scene was being overrun
05:29with anarchists and fascists in the 70s, Joe Strummer was an important voice at the center
05:34of The Clash.
05:42The band rose to international prominence on left-wing lyrics and the frontman's fiery
05:46vocals, with shades of new wave and reggae.
05:49Such experiments laid the groundwork for post-punk, but Strummer was more politically direct in
05:54his intensity than many contemporaries.
06:02Strummer truly had something to say as his towering stage presence was stirring audiences
06:06into a grooving frenzy.
06:08This style continued into his follow-up group, The Mescaleros, until his death in 2002.
06:13It was an untimely end, but Strummer's stardom as a social and artistic revolutionary will
06:18never fade.
06:27Number 24.
06:28Paul Stanley – Kiss Kiss was basically a whole band of front
06:33Each member can sing and deliver eclectic live performances, with Paul Stanley as their
06:37undeniable leader.
06:42His passionate vocals are enough of a thrill.
06:44In concert with Kiss, he stood firm in his gaudy black outfits and white makeup, usually
06:49without a shirt.
06:50And, as perfectly as the bandmates coordinated, his charisma and crowd work stood out.
07:01Although Kiss disbanded in 2023, Stanley has never shed his presence with the Starchild
07:06alter-ego.
07:07The accomplished solo artist is even showing off his musical range with Paul Stanley's
07:11Soul Station.
07:12His breakout band may resolutely be one of the great acts of hard rock, but they just
07:17barely represented Stanley's dynamism.
07:24Number 23.
07:25Jon Bon Jovi – Bon Jovi A group of rock virtuosos from working-class
07:30New Jersey had a true star for their namesake.
07:37The handsome Jon Bon Jovi, going by Jon Bon Jovi, boosted the glam metal scene with a
07:42youthfully intense voice and look.
07:44His mix of bluesy storytelling and rebellious energy fired up a generation of listeners.
07:49His live persona stares them down with frantic physicality.
08:00The band Bon Jovi has always been a leader in arena rock, with the scope and showmanship
08:05to command the largest venues.
08:07All of that has held up through all the years and expansion of stylistic range.
08:11The frontman Bon Jovi still rocks faces by the millions as the embodiment of his era
08:16and genre.
08:22Number 22.
08:23David Byrne – Talking Heads David Byrne all but reinvented the idea of
08:28a rock star with the New Wave Titans' Talking Heads.
08:35Everything about his artistry and appearance has a certain eccentricity that forgoes pop
08:40cliches for genuine personality.
08:42He simply knows how to write great music with a message, and deliver it with infectious
08:46Never mind Talking Heads' live performances, noted for elaborate production values as an
08:51extension of the band's charming personas and satirical songwriting.
09:01Byrne's iconic contrast between stoic expression and boisterous dancing rounds out the ingeniously
09:06bizarre experience.
09:08It makes sense that Stop Making Sense is regarded as one of the greatest concert films of all
09:12time.
09:13Byrne alone is hailed as a one-of-a-kind artist and entertainer.
09:23Number 21.
09:24James Hetfield – Metallica As one of the founders of thrash, Metallica
09:29took heavy metal to a new level of intensity on James Hetfield's explosive musicianship.
09:41The virtuoso rhythm guitarist and guttural vocalist defines the heavy yet sophisticated
09:46sound that metalheads everywhere know right away.
09:55Just as iconic is Hetfield's assertive wide stance and all-around larger-than-life presence
09:59on the stage.
10:00Still, he knows how to get down with the people.
10:03The pyrotechnics of one of the biggest live acts in an industry barely measure up to the
10:07physical stride of the band.
10:09That intensity has never wavered in four decades of personal and creative trials for
10:13the magnetic Hetfield.
10:15If Metallica is an institution, he is the worthy face.
10:25Number 20.
10:26Bon Scott – ACDC Scottish-born Australian singer Bon Scott
10:36was the secret ingredient that turned ACDC into an international brand.
10:50His stellar shrieks were radical for 70s rock voices.
10:53Additionally, he helped put a harder edge to a decade known for softer music.
11:02Scott's vocal abilities and Angus Young's power chords became a match made in rock heaven.
11:11Without the singer's effortless contributions, there would be no Highway to Hell.
11:22The vocalist tragically died before he could show the world more of the depths of his immense
11:26talents.
11:27While ACDC continued without the performer, his lasting impact on the group was never
11:32forgotten.
11:39Number 19.
11:40Bono – U2 By the end of the 1980s, U2 became one of
11:45the biggest bands and live acts in rock history.
11:49Their one and only lead singer Bono was an undeniably charismatic and singular presence.
11:58He constantly used the height of his celebrity to promote charitable causes and share his
12:02beliefs.
12:03While some loved to hate on the vocalist, his lyrical content stood above his contemporaries.
12:17Many failed to credit the performer for his influence on pop rock in general.
12:28If you wrote him off as just a pretentious guy with sunglasses, listen to his contributions
12:32on albums like The Joshua Tree.
12:35Bono succeeded in being both a great frontman and a pretty good role model.
12:47Number 18.
12:48Eddie Vedder – Pearl Jam Eddie Vedder brought a unique lyrical ability
12:53and strong personality to the stage.
13:03His role in Pearl Jam made him a cult figure for the grunge movement.
13:07Led by his deep voice, the group's debut album Ten became an unforgettable 90s rock experience.
13:21The singer's stage antics like climbing the light rigging and stage diving helped endear
13:25him to fans.
13:26Over the decades, the alternative rock group toured the world with a devoted following.
13:38Vedder penned lyrics about real-world issues and wore his heart on his flannel sleeve.
13:44His continued appreciation of the Pearl Jam fanbase contributed to his status as a rock
13:48and roll hall of fame frontman.
13:57Number 17.
13:58Gerard Way – My Chemical Romance Gerard Way co-created My Chemical Romance
14:04after being deeply affected by the attacks on September 11th.
14:16While the songs he performed helped him work through his personal demons, they became relatable
14:20to the legions of fans that supported the group.
14:30Way's contributions to the sounds of emo and alternative rock changed the game for
14:35artists in the 2000s.
14:44Behind the eyeliner, the frontman was much more than a stereotypical goth performer.
14:49The singer's personal and emotional writing led to several modern classics such as The
14:53Black Parade.
15:01There were few figures in the same decade that were as uniquely visionary as him.
15:07Number 16.
15:08Rob Halford – Judas Priest There's a reason that Rob Halford and his
15:13band Judas Priest are referred to as metal gods.
15:21Although he got into heavy metal and hard rock, his superior vocal range could have
15:25helped him have a successful opera career.
15:35Fortunately for his fans, Halford helped bolster the British wing of the metal craze in the
15:39late 70s and 80s.
15:40He and the band provided a hardcore soundtrack to activities like motorcycle riding.
15:52Along the way, the vocalist broke down barriers when he came out as gay in a subgenre that
15:57didn't have much LGBTQ representation at the time.
16:01Halford's authenticity and dedication to his craft built up Judas Priest as a force of
16:06nature in the rock world.
16:13Number 15.
16:14Chester Bennington – Linkin Park Serving as Linkin Park's lead vocalist and
16:19its heart, Chester Bennington definitely deserved all the praise he got over the years.
16:33He and Mike Shinoda crafted a mix of lyrics and rap verses that stood out from other rap-rock
16:38acts.
16:39The group survived the 2000s with the drive to delve into painful themes in their music.
16:44Even as their songs took on a different flavor, he never undersold a vocal part.
16:58He's one of the few singers that truly left everything on the table with each performance.
17:03Unfortunately, the artist died in 2017 after struggling with depression.
17:13His meaningful additions to Linkin Park's catalog created a sincere connection with
17:17fans all over the world.
17:28Number 14.
17:30Bruce Dickinson – Iron Maiden As Iron Maiden prepared to send heavy metal
17:39for a loop in the 80s, Bruce Dickinson was brought on as the lead singer.
17:49It soon became clear that he had joined the band for their most influential period.
17:56Dickinson's mesmerizing vocals first appeared on the Number of the Beast album.
18:04There were few voices that could deliver singles like Run to the Hills with such gusto.
18:19Although Dickinson stepped away from the band for a time, he returned to continue making
18:23hits and delivering strong performances.
18:26His pristine voice built him up as a major figure for more progressive hard rock.
18:36Dickinson's work with Iron Maiden ensured their magical melodies were a part of a stellar
18:40decade of metal.
18:42Number 13.
18:43Chris Cornell – Soundgarden and Audioslave Chris Cornell had a special talent that gave
18:4990s rock a huge boost.
18:51While the grunge genre was full of amazingly talented singers, few could compete with this
18:56singer's serene vocal stylings.
19:08The artist guided Soundgarden through alternative and hard rock influences.
19:12He hit amazing notes and played the guitar in the same breath.
19:23When the performer went on to provide his talents to the underrated Audioslave, he gained
19:28even more fans.
19:29In any group, Cornell shook stadiums with his deep and complex songs.
19:43All of his musical ventures felt authentic because he brought his own perspective and
19:47outlook on life to every note.
19:49His introspective personality blossomed on stage as he roared like few frontmen could.
20:05Number 12.
20:06David Lee Roth – Van Halen David Lee Roth energized Van Halen in the
20:1170s and 80s with his showmanship.
20:20Among the hardest-working entertainers in rock music, Roth was an acrobatic stage presence.
20:32The singer and guitarist Eddie Van Halen teamed up to produce one of the most celebrated live
20:37acts of their era.
20:46Every moment he spent on stage was in full dedication to the audience.
20:50While he wasn't considered a traditional singer, he made up for it with his status
20:54as a brilliant ringleader.
21:04His unique take on songs from Panama to Jump brought millions of fans to their feet.
21:17Number 11.
21:18Dave Grohl – Foo Fighters Dave Grohl emerged from the end of Nirvana
21:23with his own music project.
21:32While he might have been a shy drummer in his old band, Foo Fighters allowed him to
21:36break out of his shell.
21:38This time, he decided to try his hand at being the singer.
21:45What started as an experiment became one of the most successful rock acts of the 21st
21:50century.
21:58During a period dominated by pop and hip-hop artists, Grohl showed everyone how powerful
22:03and relevant the genre could be.
22:12The singer's signature scream and good-hearted nature made him one of the most likable frontmen
22:17in recent memory.
22:23Number 10.
22:24Jim Morrison – The Doors Jim Morrison was one of the most enigmatic
22:29figures in rock and roll.
22:38After graduating from UCLA with a film degree, he gravitated towards artists like Ray Manzarek
22:43and co-founded The Doors.
22:53Morrison's poetic words helped give their music huge play in the counterculture scene.
22:58There were not many artists who could have delivered a song like The End with such conviction.
23:06Sadly, the performer was taken from the world at the age of 27.
23:13He left behind a short but undeniable career of lyrical excellence.
23:25Morrison's deep voice cut across the late 60s in hits that captured a changing social
23:30landscape.
23:36Number 9.
23:37Kurt Cobain – Nirvana Kurt Cobain held court as the unlikely king
23:42of grunge music.
23:52While he wasn't a huge fan of the amount of fame his talent brought, he still led his
23:56biggest fans through the 1990s with his vocals.
24:00Cobain's deeply personal and transgressive songwriting blew a hole through the status
24:05quo.
24:10By combining a variety of rock sub-genres, he became one of the most successful acts
24:15of the decade.
24:24The singer's honesty and no-frills attitude only increased his reputation as a frontman
24:28for Nirvana.
24:29Unfortunately, his career was cut short at the age of 27.
24:41But Cobain is still part of an elite group of artists that achieved so much in such a
24:46short time.
24:54Number 8.
24:55Iggy Pop – The Stooges
24:57Iggy Pop and The Stooges laid the template for American punk rock music.
25:02His on-stage persona tore to shreds any notion of decorum.
25:11He also made it cool to take your shirt off during a performance.
25:15Fortunately, the singer would go much further than removing his top over the course of his
25:18career.
25:19Pop and his bandmates recorded three highly influential albums before a multi-decade hiatus.
25:25He embarked on a diverse solo career before reuniting with his old group in the 2000s.
25:34Thanks to his unpredictable stage presence, any act he was a part of could get pretty
25:38wild.
25:39Sometimes underrated and overlooked, Pop and his band were finally recognized by the Rock
25:44and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.
25:55Number 7.
25:56Roger Daltrey – The Who
25:58Roger Daltrey sang for one of the heaviest acts of the British Invasion.
26:11Before terms like metal were mainstream, The Who was considered among the loudest rock
26:15bands.
26:22Daltrey was one of the first frontmen who wasn't limited by just a microphone.
26:33He usually appeared on stage while swinging the device around like a champion.
26:38Not only was he a great performer, his singing abilities were seriously tested with complicated
26:43rock operas like Tommy.
26:45The vocalist belted out anthemic numbers with the best of them.
26:54He and the group represented the fury and artistry lurking in harder-edged music.
26:59Much of the singer and the act's creativity was ahead of its time in performance, ambition
27:03and stage destruction.
27:11Number 6.
27:12Axl Rose – Guns N' Roses
27:15As the fearless leader of Guns N' Roses, Axl Rose moved the goalposts for frontmen
27:20in hard rock.
27:28Rose and his partying bandmates provided an antidote to the typical hair metal of the
27:32late 80s.
27:34Without his lyrics, classics like the edgy anthem Welcome to the Jungle would never have
27:38come together.
27:47Appetite for destruction and both Use Your Illusion records showcased his musical scope
27:51and ambition.
27:58The group's original lineup dissolved after egos and uncompromising visions changed the
28:04band's trajectory.
28:12Despite his sometimes testy reputation, the singer's perseverance and leadership helped
28:17make GNR a household name.
28:28Number 5.
28:29Stephen Tyler – Aerosmith Stephen Tyler commanded a microphone stand
28:34like nobody else.
28:36His scarves and costumes were as famous as his raspy vocals.
28:48Over the course of three decades, Tyler delivered ballads and heavy rock hits with ease.
28:53Despite his personal struggles, the singer persevered with an iconic slew of singles.
29:04The vocalist poured his heart out on Dream On, and over 20 years later, he blew the roof
29:10off with I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing.
29:17He even helped bridge the gap between rock and hip-hop with Run-D.M.C.
29:28Along with guitarist Joe Perry, the singer masterminded one of the longest-running success
29:32stories in music history.
29:43Number 4.
29:44Ozzy Osbourne – Black Sabbath Ozzy Osbourne came on the scene as the lead
29:49singer of Black Sabbath.
29:56Together with his esteemed bandmates like Tony Iommi, he practically created heavy metal
30:01music.
30:02He crafted the template for a singer in that particular rock subgenre.
30:12Iron Man and Paranoid put him on the map as a frenetic artist with a gift for huge vocals.
30:24After Sabbath, he excelled with his own solo records, and touring made him even more legendary.
30:30His creation of OzFest and run-ins with Bats put him in the pantheon of music icons.
30:38However, it was Black Sabbath where Osbourne first connected rock to the dark side.
30:48Number 3.
30:49Mick Jagger – The Rolling Stones
30:58The Rolling Stones could not have become one of the most prolific acts in history without
31:03an amazing performer center stage.
31:11Not only was Mick Jagger one of the original bad boys of rock, but his performance style
31:16was legendary.
31:18His various dance moves inspired countless imitators and even a popular Maroon 5 song.
31:31With his writing partner and guitarist Keith Richards, Jagger created many rock and roll
31:35standards.
31:41Their appreciation of old blues and R&B records saluted the past and set a high bar for recording
31:48The singer's many decades on tour proved that age is just a number for this legend.
31:58Number 2.
31:59Robert Plant – Led Zeppelin
32:01Hard rock owed a massive debt to Robert Plant's achievements.
32:12This powerful voice put Led Zeppelin into an elite tier of influential musicians.
32:17In the early years of Plant's career, he helped create one of the best music outfits in history
32:22with vocal chords that could shatter glass.
32:31He was among the first front men to bring rock and roll to arenas and stadiums around
32:35the world.
32:43Few others could scream like he did on Immigrant Song and deliver a folk song like Going to
32:47California.
32:56Plant pushed his voice to the extreme through the 70s.
33:00Unfortunately, his efforts helped set the bar high for future generations.
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33:28Number 1.
33:30Freddie Mercury – Queen
33:31There is no question that Queen was the product of a collaborative effort.
33:41At the same time, it cannot be denied that singular Freddie Mercury took the band to
33:46a whole new level with his dynamic vocal range.
33:57And videos from iconic sets like Queen's legendary Live Aid performance proved he had
34:02an unparalleled relationship with the crowd.
34:10He was everything a lead singer should and could be, and then some.
34:20Mercury's shining star burned bright as his operatic style progressed music further than
34:25anyone expected.
34:26While he was gone much too soon, the artist lived on through his own indelible stamp on
34:31rock music.
34:40The best frontman in history was also the most entertaining, dynamic, and effortlessly
34:46talented.
34:47There will never be another Freddie Mercury.
34:57Who are your favorite frontmen in rock?
35:00Step forward in the comments.
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