10 Greatest Hard Rock Frontmen Of All Time
Hard Rock's True Wildmen.
Rock and roll has always about getting attention at the end of the day. Regardless of how good you think that your new record is, it ain't going to mean a thing unless you have some sort of conviction behind your delivery. Even though plenty of artists like to just let the music do the talking, it's sometimes a little better if you have a singer with some charisma.
Ever since the dawn of the rock star, people have always expected a little more from the singer. As opposed to just the guy who sings the songs you all like to hear, it's always important to have someone up there who will put their heart and soul into every word that comes out of their mouth. Rather than just do the regular job of a singer, these vocalists know how to hold their audience in the palm of their hand, with every single person hanging on every word that comes out of their mouth.
Whether it's using gimmicks or feeding off the endless amount of stage presence they already have, these guys could be considered superstars regardless of any singing they've actually done. While the riffs may be the most important part, the great rock and roll needs to hold your attention, and these guys know how to grab you by the throat.
10. Eddie Vedder - Pearl Jam
The golden age of the rock and roll frontmen seemed all but dead by the time the '90s turned a corner. After the hair bands started to take things to ridiculous proportions, grunge's agenda was much more about the integrity you had in your playing rather than your actual stage presence. Though Chris Cornell may have flown the flag for the classic rock frontman, Eddie Vedder took the idea of music moving you to the next level with Pearl Jam.
In the early days of Ten and Vs., Eddie was one of the wildest people to ever set foot on a stage. While he may seem calm and collected at one minute, the brewing intensity he brought out of himself on his first few tours turned him into one of the most intense performers in the rock world. That's before you even get to the actual stunts, as Vedder would climb the scaffolding in between the instrumental breaks to pull off death-defying acts like hanging above the stage and leaping into the crowd.
Even though Eddie has abandoned his more daring practices in recent years, he makes up for it by his more downtrodden stage demeanor, almost like he is serving as the grand ambassador for all things rock and roll. Even in the era when rock seems to be few and far behind, Eddie Vedder is the most natural frontman of the modern age who just seems proud to carry the torch for loud guitars and transcendent music.