Being a frontman is no easy task. Sure, its easy to scoff at the fool prancing around the stage and condemn them as egocentric or uninteresting, but to be able to stand in front of an audience and project the sound, image and concept of yourself and your bandmates whilst simultaneously connecting with the world at large takes guts. The job of the frontman is to get the crowd into the right mood - to make them think, essentially to convey the message of the music without getting in its way. The position does not necessarily fall to a vocalist, lead guitarist, songwriter or sometimes even a musician, but it does require personality, self-belief and to do it really well; charisma. They are the mouthpieces of generations, the idols of millions and the cornerstone of rock and roll. On the following pages well take a look at some illuminating frontmen, some well-known and some lesser-so, who never quite receive the level of adulation they deserved.
10. Brandon Boyd
Incubus is one of those bands that people often dont know they know - and thats a big shame. With energetic, creative guitar lines that border on the experimental, a world class rhythm section, an eclectic mix of styles and catchy-yet-deep songs, they caught the nu-metal wave despite never really belonging on it. They also have one heck of a great frontman in Brandon Boyd. Without resorting to gimmicks in order to give exciting live performances and with explorative albums that are unafraid to either buck or embrace trends, Brandons music is perfectly suited to his freewheeling persona, ensuring that he is the physical embodiment of the sounds of the band. His richly melodic voice provides both subtle emotion and intense bursts, at times channelling a genuinely honest and spiritual flavour. Brandon also has the advantage of seeming to be a nice guy, devoid of the self-importance that often accompanies some frontmen of his ilk. Poetic, melodic and exciting, the California native has the voice, the looks, the creativity and the stage presence to lift the band from good to great, despite never having attained the same level of attention as some of his peers. RECOMMENDED LISTENING: Morning View (Incubus)