10 Greatest Rock Frontmen Of All Time

In the late 70's, much of the British music scene had been bogged down with theatrics. With punk music in the rearview and new wave dwindling, the post-punk scene brought forth singers that, while fantastic, were more focused on working out their emotional troubles than engaging with their audience. Then out of Dublin, a cultural rock force came in the form of U2.

Breaking onto the scene in 1980, U2's music was a shot of life for everyone who was aching for pure rock music. As the band moved throughout the 80's, albums like War and The Joshua Tree were bold pastiches of what rock meant on a grand scale. On the live stage, Bono was the one to take those emotions to even more epic proportions.

This was seen most clearly onstage at Live Aid, where Bono goes through emotional singing passages while building a bond with the crowd that feels almost spiritual. Once U2 came on the scene, every rock fan knew that things would never be the same. Bono's passion towards his art made a simple rock show feel like an epic cultural moment for everyone in that audience.