10 Most Iconic British Frontmen In Rock Music History
4. John Lennon - The Beatles
This one was always going to be controversial, was there one definitive frontman of The Beatles? At times Paul McCartney certainly took centre stage, particularly in the later years, but John Lennon had that strange mysticism about him. He drew the eye, even with McCartney bopping about with his little owl face.
In terms of musical technique, McCartney had the more developed and focused approach to his song writing, and constantly seemed to evolve in terms of his melodic structures, but Lennon had more of a raw and wild nature to him, particularly with his raspy vocal deliveries. In short he just had more edge than McCartney... , and frontmen ought to have edge.
Remember, not only did Lennon front the Beatles but he also fronted the short-lived supergroup The Dirty Mac, a band comprised of Jimi Hendrix's drummer, Mitch Mitchell, Eric Clapton on guitar and Keith Richards on bass. Admittedly, these guy only played one show, but damn, did Lennon put on a good show.
Lennon's legacy was only amplified by his murder in 1980. It's impossible to say, but one cant help imagine Lennon would have followed a similar route to Neil Young, exploring the alternative and experimental side of rock n roll, as opposed to McCartney's endeavours into the realm of soft pop-rock.