10 Most Outrageous Lead Singers In Punk Rock Music
Making an art form out of outrage.
Punk rock has always been the angry, bratty younger cousin in the rock family. Born out of a distain for almost everything going on in the '70s, it became the movement of the disenfranchised and alienated youth. Defined by simple three chord songs - played with speed and animosity - it defied the conventions of the popular hard rock of the era. Guitar solos and playing in tune, was out, all that mattered was that you played with a dedicated passion for sticking it to the man.
But it wasn't just the raucous and energised sound of the music that gave punk its reputation, it was the wild antics and the outrageous public personas, of its most prominent lead singers. Getting into fights, causing outrage on live television, and performing acts of public indecency are just part of the job when you're fronting a punk group. Over the years there have been several individuals who have risen above the rest, not just for their impact on music, but for their wild reputations.
These are the individuals that gave punk a bad name.
10. Glen Danzig
Although founding member of the Misfits, Glen Danzig, only performed with the group for six years, the image of him as the skull-wearing, muscle-toting frontman, has become iconic of punk.
The Misfits have come to symbolise the visual spectacle of the American scene during '70s. If you combined the theoretical costumes of Kiss with the fast paced energy of the Ramones you'd get Misfits. Formed in 1977 by frontman Glen Danzig, it took a while for the hype around these guys to take off. Danzig was a huge of fan of Elvis and rockabilly music, but it took a certain amount of fine tuning before he could incorporate these influences into the popular rock trends of the '70s.
Eventually Danzig and co. were inspired by the other punk groups of the era, to adopt a fast paced style, becoming forerunners of the hardcore scene. They distinguished themselves with their horror-inspired costumes and make-up, but it was Danzig's Elvis-like croon that stood him apart from other frontmen on the scene.