10 Rock Bands That Outshine Their Lead Singer

For any rock band worth its salt, you live and die on your lead singer. Across every single working rock act, you have to have some sort of charismatic presence behind the mic if you even stand a chance at hitting the big time. However, there are those rare bands that could really do without their trademark pipes.

Instead of propping up the frontman, these acts have been able to earn their road stripes without having the most enthused singer out front. That's not to say that the singer in question is outright terrible, but they just don't seem to stick out as much as the other members of the group. What do they focus on then? Well, these acts can be a bit of a different animal than your usual rock bands.

While some of these respective artists benefit from another great instrumentalist in tow, some of them don't need to rely on a singer at all and instead focus on the communal vibe to take the listener to a different plain of existence. As opposed to focusing on the pretty face, these acts cut to the chase and blew you away with how much they could shred. You can sing along if you want to, but that's not really what you're here for, is it?

In the grand scheme of rock legends, Pink Floyd has had a strange history to say the least. Even though their songs and aesthetic have taken on a life of their own outside of the rock context, most of their music has gone on to widespread acclaim without the help of any major player behind the mic. Oh, they still have had some characters...just not in the traditional sense.

Earlier in their career, Floyd was basically the brainchild of Syd Barrett, who's weird psychedelic visions were a perfect fit in the late '60s British rock scene. After a falling out and near mental breakdown left Barrett unable to tour, Floyd continued on creating some of the most classic rock music in history. For as much as something like Wish You Were Here and Animals still register with the public, the crux of the promotional tours have more to do with the vibe of the group rather than the actual lead singer.

Compared to Barrett, both David Gilmour and Roger Waters do equally as well delivering the songs, but their rise to fame was far more organic, using their songs as a means to take a look at the world around them and create art like the Wall's packaging and the "burned" executive of Wish You Were Here. While their logos may be integral in the rock scene today, Pink Floyd may still be one of the most faceless bands in rock history.