12 Greatest Hard Rock Frontmen Of The '90s

There's a common misunderstanding that being the lead singer in a band is the easiest job in the world. While roles like the guitarist and the drummer put their muscle and dexterity into their craft, it seems like it only takes good looks and a passable voice for many rockstars to make their millions. On the other hand, being a singer and entertaining an audience are two totally different beasts.

Though the '90s were not necessarily known for their extravagant hard rock shows, many rockstars were birthed from that scene with more personality than your average band could dream of. The focus may have been on the music, but it was virtually impossible to ignore any of these vocalists once they stepped up to the mic. That being said, not all of these rock stars had to have the greatest voice.

From the way they controlled an audience to the impassioned performances they got into night after night, these stars made every single note being played onstage feel like a cathartic emotional experience for both band and audience. The era of the anti-rockstar may have been underway, but that didn't mean there weren't some magnetic presences still permeating the rock sphere.

As the industrial movement got underway, the entire rock landscape was getting a lot nastier. Starting with Trent Reznor's Nine Inch Nails, each band with a mechanical bent was aiming to outshock the person next to them. Rock and roll was getting theatrical again, and right in the thick of it was the androgynous alien Marilyn Manson.

Initially having a band around him, Manson quickly became one of the most magnetic players in the game, with some of the most outlandish stories ever written. With everyone from disgruntled grandparents to rabid fans knowing his name, everyone was itching to know whether the stories were real. At the end of the day though, it was all about the demented music for Manson.

Across albums like Antichrist Superstar, Manson lay claim to the shock rock throne that had been cultivated by former madmen like Alice Cooper and King Diamond. Once he hit the stage, everyone's regular town turned into a sonic call for rebellion, with a setup that reflected a macabre performance combined with Hitler's Third Reich rallies.

Though Manson has shown no signs of slowing down in recent years, his prime spot as one of rock's most insane voices has brought him into the highest ranks of rock lore.