Favorite Frontman

[HFX]

Now's the vote for the star of the show. Everyone knows and loves the lead singer. Throughout the history of music there has been so many talented voices that we can't possibly list them all. But we all have a list of our favorites. So PTF, who's voice melts your ears with a musical orgasm? Again if your guy ain't in the poll vote other and let us know. I can't possibly list all the singers out there and yes the poll is HEAVILY influenced by my own personal preferences. What can I say, I'm only human

Also share your favorite video of your favorite singer doing what he does best.

[VaderBomb]

Brian Wilson is by far and away my most favorite. Mercury is second.

[Everlong]

If we're talking about the front man for a band then I gotta go for Freddie Mercury. I think he's the greatest front man that ever lived, honestly. Sucks so much that he had to die so young.

[Kirbi]

Dude, seriously? Guitarists and drummers in famous bands are overwhelmingly male, but there's no shortage of great female singers.

I'm not voting yet though, because this is the most difficult choice for me. Vocals are my favourite part!

[HFX]

Dude, seriously? Guitarists and drummers in famous bands are overwhelmingly male, but there's no shortage of great female singers.

I'm not voting yet though, because this is the most difficult choice for me. Vocals are my favourite part!

There's definitely no shortage of awesome female vocalist. Unfortunately I was limited to 9 options and then Other. You point at that list and tell me who should be removed. I had to work hard to work it down to those 9

[Kirbi]

Okay, I may have to pick Sarah Bareilles - one of the few pure pop acts that I actually enjoy - she has fantastic range, tone, delivery, and she writes great lyrics.

Second place to Jeff Buckley; again, really great voice - the tenderness in it particularly - but I do think he overused his head voice sometimes.

Dude, seriously? Guitarists and drummers in famous bands are overwhelmingly male, but there's no shortage of great female singers.

I'm not voting yet though, because this is the most difficult choice for me. Vocals are my favourite part!

There's definitely no shortage of awesome female vocalist. Unfortunately I was limited to 9 options and then Other. You point at that list and tell me who should be removed. I had to work hard to work it down to those 9

If you'd put in Ozzy Osbourne over Aretha Franklin, there can be no hope for you.

[HFX]

I just saw Black Sabbath live two days ago and am still on an Ozzy high(no actual drugs just music).

[Kirbi]

I just saw Black Sabbath live two days ago and am still on an Ozzy high(no actual drugs just music).

It's like you have some kind of illness.

[Hanley!]

A few of the above aren't great singers. Iconic for sure, but not all of them had particularly good voices or vocal ranges. Ozzy wasn't really all that good for starters. From the list, my favourite would be Freddie Mercury by a mile. I'm a big fan of David Bowie too, but while his music is just as good as Queen's, his vocals are not.

If I was talking about my favourite vocals by any band, it would easily be Alice in Chains. Because they didn't have just one great vocalist, but two. Staley is superior to Cantrell obviously, but it's the way they harmonized with each other that made them particularly noteworthy.

In terms of individual singers, I'd be torn between Mark Lanegan, Neil Hannon and Jeff Buckley. Mark Lanegan has a very distinctive, soulful voice and listening to him live is almost a surreal experience. Neil Hannon has great range and tone to his voice and is also amazing live. Jeff Buckley has maybe the best range out of any male singer I can think of, and put such emotion into his voice. It's a shame we only ever got one album from him.

[Kirbi]

God Dammit, I forgot Neil Hannon!

[Viazon]

Out of that list you put there, I had to go for Michael Jackson. He has just made more songs that I have liked than the rest of them. Freddy Mercury would have been second. My actual favourite front man though is Dave Grohl.

[HFX]

Yo Mr and Future Mrs Hanley, I know Ozzy isn't the best that's why I labeled it Favorite and not Best. You gotta admit Ozzy is one of the most iconic frontmen in music history so that's why I listed him. He's definitely one of my favorite frontmen despite there being better.

[Chewy]

I'm a bit confused it does say singer right?

Where's Mike Patton? WHERES MIKE FUCKING PATTON?

Patton is god.

[Westcoastvibes]

I was gonna say Phil Anselmo or Dave grohl but I am leading towards brad nowell from sublime. The way he sung his songs and the personal touches he put into his lyrics were outstanding. I have always loved his music and I can't help but feel that he would still be a major player in the industry today if he was still alive

[Kirbi]

Yo Mr and Future Mrs Hanley, I know Ozzy isn't the best that's why I labeled it Favorite and not Best. You gotta admit Ozzy is one of the most iconic frontmen in music history so that's why I listed him. He's definitely one of my favorite frontmen despite there being better.

Eh, if it said frontman I wouldn't have thought much about it - it's just that it says singer; I was really surprised to see him mentioned on a shortlist in that context.

[Hanley!]

I'm a bit confused it does say singer right?

Where's Mike Patton? WHERES MIKE FUCKING PATTON?

Patton is god.

Dammit, how did I forget Patton? The man who can do almost anything with his vocal chords.

Having thought about it more thoroughly, I'm pretty certain of my top five, though not what order they appear in:

1) Layne Staley
2) Mike Patton
3) Neil Hannon
4) Mark Lanegan
5) Jeff Buckley

I don't listen to as much music from female singers, but of those Regina Spektor and Sara Bareilles are my current favourites.

[Hanley!]

Yo Mr and Future Mrs Hanley, I know Ozzy isn't the best that's why I labeled it Favorite and not Best. You gotta admit Ozzy is one of the most iconic frontmen in music history so that's why I listed him. He's definitely one of my favorite frontmen despite there being better.

Eh, if it said frontman I wouldn't have thought much about it - it's just that it says singer; I was really surprised to see him mentioned on a shortlist in that context.

Yeah, I was taking the word "singer" pretty literally too. I was specifically thinking of people's skill as vocalists when I answered. That kind of topic is always going to be subjective regardless, but I think people could be objective in saying that someone like Freddie Mercury was a better vocalist than Ozzy.

I'm just being pedantic really. I could understand Ozzy being someone's favourite front man though. When taking into account his personality and the material he's working with. Just the idea of someone thinking he was one of the best singers out there seemed odd to me. Just so I'm not picking on HFX, Dave Grohl is someone that other people have name-dropped that I'd put in the same category. I'd understand people thinking he was a great front man, but there's nothing all that special about his voice.

[Everlong]

In terms of female singers, I do like Regina Spektor, but not sure if she'd be considered among my favorites. Here are some of my current favorite groups with female vocalists:

There's a folk group I really like called The Crane Wives, and both the singers are female. They're absolutely fantastic.



I also love Grace Potter and the Nocturnals:



And Florence + The Machine:



I also think Adele is fantastic, and I really like an Irish folk singer named Lisa Hannigan as well (she's known for performing with Damien Rice).

[Everlong]

Oh, and still on the subjects of groups with female singers, how could I forget the Alabama Shakes!

[HFX]

There are y'all happy now . I even dropped my beloved Ozzy from the poll for my favorite female vocalist, Florence Welch.



As for my favorite frontman it is easily Freddie Mercury. He just had a range and voice that no one can match. And from live videos he also had a presence about him that few did. 45 was way to young for him to go. I wish I could have seen the original Queen perform live just to witness him.