who's the most charismatic live frontman

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...after having caught r.e.m friday night and radiohead saturday,i was wondering what bands you've seen have the most energetic,can't stop watchingthem,singers?

michael stipe won the battle this weekend,although peter garrett was hard to stop watching on the diesel and dust' tour.

― william (william), Sunday, 31 August 2003 10:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Buck 65 - mesmerising.

― jed_e_3 (jed_e_3), Sunday, 31 August 2003 10:45 (twenty-two years ago)

low

― keith (keithmcl), Sunday, 31 August 2003 15:03 (twenty-two years ago)

While unknown to most of you, nobody can quite beat Frode Ronli, who used to front Norwegian new wave band Stavangerensemblet in the early 80s...

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Sunday, 31 August 2003 15:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Thomas Öberg

― bob hund, Sunday, 31 August 2003 18:33 (twenty-two years ago)

uh, David Yow anyone? Anybody that ugly yet still able to produce a can't-take-the-eyes-off-him feeling has charisma by the truckloads.

Or maybe he's just fucking scary.

― hstencil, Sunday, 31 August 2003 18:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Jonathan Richman.

― Andrew L (Andrew L), Sunday, 31 August 2003 18:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Mick Collins

― ham on rye (ham on rye), Sunday, 31 August 2003 19:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Michael Gira of Swans back in the Children Of God days was mesmorising/terrifying at the same time.

I was near the front and we made eye-contact at one point... i wished we hadn't... it wasn't pleasant.

― Officer Pupp, Sunday, 31 August 2003 19:30 (twenty-two years ago)

frontmen who've mesmerized me or those around me at one point or another:

Ice-T
Henry Rollins
Perry Farrell
Ted Nugent
Thom Yorke
Chuck D

― unperson, Sunday, 31 August 2003 19:57 (twenty-two years ago)

uh, David Yow anyone?
i must second this.....saw the jesus lizard play the old starfish room[capacity:: aprox 230] in vancouver....amazing.

...stipe is probably the most talkative singer i've ever seen,made lots of comments and shout-outs throughout the evening.

― william (william), Sunday, 31 August 2003 19:59 (twenty-two years ago)

the first that came to mind was Peter Garrett, I would also add Mogwai's Sturat Braithwaite in a weird looking nevous way. Also Bowie.

― A Nairn (moretap), Sunday, 31 August 2003 20:06 (twenty-two years ago)

I can't believe Michael Stipe and Peter Garrett came up when fellow ugly bald bad dancer Ed Kocalwyzk remains the only true LIVE frontman, and therefore the most charismatic by default.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 31 August 2003 20:10 (twenty-two years ago)

I actually saw Live on their Secret Samahdi tour for free. he wasn't that bad, but for some reason he put on a feather boa on for the encore. I guess it was post-REM's Monster glam-is-ok-kinda deal.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 31 August 2003 20:12 (twenty-two years ago)

David Yow

― Johnny Badlees (crispssssss), Sunday, 31 August 2003 20:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Carrie Brownstein
Maynard Keenan

― Leee (Leee), Sunday, 31 August 2003 20:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Mr. Velocity Hopkins (of 25 Suaves) in a small space.

Maybe Scott Stapp in an arena? People seem to like that fellow. I haven't ever seen anyone good in a big space before, really.

― Hurlothrumbo (hurlothrumbo), Sunday, 31 August 2003 21:30 (twenty-two years ago)

My answer wouldn't have been anything like this a week ago, but on Wednesday I saw the Stooges reunion show here in NYC and and I'm here to tell you that Iggy, even at 54, was without a doubt the most charismatic performer I've ever seen. I can't imagine what a blaze of terrifying glory he was in his prime.

― Lucas R, Monday, 1 September 2003 06:49 (twenty-two years ago)

sivert høyem of madrugada

― Katja (blue), Monday, 1 September 2003 07:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Poor musicians of Oxbow, who on two occasions in my presence have turned in some fantastically precision/chaotic angular post-hardcore klang and have been TOTALLY ignored cos of the fucking mentalist pulling himself off in front of them...

― DJ Mencap (DJ Mencap), Monday, 1 September 2003 08:44 (twenty-two years ago)

I can't believe it took so long before Iggy Pop got a shout out. I too saw him for the first time a few weeks ago and he absolutely blew me away.

― J-rock (Julien Sandiford), Monday, 1 September 2003 09:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Bowie, sez I. And I'm obliged to say Jarvis, even though many will strongly disagree.

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Monday, 1 September 2003 09:08 (twenty-two years ago)

i would agree and set the record straight:

DAVID YOW.

no pretense, no bullshit, just drunken and crazed and witty as all fuck ("nitzche? nitzyour mouth, full of my cock."), scary, off the beat at all times, mumbling, sweaty, and occasionally plays with his weiner.

― gage o (gage o), Monday, 1 September 2003 13:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Nick Cave when he was in The Birthday Party... not that I ever saw them live.

― Freedom Dupont, Monday, 1 September 2003 13:14 (twenty-two years ago)

it's Bryan Ferry or Poly Styrene

― thomas de'aguirre (biteylove), Monday, 1 September 2003 13:33 (twenty-two years ago)

I always thought David Yow was kind of cute.

Yes, Iggy, I agree. And I'd add James Brown and Tina Turner. And Morrissey.

― Trish! (Arthur), Monday, 1 September 2003 14:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Yay Arthur! He's back!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 1 September 2003 14:06 (twenty-two years ago)

karl hyde.

― Ronan (Ronan), Monday, 1 September 2003 14:07 (twenty-two years ago)

felix da housecat.

― Ronan (Ronan), Monday, 1 September 2003 14:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Tom Jones duh!

― SplendidMullet (iamamonkey), Monday, 1 September 2003 14:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Hi, Ned!

I forgot early John Lydon. And Alice Cooper and Prince.

― Trish! (Arthur), Monday, 1 September 2003 14:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Saw Iggy and Al Green within a couple of days from each other in August...top choices. David Yow? Pretty good. Jonathan Richman? Yep.

― peepee (peepee), Monday, 1 September 2003 15:24 (twenty-two years ago)

I saw Roxy Music at Radio City last month, and though Bryan Ferry was impressively louche and suave, I would call him charismatic at all.

― Lucas R, Monday, 1 September 2003 20:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Paul Westerberg

― Evan (Evan), Monday, 1 September 2003 20:59 (twenty-two years ago)

cedric bixler (the mars volta, formerly of at the drive-in)
tim harrington (les savy fav)
iggy pop
david yow

― sean marvin (williamtell), Monday, 1 September 2003 22:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Timothy Adrian Rogers
Jarvis

― Chris Radford (Chris Radford), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 00:43 (twenty-two years ago)

I wish it was GG Allin. Even if you like the music like I do, avoid videos.

― sucka (sucka), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 05:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Sorry, forget I even mentioned that, this is about charisma not brutality. Yup, GG is not much more than boring.

― sucka (sucka), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 05:31 (twenty-two years ago)

frontman?
http://www.efn.org/~cschatz/fishbone/DrMaddVibe/angelo_smiling.jpg

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 05:34 (twenty-two years ago)

(if'n gender ain't no thang, I might be inclined to retract that answer and say Ani DiFranco though)

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 05:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Iggy and Prince I'd have to say.

Hey Miss Trish.

― Sean (Sean), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 05:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Tim Rogers???

Thanks, Chris R, best giggle I've had all day.

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 10:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Who has the best stage moves?

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 11:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Mark David Corrin.

― Lynskey (Lynskey), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 12:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Charisma is relative, but some contenders:

Freddie Mercury (obviously), Bjork (I know, I know...not a frontman, per se), and JAZ COLEMAN (if you count bug-eyed, microphone cable-biting doom-harbinging as charismatic).

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 12:19 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.an-irrational-domain.net/images/jaz/Jaz%20Extremities%20rugters%20college%20NB,NJ%2089%20edit.jpg

MR.CHARISMA!

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 12:21 (twenty-two years ago)

chris knox, marc bolan, allison wolffe

― The Lady Ms Lurex (lucylurex), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 12:45 (twenty-two years ago)

not that i have seen bolan or wolffe live: marc bolan could shit on stage and i'd think him charismatic. wolffe i just decided that from mei's photos on the 5 coolest things thread.

― The Lady Ms Lurex (lucylurex), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 12:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Carrie Brownstein

Oh yeah.

Also Lou Reed -- Mostly because of history.

Neko

Ira Kaplan -- Mostly because... well... Yo La Tengo... he's the only one moving.

Bjork -- Mostly because of the control of the train wreck

Bruce

― ModJ, Tuesday, 2 September 2003 12:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Les Claypool is good with the crowds.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 12:58 (twenty-two years ago)

yes to jonathan richman - as far as i can tell it's impossible to see him up on stage and not fall instantly and hoplessly in love. i went in an agnostic and came out vowing to walk the earth until there was not a soul left who did not surrender to jonathan.

― adam b (adam b), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 13:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Going by people I have seen live...

Peter Garrett is a freak live and Midnight Oil had much more energy on stage than on record.

David Yow definitely has the mad troll down pat.

Nick Cave is just cool.

Yamatsuka Eye gets absolutely areobic live. He was doing flips and rolling around like a cheerleading routine to get the crowd going.

Rollins Band records are nowhere near as good as seeing them live. Hank's rants work alot better in this way, especially if the club isn't that big.

The couple of times I saw Public Enemy, I was very impressed by the tag team of Chuck D and Flavor Flav.

Not that what they did was anything nearly as showy, but Al Jorgensen and Perry Ferrell both were almost able to start a riot at shows I saw. The time I saw Ministry in Chicago was freakin' scary.

Watt is somewhat of a showman, even though he is a bassist.

― earlnash, Tuesday, 2 September 2003 13:28 (twenty-two years ago)

warren ellis of the dirty three gets my vote

― Bob Shaw (Bob Shaw), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 13:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Tim Armstrong of Rancid, absolutely and completely.

Also Tim Harrington, KRS-1, and the combinations of Ian MacKaye/Guy Piccioto and Corin Tucker/Carrie Brownstein.

And I've never seen him in person, but Prince on an old episode of Arsenio I saw on VH1 a couple of years ago was just ridiculous.

And fuckit, Karen O.

― Tom Breihan (Tom Breihan), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 13:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Diamond Dave. Remember the "Just A Gigalo/Ain't Got Nobody" video? "Dave, you've got charazzma!" I'm inclined to agree.

― BrianB, Tuesday, 2 September 2003 14:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Bono, circa "War". Everything went smarmy and horrible later.

― Colin Meeder (Mert), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 15:21 (twenty-two years ago)

warren ellis of the dirty three gets my vote

Oh yeah, great answer.

― jaymc (jaymc), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 17:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Bono, circa "War".

The bit in the Red Rocks show where someone grabs his ass always cracks me up.

― Christine 'Green Leafy Dragon' Indigo (cindigo), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 20:02 (twenty-two years ago)

thurston, because he's having so much fun and he's got rock star moves to burn

― dan (dan), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 20:11 (twenty-two years ago)

nick cave
gordon downie
i have to give it up for freddie mercury

― sister christian, Tuesday, 2 September 2003 23:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Roxy Epoxy of The Epoxies was pretty mesmerizing when I saw 'em... better yet she ain't washed up yet...

but yeah, too bad Freddie Mercury died before I saw him live.

― Ann Sterzinger (Ann Sterzinger), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 23:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Probably not my definitive but still serious answer - Dave Gahan circa the 101 tour. I mean c'mon, making it a dynamic show when the three other guys just stand there tweaking and banging stuff is a real accomplishment. Nice ass too.

― Kim (Kim), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 23:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Amen, Kim, though Dave got my attention doing the Songs of Faith And Devotion tour. Partly cause the songs were so great, partly cause I was afraid he'd fall down any second

Bono, during the Zooropa phase: Just oooozed commercial excess

Thom Yorke/Chris Martin: though people continue to say they sound so alike, there are distince differences in their sounds

― Nichole Graham (Nichole Graham), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 23:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Totally agree on the merits of David Yow and Henry Rollins (mesmerizing) but this thread could not possibly have pretensions of being complete without mentioning John Robb, a man who can make this part of the crowd feel like a million bucks on even the shittiest day.

― Ben Dot, Wednesday, 3 September 2003 01:19 (twenty-two years ago)

ermmm.....frontperson i should have typed......and in that vein,i must throw polly jean harvey into the mix. saw her on the 'to bring you my love' tour and was mesmerized[sp.].

― william (william), Wednesday, 3 September 2003 01:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Top of Head: Marvin Gaye, Bette Midler, Fela Kuti, Iggy Pop, John Lydon, Bob Marley.

― Dock Miles (Dock Miles), Wednesday, 3 September 2003 03:06 (twenty-two years ago)

four months pass...

Thomas Öberg in bob hund!

― Kornél Kovács (Kornél Kovács), Monday, 2 February 2004 00:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Beck

I've never seen him in concert though

― Aja (aja), Monday, 2 February 2004 01:08 (twenty-two years ago)

well i've only seen 3 concerts so out of the 3 which were
Weezer, The Strokes, Jet
I Would Have To Say Julian of The Strokes was the best frontman.

― Dude (The Yellow Dart), Monday, 2 February 2004 01:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Beck

I've never seen him in concert though
He's OK. He really tries, but doesn't have that intangible essence.

Off the top of my head mine would be:
Bowie
Iggy
Peter Murphy
Perry Farrell
(depending on tour and mood) Marilyn Manson
Casey Spooner(ducks..)

― anode (anode), Monday, 2 February 2004 01:24 (twenty-two years ago)

The Shins are funny, cuz James Mercer is over on the left side of the stage and a somewhat subdued individual when not sangin', and right at the center is Marty Crandall, who is their captain of banter and is a right lovable mang.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Monday, 2 February 2004 14:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Niall out of the Sultans of Ping f.c.

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 2 February 2004 14:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Michael Jackson!

― Kornél Kovács (Kornél Kovács), Monday, 2 February 2004 14:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Morrissey is, by far, the funniest/wittiest performer I've ever seen.
And although I've only seen him on video, Mick Jagger circa Sticky fingers/Exile was awesome...

― AleXTC (AleXTC), Monday, 2 February 2004 15:40 (twenty-two years ago)

I'd agree with Tim Harrington. And although not necessarily a frontman, a nod should be given to Brezel Goring of Stereo Total for his infectious whatever the hell it is he does on stage. Finally I'll nominate Jack White for sheer energy.

― metfigga (metfigga), Monday, 2 February 2004 17:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh, and I only saw them once, but Trent Reznor was more than entertaining.

― metfigga (metfigga), Monday, 2 February 2004 17:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Failing Jaz, I'd say IGGY POP, goddammit.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 2 February 2004 18:01 (twenty-two years ago)

three years pass...

Iggy, even at 54, was without a doubt the most charismatic performer I've ever seen. I can't imagine what a blaze of terrifying glory he was in his prime.

In the year 2007, you don't have to imagine. Behold!

Iggy Pop - The Passenger, live Oct. 1977

Getting carried to the mic is a wonderfully fitting way to begin this song.

― Z S, Tuesday, 7 August 2007 05:36 (eighteen years ago)

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