by Andrew Trendell & Andy Morris | Photos by WENN
The 100 greatest frontmen of all time
From Lux Interior and Iggy Pop to Matt Bellamy and beyond, who will be No.1?
100. Lux Interior, The Cramps: 42 years after The Cramps first strutted onto the scene, Lux Interior remains the standard by which all truly debauched punk is judged. A relentless personality capable of surprising and terrifying in equal measure. Whenever anyone deep throats a microphone on stage, thank the man who first mastered the technique.
99. Paul Westerberg, The Replacements: A truly singular songwriter, Westerberg manages to make every audience feel like they're discovering the Minneapolis foursome for the first time (even if, as with a show last year, he performs most of his set in a hammock). If you haven't got tickets for their reformed gigs this summer you really need to seriously rethink your priorities.
98. Maynard James Keenan, Tool: They may not have put out an album since 2006 but the memories of Kennan's eviscerating lyrics and thorough exploration of shame and disgust have only grown in stature. Woe betide anyone who rushes the stage - any fan who tries to get close can expect to be placed in a headlock.
97. Frank Zappa, Mothers of Invention: Gloriously, hilariously, spectacularly bonkers - and of course he wasn't on the drugs so many of his listeners experimented with. His patented brand of "improvised insanity" still hasn't found its match. His final album - his 100th! - Dance Me This will be finally released in 2015.
96. Scott Weiland, Stone Temple Pilots/ Velvet Revolver: The frontman is a leading force in the hard rock world, feigning chaos in his live shows which has seem him building up several stellar back catalogues in different guises with Stone Temple Pilots and as a solo artist. His success has found him fronting the supergroup Velvet Revolver alongside Guns 'n' Roses members Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum.
95. Pink Eyes, Fucked Up: Along with Frank Carter from Gallows, when Damian Abraham first emerged from the underground scene in 2008 no one could quite believe their luck . A true beast of a man on stage, off he's thoughtful and insightful in equal measure of stage. Check out his podcast Turnedoutpunk and make sure you watch Fucked Up at this summer's festivals - just stand well back.
94. Dan Smith, Bastille: The thoughtful frontman manages to combine a fierce emotional intelligence with the capacity for songwriting that few can match. He is at his best in front of a festival crowd - defeating the naysayers one monumental anthem at a time. How else do you think they went from releasing a debut seven inch in 2011 to playing to over 7000 people at Alexandra Palace in three years?
93. David Lee Roth, Van Halen: Sure he doesn't help himself - we can't work out whether appearing on the cover of Playgirl or the 'baton incident' is more embarrassing - but in full flight few can match Roth. It's not only in their Seventies pomp either: just listen to how good 'Unchained' sounds on Tokyo Dome Live in Concert recorded in 2013 - this is a frontman who can survive ridicule and emerge stronger.
92. Chino Moreno, Deftones: He endured nu metal and the fraught recording and writing of White Pony, the band's defining release. Of late, Moreno's scream has never sounded stronger.
91. Vince Neil, Motley Crue: The Crue have always been beyond parody - even if you never got the chance to see Tommy Lee's drum roller coaster, the sheer amount of pyrotechnics on stage will blow your mind. At its heart is Neil - a man who at 54 may be hanging up his leather trousers but will always have a place in our hearts.
90. David Johansen, New York Dolls: Morrissey's favourite band had a frontman that no-one could argue with - not even the irascible vegetarian himself.
89. Alex Kapranos, Franz Ferdinand: Twisting the template of Jarvis Cocker, Jon King and Edwin Collins, Kapranos took angular punk funk a bold new direction. Indie discos have never sounded so good.
88. Stefan Burnett, Death Grips: Utterly uncompromising no matter the setting, whether his band break up or go on a world tour, your eyes will be fixed to Burnett performing live. It's also so frightening you'll start using terms like 'danger-step'.
87. Ray Davies, The Kinks: A musical giant with a taste for nostalgia and sibling rivalry, he created a vision of England that never existed only in his exceptionally crafted songs. No wonder that that everyone from Frank Black to Bruce Springsteen paid tribute to him.
86. Shaun Ryder, Happy Mondays: He may not share the political ambitions of bandmate Bez but he remains also the beating beligerant and heart of the debauched Happy Mondays. Even he still can't say 'There'.
85. Chris Cornell, Soundgarden: He may be responsible for one of the worst Bond themes in recent memory (and a solo album that shows that a hiphop direction isn't as easy as it looks) but when he's in his rightful place at one of the best grunge bands of the world, there is simply nothing stopping him.
84. Nile Rodgers, Chic: The disco architect, the music industry Zelig, seemingly capable of transforming the musical world at will. His resume suggests that he's most comfortable in the studio, but it's live, recreating the hits that made his name and those of his dear departed friend Bernard Edwards when he shines brightest.
83. Justin Hawkins, The Darkness: The moment when something you parody becomes far superior to the original act that questioned in the first place. There was a time, 2003 to be precise, when there was simply no-one better suited to being a stadium act - particularly when he was riding that tiger around.
82. Paul Banks, Interpol: It's his achingly cool stoic presence at work with the vivid romance and passion or the words and cinematic music that gives Interpol that bristling melodrama. He looks incredible in a suit too.
81. Win Butler, Arcade Fire: Amid all the insanity of your average Arcade Fire performance (cue paper mache heads and voodoo drums) someone needs to keep the show on the road. Sure brother Will has his solo material but it is Win (and wife Regine) who keep this spectacle
80. Matt Berninger, The National: Whether pining for love lost, celebrating life or maniacally screeching through anxiety, Berninger embodies that heartwarming openness that makes this band feel so special. There's a humanity that envelopes all that The National do - there's so much to cling to, quite literally when he flees the stage in the clamouring hands of his adoring masses. A cult icon for our age.
79. Bobby Gillespie, Primal Scream: A psychedelic explorer with a fondness for clean cut Sixties tailoring Gillespie has conquered 20 years of debauchery. He once told this writer: "We're a pure rock'n'roll band. We're the real thing. It's in our blood. We don't think about it. It just drips from our fingers." Needless to say they're going to blow Mumford off the stage at the Scottish Gentlemen Of The Road stopover.
78. Anton Newcombe, Brian Jonestown Massacre: When he's not making obscure and outstanding soundtrack records, Newcombe provocative and powerful performances are keeping indie rock from becoming insufferable.
77. Gene Simmons, Kiss: The God Of Rock may have some odd views about the future of rock and roll (and having bedded 48,000 partners he's got some strange views on pretty much everything) the hugely tongued Kiss frontman is a formidable presence on stage.
76. Wayne Coyne, The Flaming Lips: Sometimes you need a ringmaster to take control. Coyne is the perfect man to bring the Flaming Lips to live - and not least for when he roams around in an giant hamster ball. Put it this way: he manages to out weird Miley Cyrus by a considerable margin.
75. Trent Reznor, Nine Inch Nails - Sure his soundtrack work is pretty much without parallel but it%u2019s leading the band that made him that makes all the difference. Reznor is a mesmerizing presence, someone can meld electronica, rock and willing minds.
74. Dan Auerbach, The Black Keys: His duo may continually be facing setbacks - not least his partner's Patrick Carney's recent injury and a longstanding spat with Jack White - but Auerbach is more adventurous than his critics give him credit for.
73. Roger Waters, Pink Floyd - Part of the reason that we can't let go of the idea of the Pink Floyd reunion is so hard to stomach is the idea that we may never again see Waters stomp all over stages with the band with who he first came to power.
72. Brian Johnson, AC/DC - Sure Angus' schoolboy attire gets all the attention but it is the powerhouse vocal performance of Johnson that keeps the fires burning for the Ozzie rock powerhouse. After a difficult year, their Wembley shows are going to be simply colossal.
71. Simon Neil, Biffy Clyro - Channelling his idol Kurt Cobain, Neil has shirtlessly led the trio of Scottish maniacs from toilet venues to stadium fame, retaining a terrifying weirdness throughout.
70. Brett Anderson, Suede - Snake-hipped bad-sex-and-bouncing-cheques chronicler Anderson teamed up with Bernard Butler and defined a truly different aesthetic on Britpop. Still looks and sounds great. We%u2019re counting the days till we see them play 'Killing of a Flashboy' at Glastonbury.
69. Eddie Vedder, Pearl Jam: Proof that stadium rock doesn't need to sound stale, Seattle's other Nineties grunge icons are finally getting their due. Politically engaged and frequently enraged: not bad qualities for your average rock frontman.
68. George Clinton, Funkadelic/Parliament - At his peak Clinton travelled with 54 other members of his band - and still managed to show them all up on stage. He is single minded about a deep pursuit of the funk - and on that no one can fault him.
67. Guy Garvey - Few can command a crowd like Garvey. When he's in full flow, a few sheets to the wind, with a capacity crowd singing about marital strife, there is simply nothing finer.
66. James Dean Bradfield, Manic Street Preachers - One thing that the Manics never get due credit for is the true breadth of the ground they've covered; from the glam punk of Generation Terrorists to the firey AM radio metal of Gold Against The Soul to the acidic viscera of The Holy Bible to the arena glory of Everything Must Go and the aching soul of This Is My Truth, right through to folksy Rewind The Film and the propulsive Bowie-esque rush of Futurology. Throughout it all, JDB has been their anchor - with an undeniable guitar hero flair, a deafening bellow and a windmill kick.
65. Jared Leto, 30 Seconds To Mars - Whether you think his 'damaged' Joker can touch the two iconic on screen profiles, 30 Seconds To Mars a hell of a lot more sophisticated proposition. It's not easy to be an actor who sings: but Leto makes it look effortless.
64. Mark E Smith, The Fall - Likes a drink, loves an insult: no wonder Smith remains the last surviving member of The Fall and the key for the bands enduring success. Spitting his way through 'Totally Wired' clearly does mean something for him.
63. Billy Corgan, Smashing Pumpkins - It was only when Corgan recently announced that the Smashing Pumpkins may soon be no longer that everyone finally realised what a talent he had. Anyone who can go toe-to-toe with Marilyn Manson is OK by us.
62. Michael Hutchence, INXS - The end of a man's life shouldn't determine how he's viewed - remember the extraordinary Wembley gigs in '91 rather than his tragic last days.
61. Michael Stipe, REM - A frontman who captured the fragility and forcefulness of their records. While it would have been easy to continue in a creative rut, when Stripe's interest ran out, so did the band.
60. Frank Black/ Black Francis, The Pixies - To survive at the business end of the Pixies one needs to have a rhino hide and be able to play with the best of them. Black manages both in spades: his band may be in a constant state of turmoil, his voice may be torn to shreds but there's simply no-one better at belting out 'Debaser'.
59. Gerard Way, My Chemical Romance - The leader of the Black Parade was always going to have followers - but it wasn't until he stepped out of the shadow of MCR that he truly showed his true potential. Solo, Way's own personality shines through - charismatic, challenging and captivating.
58. Billie Joe Armstrong, Green Day - Even if you never invested in Uno! Dos! Tres! and pretty much haven't liked a Green Day since American Idiot, there's a reason why the band are still one of the best festival acts you can possible catch. Time of your life? Predictably yes.
57. Faris Badwan, The Horrors - Over their short career The Horrors have gone from being one note goth joke band to psychedelic adventurers capable of their most extraordinary records. Throughout it Badwan has remained a freakily haired figurehead - whose work with Cat's Eyes is also well worth investigating.
56. James Hetfield, Metallica - As Some Kind Of Monster proved Metallica may be more complicated than most metal acts - but one of the secrets to their success is simple. Hetfield is an awe inspiring figure who clearly relishes every face melting moment. Just watch him rock Reading to its core this summer.
55. Lemmy, Motorhead - Sorry Noel, it's Lemmy who is one of the last true rockstars. Sure some of his habits are a little strange (the Nazi memorabilia being one) but there's a certain comfort in having someone who when he's travelling on a plane takes only a guitar, a pair of boots and a bottle of Jack Daniels.
54. Glenn Danzig, Misfits/Danzig - Stripped to the waist bellowing 'Devil's Plaything' no wonder Danzig used to terrify audiences and members of the media alike. Seek out his performance as Misfits for the full effect: filthy and furious in equal measure.
53. Neil Young, CSNY - A true titan of modern rock, you don't need to have a Pono player to appreciate what Young's capable of. It just makes you long even more that CSNY would tour again - but frankly that's about as likely as Young checking out an album on a radio ripped MP3.
52. Pharrell Williams, NERD - When he's not being a super producer for any pop or hip-hop star worth their salt, setting standards for headgear on the red carpet or giving the minions in Despicable Me something to be happy about, Pharrell is a frontman par excellence. Watch the early footage of him performing 'Sooner Or Later' with NERD - you won't regret it.
51. Tom Meighan, Kasabian - A showman of the old school, Meighan is capable of facing down the biggest crowds - and his roaring vocals more than match Serge's riffs. Rewatching their Glastonbury headline set is enough to convince you that maybe the Brits really is a conspiracy.
50. Bruce Dickinson, Iron Maiden - Maiden's mainstay since 1981, never better than when belting out 'Hallowed Be Thy Name' or performing in front of 250,000 very lucky fans. Bonus: one of the few frontmen who can actually fly their own plane on the way to the gig.
49. Brian Molko, Placebo: Before landfill indie, before conformity, there was Placebo - playing lithe and lascivious rock with a potency few could match. Placebo taught a whole generation that it was perfectly ok not to feel alright. The whole rock community wishes him a speedy recovery.
48. Corey Taylor, Slipknot: The man behind the mask is the reason why Iowa's most intense exports are headlining Download this year. This is a band who transcend mere shock to achieve something truly seismic.
47. Samuel T. Herring, Future Islands: His Letterman performance may have made his arthouse Baltimore trip the most talked about act of last year - but Herring is so much more than his sophisticated shape throwing. From the primal howl of 'Fall From Grace' to the delicate falsetto of 'Doves', Herring is truly gifted.
46. Ian Brown, Stone Roses: Having now experienced the band's fourth coming, Brown's status as everyone's favourite semi-simian frontman is certain. As Shane Meadows showed, Brown had a habit of declaring "I think we could be the biggest band ever." And when he sang 'I Am The Resurrection' we all believed him.
45. Bono, U2: Hate all you want but there is still a certain bug eyed brilliance to Bono as a frontman. Off stage he wants to save the world but on stage is the only time that this looks remotely possible. A stadium filling frontman who can make everything sound as intimate and personal as if you were hearing it on your (Red) iPod.
44. Josh Homme, Queens Of The Stone Age: A rock frontman and producer for the modern age, who took the Arctic Monkeys into the desert and survived the departure of perpetually naked Nick Olivieri. Whenever he launches into 'No One Knows', the one thing that is certain is that no-one does it better.
43. Mike Patton, Faith No More - A musical polymath capable of taking alt-metal into hitherto uncharted territory Patton is the absolute master of giving precisely zero fucks. Their new album (and it's gimpy artwork) may not be everyone's taste but there prime material has lost none of its potency.
42. Damon Albarn, Blur/Gorillaz - He may have said recently 'I try and avoid being in Blur' but Albarn is the reason the band have gone far beyond Britpop. He still manages the delicate balancing act of combining the cerebral and the blokey - often in the same song. And as for Gorillaz - who else could get Shaun Ryder, Mark E Smith, Kano and Lou Reed on the same stage?
41. Tyler The Creator, Odd Future - A truly terrifying stage presence, Tyler's performances are as jaw-dropping as his frequent Twitter feuds. Whether he's calling out the VIP section at Coachella or leaping into the crowd at Camden Crawl, no-one is safe. In the world where so much live hip-hop can be predictable, he is the punk energy we all require.
40. Pete Doherty, The Libertines/Babyshambles: "Alright, Ally Pally?" beamed Pete Doherty at their massive 2014 London headline gig, raising a glass with a wink. "I see you found a babysitter then?" Indeed, the stylish kids that were once in the riot that fill Ally Pally may have aged, having long since hung up their cherry-red tunics, but the spirit remains - carried by the Bryon-esque spirit, swagger and narrative of Mr Doherty, who can make Albion feel like anywhere. Often a shambles he may be, but the timeless strength of the songs is all that matters.
39. Joey Ramone, The Ramones: Seven feet of leather, youthful exuberance and pop-punk revolution. Forever missed.
38. James Murphy, LCD Soundsystem: He'd be the first to admit that he was probably 'past it', when he found fame in his 30s. Murphy could have just stuck to being a hipster DJ and the founder of the massively influential DFA Records, but he accidentally became a rockstar and wrote three albums of some of the most imaginative and genre-defying dance music of the last 20 years. He should rank among David Bowie and David Byrne as an innovator and incredible songwriter, but he'd be far too humble to even consider that.
37. Alex Turner, Arctic Monkeys: From a scrappy, bright-eyed streak of bushy hair and acne in a polo shirt and tracksuit to the bequiffed lounge lizard rock god we know today, the evolution of this Sheffield lad has been a joy to behold. With a magnetic knack for John Cooper Clarke-esque wordsmithery married with the ability to consistently fire out modern classics without relent, what Turner does is nothing short of pure rock n' roll entertainment, with no tricks. No band has unified a generation like this since Nirvana or Oasis - and we can't wait to see what he does next.
36. Dave Grohl, Foo Fighters: To be in one of the most essential bands of all time would be enough for some, but Grohl stepped out from the kit of Nirvana and seized the stadium-filling, globe-treading success that his former band so sorely deserved, but was cut off by tragedy. But rather than lean on his past glories, Grohl blazed a path of his own, with record after record of everyman anthems so undeniably universal, he was only ever going to become the arena lord he is today. Needless to say he is also the nicest man in rock.
35. Julian Casablancas, The Strokes: With some ripped jeans, some dirty Converse and a bagful of tunes, The Strokes kicked off the garage rock revolution and changed the world overnight. Leading the brigade with this tunic-sporting mess of bravado and nonchalant cool - effortlessly inspiring a generation of degenerates, bringing the retro racing back to present day to show us all what we were so severely lacking.
34. Bryan Ferry, Roxy Music: Once named by David Bowie as his favourite songwriter in the Seventies for "spearheading some of this best music that's come out of England in years," Ferry has waltzed through the decades with a timeless and quiet cool, forever adding colour to the quirkier corners of pop at it's most ambitious.
33. Robert Smith, The Cure: When spider-haired gothic godfather Robert Smith mournfully sings 'yesterday I felt so old, I thought that I would die,' on the incredible 'In Between Days', you can't help but laugh, safe in the knowledge that these are songs that will live on forever - cemented in history through Smith's open-hearted lyrics and a voice that both chill the soul and lift the spirit.
32. Nick Cave, The Bad Seeds/The Birthday Party/Grinderman: The Wolfman, Jack The Ripper and a leering vampiric menace over music for over 30 years, Cave rules over his subject with a law of brute force and tenderness in equal measure. Through his narrative lyrics his creates his own world. It's a realm of the personal, the pain, the romance, the rituals, the murder, the misery, the ins, the outs, the ups, the downs and the everything of all human existence.While on stage, the ghostly majesty of 'Jubilee Street' entrances with it's sheer grace and elegance before the demonically-dark cult classics of 'From Her To Eternity', 'Stagger Lee', 'Hiding All The Way' and 'Red Right Hand' terrify yet delight the very core of all who bare witness. God bless you Nick Cave, you freaky mad bastard, you.
31. Henry Rollins, Black Flag: A chest-thumping ball of hollering rage, it takes a certain fire to stand head and shoulders above others as arguably the most influential figure of the hardcore movement, but Rollins pummels all others. He had time to help shape punk, and then become an admirable activist, writer and even comedian.
30. Axl Rose, Guns N' Roses: Never on time, but always worth the wait.
29. Steven Tyler, Aerosmith: The biggest mouth in rock, and a whirling, twirling, leg-splitting force of nature, he has always taken the flamboyance and decadent energy of stadium rock to the Nth degree. At 67, he can still wail with the best of them, and looks annoyingly awesome in leather chaps.
28. Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath: The Prince of Darkness and the father of metal as we know it, known largely by the bat-biting, drug-consumption, fear-inspiring legends that precede him, but still standing today with the sheer power to outperform most modern rock pretenders.
27. Dave Gahan, Depeche Mode: Sensual, spiritual and sinister in equal measure (and ageing with a painfully stately cool), Grahan conducts the masses like a dark priest of pop. Long may he stand at the altar.
26. John Lydon, Sex Pistols/Public Image Ltd: The man who not only took punk and turned it into a snarling enemy of the state, but then shook up art-rock with PiL - one of the most forward-thinking and influential bands of post-punk. Throughout it all, he remains fearless, unforgiving and insanely quotable.
25. Richard Ashcroft, The Verve: Gave Britpop the soul that it so desperately needed. A frontman who never looked back - even when barging through a crowded street.
24. Brandon Flowers, The Killers: Always one to wear his influences on his sleeve, Flowers is truly the sum of the decade of great music he grew up to. From his vivid lyrics painting tales of the desert to the velvet romantic tone of his voice and his ability to clutch an entire stadium to his chest, you can see traces of Ian Curtis, Morrissey, Bruce Springsteen and Freddie Mercury in all that he does - but only Flowers brings it together in such a complete package.
23. Thom Yorke, Radiohead: He could have been buried as part of a grunge-gimmick one-hit wonder back with 'Creep', but with a relentless drive and a love of experimentation, he's led Radiohead through countless evolutions - but the core of the band remains his aching vocal, love of a twisted beat, crooning piano and chopping guitar. We'd also challenge you to find a more intense performance than Yorke (at all times, not just THAT 'Idioteque' dance).
22. Paul Weller, The Jam: A man who oozes with so much style very seldom has the substance to back it up, but Weller has always shaped rock with a rigid social conscience - not to mention countless classics. What makes him all the more worthy, is that he's still making some of his most essential work today. The Modfather remains as vital as ever.
21. Chuck D, Public Enemy: "Public Enemy has always been doing innovative things because we have always been the kings of the independent movement," Chuck once told Gigwise, "so we always try to find innovative ways to get it to the people". So it remains - the rap frontman who actively destroys all the cliches of hip-hop to make it of the people and for the people.
20. Zack de la Rocha, Rage Against The Machine: Never before or since he and RATM emerged have rock and politics mixed with as much fire and fury - inspiring legions to think and act, as well as mosh.
19. Jarvis Cocker, Pulp: Our Jarvis from Sheffield. From humble beginnings, that lad went on to become a spindly icon that would shake his arse at Michael Jackson, make geek chic cool without irony, soundtrack an era and define a generation. In the 1990s, America had Kurt Cobain's tales of a disenfranchised youth with 'Smells Like Teen Spirit', while the UK had Jarvis Cocker making the ordinary seem extraordinary and firing the kitchen space into outer space. While New Labour promised change and giving a voice back to the working man, Jarvis saw through it all in a world where posh lads disguised themselves as common people and the working class aesthetic became little more than a fashion accessory. Human enough to speak to every man, clever enough to take you to another place, and electrifying enough to show you the best damn night of your life.
18. Marc Bolan, T Rex: Rock in the Seventies was a sludgy swamp of testosterone, that's until Marc Bolan proved the vanguard in showing that with a touch of glitter, a little bit of glam and a whole lot of sassy swagger, rock could indeed be sexy. Giving rise to the likes of Placebo and Suede, he was a guitar god as well as a psychedelic poet.
17. Roger Daltrey, The Who: From the top of his perm to the tip of his swinging microphone, whether at Glastonbury or belting out Pete's rock opera, the every move of this legend bristles with the passion of a man still striving for music to feel as dangerous as possible.
16. Keith Flint, The Prodigy: Like something from a steampunk nightmare horror story, Flint not only gave dance music the kick up the arse it so sorely needed, but made it terrifying once again - enough so to open it up to a rock audience.
15. David Byrne, The Talking Heads: A musical and lyrical architect who effortlessly blends music and art, performance and theatre, low and high culture. Not just a true original, but a pioneer.
14. Jack White, The White Stripes: He formed The White Stripes as a candy cane red and white cartoon to force people to see past their remarkably un-blues-like image and focus on the music within. With talent like that, he couldn't fail. By stripping everything down to the bare elements, his wild firecracker guitar skills, bone-shaking 'THERE'S A BOMB ON THE BUS' howl, and a knack for a real earworm and stadium anthem, when White stands on stage his love of music is infectious.
13. Lou Reed, Velvet Underground: You can wear sunglasses, a leather jacket and croon about your hipster conundrums but you'll never be Lou Reed. A genuine one off, a true individual and rightly the standard by which all frontmen are judged.
12. Morrissey, The Smiths: Never has misery sounded so majestic as with the twirling vines of Morrissey's romantic verse wrapped around it. On record, he has the power to heal or make a broken heart, to insult, to incite and to inspire. Put him on stage, and what unfolds is not short but near-religious hysteria.
11. Matt Bellamy, Muse: The unlikeliest of candidates who have become the biggest band in the world, this Devonshire nerd has led his band of space-rockers from West country toilet venues to the headlining Glastonbury, Reading, Coachella, Wembley and beyond. He has a relentless ambition, unfathomable inspiration and seemingly total lack of self-awareness. He shatters membranes with his piercing falsetto and turned a generation of kids on to music with his guitar hero skills and piano maestro flair. There's simply no one else of his time doing what Bellamy is.
10. Fela Kuti, Africa 70: A dynamite combination of James Brown, Bob Marley, and Che Guevara, Kuti lived an outlandish life. But it was onstage, rather than with his 27 wives, where he truly shone - in command of chaos and a defiant middle finger at the government. Don't believe us? Listen to how good 'Expensive Shit' is live.
9. Liam Gallagher, Oasis: If you believe you're a rockstar, and act like it for long enough, then chances are that it will eventually come to be. That Mancunian simian swagger and runaway machine-gun mouth may have landed him on the front of magazines, but you can't deny there's something so commonly primal and powerful he does on stage and on record that has an inescapable hold over so many millions around the world. Say what you will about him, he doesn't give a fuck - and neither do his legions of fans.
8. Iggy Pop, The Stooges: He was punk before punk even had a name, and the manic yin to David Bowie's sleek and chic yang. This shirtless wonder still continues to reject all the bells, whistles and unnecessary extravagances of rock and roll, literally stripping art and music down to its bare essentials. With an energy, humour and a credibility, Iggy still stands towering tall as a howling and fearless voice that demands to be heard.
7. Jim Morrison, The Doors: Much more than the face on so many Camden Market t-shirts, Jim Morrison deserves to be remembered as so much more than just a tragic rock tale that ended with membership to the 27 club. With his sultry croon, vivid lyrics and command of the audience, he led his Riders On The Storm over the horizon and into a world of their own - an experimental, expansive landscape where most would fear to tread.
6. Mick Jagger, Rolling Stones: A man recognisable by his mouth alone; the rubber lips, elastic hips and cockerel stroll of Jagger served him well as a pin-up in Sixties, not to mention the greatest fear of conservative mothers around the country. It takes a certain level of class to become a timeless image etched into the pages of rock history, but through his tales of love, life, death and excess, he remains the perfect host for all of that blues, rock, sex and history. We're even willing to forgive him for 'Dancing In The Street'.
5. Kurt Cobain, Nirvana: "Did he find the underground or did the underground find him?" is the looming question that hangs over biopic documentary Montage Of Heck. Indeed, it does seem like fame accidentally found Cobain: a man with the talent to inspire a generation, a voice to speak for the disenfranchised, a voice to rattle bones and a stage presence to strike fear - but a soul not ready for the life of a rock legend. He sang of feeling like a stain, and his mark shall forever be seen.
4. Ian Curtis, Joy Division: "Existence, what does it matter?," crooned Curtis on 'Heart And Soul. "I exist on the best terms I can. The past is now past is now part of my future, the present is well out of hand". With powerful home-bred poetry, Curtis spent his latter years walking the tightrope between artistic triumph and the deepest depths of the pitfalls that came with depression, epilepsy and his home life disintegrating. The body of work he left behind him is a towering monument to his dark genius, the tragedy being that he meant every single word.
3. Robert Plant, Led Zeppelin: The best frontmen have that voice so distinctive that a whole room can be unified with just one bar. Stalking the stage with a leonine grace Plant has a shriek that could knock snow off mountains and an imitable balance of feminine presence and masculine power.
2. Joe Strummer, The Clash: Punk may be regurgitated and sold back to us as cheap images of leather, spit and safety pins, but it's very essence lives on in the work of this true visionary. With a snarl and low-hung guitar he chewed up the crumbling society around him and spat it back with an irrepressible wit and intelligence. He helped shape what it is to have a social conscience in music, he did it all on his own terms, and he looked bloody cool doing so.
1. Freddie Mercury, Queen: The archetypal frontman whose each every electric move embodied the true life-affirming spirit of rock. He ran on the glamour and flamboyance of what it is to be a superstar, but carried it all with a very human grace and romance. A yellow jacket, a moustache and sawn-off mic stand may have made him an icon, but it was his voice, spirit and attitude that makes him the greatest frontman of all time. We may never see his kind again.
It's not easy being a frontman. Not only are you the first in firing line for critics, but as the focus, your task is to embody the very ethos of the band - to channel the songs in the most direct way and be spokesman straight to your fans.
If your frontman doesn't cut it, then you just won't last. But those with true greatness are the ones who lead bands straight into the history books - or have a power and influence unparalleled. This is when icons are born.
We've trawled through the generations to find these visionaries and heroes. To consider the women in music is another conversation, and one we certainly intend to have. But for now, here's to the 100 very best frontmen in rock.