How about a simple theme for complex times?
Let’s devote this Friday’s theme to the great personalities: the frontmen, divas, and megastars who best defined their bands, eras, and genres. Put in some work on it. Tell me why you list the people you do. Is it their larger-than-life personalities that molded virtual cults? Their earth-moving genius? Their bizarre excesses? Good looks? What is it? Give me some lore with the tunes.
First up in the playlist is one of my favorite frontmen who generated plenty of drama. Ever heard of Van Halen and the brown M&M’s? Here’s what that was all about.
Dedications!
pfluffy: Layne was the heart, Jerry is the soul of AIC. Proof. Cut You In by Jerry Cantrell
Santino: Have to love Faith No More. A whole group of talented, prominent musicians who were gifted and knew it and no two of them could stand each other. Easy.
Lurking: The Nuge. What more can be said? The Great White Buffalo
Zurvan: Yes, the Lizard King. Not to Touch the Earth by The Doors
WVR: My favorite David Byrne performance. Life During Wartime by Talking Heads from Stop Making Sense. Insane energy.
Speaking of divas, RIP Aretha Franklin:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrcUNChhOP0
Politically, he might be an idiot, but Eddie Vedder is still Pearl Jam’s main man:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ChbxMVgGV4
Mick Jagger:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUk_Dqiow0A
David Bowie:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCjeX08WdYQ
A couple more:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldbAKzI5tKM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLRjFWDGs1g
Absolutely nothing.
Writing on the Wall — featuring Meat Loaf on vocals.
And of course — Stranglehold
Legend has it that the lengthy guitar solo was done in one take.
When I read the title, I was going to post Nugent anyway, even before I read the dedications. But if that’s considered cheating, there is always the Red Rocker.
I didn’t realize how articulate Dave Lee Roth is. What a great story!!
The Gallagher brothers were pretty self-important pompous assholes who could never get along. Liam as the lead singer probably came off as the worse of the two, for good reason – I think the brains behind the band was always Noel.
Oasis – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaeLKhRnkhQ
Gord Downie was always good for a rather incoherent rant at a live show. One of his most epic, killer whale tank.
Tragically Hip – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjSyZslQp0w
This is a friend-of-a-friend story, so take it with a grain of salt. We’ll call her Sally, went to see Mariah Carey in Vegas with a friend and had back stage passes. Sally wasn’t really a fan of Mariah, but she went anyway. Had front row seats. After the concert Mariah called her out and asked her if she was a fan. Of course Sally said yes, and Mariah shook her finger at her and sai, Uh-uh, you weren’t singing any of my songs.
Mariah Carey – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tov22NtCMC4
WG, you said it best (believe it was at VO) when you said Matt Bellamy just shits cool (I’m paraphrasing, of of course, but I’m sure shitting and cool were in the same sentence).
Muse – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXN9acC9edU
I love Lionel Ritchie! Thanks for the dedication.
So who was the real talent, John or Paul?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLy2SaSQAtA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cm2YyVZBL8U
A pair of frontmen, and a couple who didn’t intend to be, but became frontmen anyway:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tg4jQAZ_cw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jj5nH0O8lmg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkT8W6u81Ks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLv9usXamik
Back when he had long hair, you couldn’t stop watching Cantrell’s hair flying all over.
Rob Zombie – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjVAYx8mzFY
Frontmen:
Robert Smith (The Cure)
Iggy Pop
Henry Rollins
Jimi Hendrix
Dee Snyder
Axl Rose
James Hetfield
Till Lindemann
Gene Simmons
Michael Stipe
Marilyn Manson
Phil Anselmo
Frontwomen/Divas:
Lzzy Hale (Halestorm)
Amy Lee *(Evanesence)
Maria Brink (In this Moment)
Joan Jett
Madonna
Cher
Reba McEntire
Tina Turner
I had quite a list, but it looks like the spam filter ate it :/
I approved both the moderated comment AND the content of it!