EDITOR'S NOTE: When EW.com's staff began brainstorming a list of the best rock frontmen and -women of all time, you can imagine how long it was about 150 names from all eras and genres. So how'd we narrow it down to this sleek gallery of 31? Well, we set a couple ground rules: First, we stripped down the word frontman to its strictest definition that is, the artist whose sole responsibility it is to stand in front of his/her mates to sing, rap, and entertain, as opposed to playing an instrument to boot. (Sorry, Billy Joe Armstrong, Gregg Allman, and Jerry Garcia!) Then, we cut the artists who have led bands bearing their names like Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, or the Jimi Hendrix Experience simply because, well, it seemed like they're really solo artists with a band in support.
Now that we've cleared that up and, we hope, staved off tons of angry e-mails about omitting, say, Sly Stone let's get this thing rolling, with the coolest Icelandic rocker ever...
(Entertainment Weekly)
BJÖRK
The Sugarcubes
Before wearing that infamous swan gown, filming Dancer in the Dark, and honing her unique solo persona in dozens of supremely imaginative videos, Björk fronted Icelandic rock group the Sugarcubes from 1986-1992. Her uncanny ability to crank out live vocals as pure as studio-recorded ones wearing random accessories like glasses composed entirely of neon (pictured) set her apart. And as a side note, it's reassuring to find out that even in the '80s, she was as delightfully weird as ever
JON BON JOVI
Bon Jovi
He's seen a million faces, and he's rocked them all...with his voice, his hair, and his butt. (All, incidentally, still in great condition.) What makes Jon special? (1) His ability to headline your ultimate '80s karaoke playlist and today's top arenas simultaneously. (2) The way he's managed to have a band bear his name and still have us thinking of it as five guys. (3) The hair and the butt. Always worth repeating.
BONO
U2
Though his style has changed radically over the years (from mullet to folkie to Fly), one thing has remained constant about the Irishman born Paul David Hewson: He's always had something meaningful to say in his lyrics, whether they're about politics or personal matters of the heart. In recent years, Bono has become more than just the leader of a band he's become a leading voice for world change, making people care about issues affecting Africa, raising awareness about AIDS, and calling for solutions to end global poverty. But don't think this Nobel nominee and Time Person of the Year has gone soft or anything anyone who's seen him in concert lately will tell you he still rocks.
IAN CURTIS
Joy Division
Thanks to Control, Anton Corbijn's new biopic about the legendary Joy Division frontman, we get a richly detailed look at the shadowy figure credited with kick-starting the '80s post-punk movement. The Manchester, U.K., born-and-bred Curtis, who suffered from seizures, depression, and an unraveling marriage, committed suicide in 1980 at the age of 23, leaving two short albums and a fanbase that has grown exponentially over time. And really, is there anything more rock & roll than that?
CHUCK D
Public Enemy
With S1W foot soldiers getting funky behind him and Sergeant at Arms Flavor Flav holding it down at his side, Chuck D was as much a general of an army as a frontman, battling for social justice by any means necessary. Donning his trademark ''P'' hat and all-black gear, Chuck ''the Hard Rhymer'' and his crew scared suburban parents in the '80s in a way rock & roll never could.
Now that we've cleared that up and, we hope, staved off tons of angry e-mails about omitting, say, Sly Stone let's get this thing rolling, with the coolest Icelandic rocker ever...
(Entertainment Weekly)
BJÖRK
The Sugarcubes
Before wearing that infamous swan gown, filming Dancer in the Dark, and honing her unique solo persona in dozens of supremely imaginative videos, Björk fronted Icelandic rock group the Sugarcubes from 1986-1992. Her uncanny ability to crank out live vocals as pure as studio-recorded ones wearing random accessories like glasses composed entirely of neon (pictured) set her apart. And as a side note, it's reassuring to find out that even in the '80s, she was as delightfully weird as ever
JON BON JOVI
Bon Jovi
He's seen a million faces, and he's rocked them all...with his voice, his hair, and his butt. (All, incidentally, still in great condition.) What makes Jon special? (1) His ability to headline your ultimate '80s karaoke playlist and today's top arenas simultaneously. (2) The way he's managed to have a band bear his name and still have us thinking of it as five guys. (3) The hair and the butt. Always worth repeating.
BONO
U2
Though his style has changed radically over the years (from mullet to folkie to Fly), one thing has remained constant about the Irishman born Paul David Hewson: He's always had something meaningful to say in his lyrics, whether they're about politics or personal matters of the heart. In recent years, Bono has become more than just the leader of a band he's become a leading voice for world change, making people care about issues affecting Africa, raising awareness about AIDS, and calling for solutions to end global poverty. But don't think this Nobel nominee and Time Person of the Year has gone soft or anything anyone who's seen him in concert lately will tell you he still rocks.
IAN CURTIS
Joy Division
Thanks to Control, Anton Corbijn's new biopic about the legendary Joy Division frontman, we get a richly detailed look at the shadowy figure credited with kick-starting the '80s post-punk movement. The Manchester, U.K., born-and-bred Curtis, who suffered from seizures, depression, and an unraveling marriage, committed suicide in 1980 at the age of 23, leaving two short albums and a fanbase that has grown exponentially over time. And really, is there anything more rock & roll than that?
CHUCK D
Public Enemy
With S1W foot soldiers getting funky behind him and Sergeant at Arms Flavor Flav holding it down at his side, Chuck D was as much a general of an army as a frontman, battling for social justice by any means necessary. Donning his trademark ''P'' hat and all-black gear, Chuck ''the Hard Rhymer'' and his crew scared suburban parents in the '80s in a way rock & roll never could.