Musician Forum - Band Discussion Board - BandMix

Just a general musing..Ive posted this on another forum before and had some quite interersting responses, so I was wondering what you all think ?

Back in the good old days the world was filled with frontment, entertainers....Im talking the likes of Fredddy Mercury, David Lee Roth, Jon Bon Jovi, Axl Rose, David Coverdale, Joe Elliot, Sammy Hagar.....You get the picture.

I cant think of many bands who have had a similar calibre of frontman over the last 10 years. Dont get me wrong the talent and vocal ability has been there, but not the showmanship! The same probably goes for guitarists!

Discuss!

www.myspace.com/davekentmusic

ive seen many bands with very active frontmen.

i think it has just become unhip to front like a frontman! If eddie vedder would have rubbed a mic stand between his legs (like roth) he would have been going against the whole 'too cool to dress up - I'll just were flanel' theme. I think it is the whole 'first it's cool then it's uncool' cycle that has eliminated a demand for showmanship. I'm sure people of elvis's generation thought 'why aren't there any more showman like elvis'... then folk came along and you were supposed to stand there and act all seriouse... then prince came along and danced... then back to alternative-seriousness.
Don't worry, they'll be back.

Wow, talk about 80s Hair Bands!! LOL! Outside of Freddie Mercury - love Fat Bottom Girls while I am on the subject.
I think that substance abuse was prevalent at that time which made them take risks that maybe they wouldn't normally and of course the hair styles. LOL! Do you think substance abuse had something to with that?! LOL! Seriously, I have no room to talk, I am a product of the late 80s. I shared similar hair styles to them and in the early 90s.

Anyway, they were all great frontmen like you said. In my experience, Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts puts on an energetic performance, as well as Chad Kroeger (who is a Scorpio btw) from Nickelback. Three Days Grace sounds even better live than on their CD, Adam Gontier their lead singer is all over the stage. Doug Robb from Hoobastank was also impressive although I like their CD better than live, but the band was very entertaining. I guess it depends on where and who you are looking at.
Kenny Chesney is another one that really puts a lot into his shows.
I think that unless you are an avid concert goer... videos have become more like premiers for acting positions than what was available in the 80s ie Concert footage. Not that you don't still have that, it just isn't predominant which makes it hard to judge.

Any performance group has to have some form of it, if for nothing else the chaos of the audience not having a focus point. People are simple creatures when it comes to spectator sports (live music being a form of that) and they need something to focus on. The only problem is that, often, said "frontman" (or frontwoman) isn't worth the extra attention. On more than one occasion I have had my attention drawn to a "support player" because they are doing so much more than the spotlight person.

But in a nutshell, no, the frontman is not going away. My advice to them, though, is to be worth the spot.

Irminsul wrote:Any performance group has to have some form of it.

But in a nutshell, no, the frontman is not going away. My advice to them, though, is to be worth the spot.

Alot of it depends on the "Frontman's" personalitly too!! I like to think I'm entertaining and put on a "show" when I perform.... but, my style is different from a friend of mine's.........

She's wild and crazy and jumps all over shakes her head all over the place and swings from rafters like a monkey.......

But basically, I thinks Irminsul said it all!!

By the way g! -- you didn't say anything about my daughter's comment! I can't recall which thread it was on.... but at the time she was forcing me to tell you that:

My daughter thinks yur HOT!

Let's see if ya notice this one!!

People get into it when they know you're into it! But yeah, now it's 'all about the music', so it's all straight laced and professional. Like you're always working and you can't enjoy yourself as much as the audience at all or you won't look like you know what you're doing. Days are numbered, but that doesn't mean it's for the best. Visual aid and entertainment are coming back with the emo and goth scene, it seems like. Yes, I want to see the hot man in eyeliner take his shirt off when he gets hot. Gonna sing about pain? Show me. Happy? Dance a little, or at least smile, huh. Rock out, move around. Communicate with your audience. Liking that, crowd? HELL YEAH! Want more?