Who Gave These Guys The Mic

By Paul Tsikitas
Collegian Editor
March 22, 2006

We all know that Mick Jagger, Roger Daltrey and Steve Perry are on top of the list of
greatest rock frontmen, but what about those kooky guys who squeal, wail and sometimes read the lyrics? This is the definitive top five list of unconventional frontmen. These guys rock the mic like no one ever has, and truly bring the odd with the awesome.

5) Les Claypool—Although he’s an amazing bass player, Claypool always seemed a little too odd when it came to singing. This makes his performance all the more loveable. His prancing onstage antics sometimes make his live performances seem like circus acts.

4) Stephen Malkmus— Malkmus is the quintessential indie rock frontman. Taking a page out of Lou Reed’s book, Malkmus reads his lyrics more than he sings them melodically, but it creates a hilarious style that no other ’90s artist can top.

3) Frank Black—The lunatic howlings of the Pixies frontman makes you wonder why they let this guy out of the asylum. Songs like “Broken Face” and “Bone Machine” make you question the mental stability of the man behind the mic.

2) Lou Reed—It’s a wonder that this man was ever given the job of singing, but when he actually did sing (listen to “Perfect Day”) it was a truly melodic moment in his career. However, most times the words quivered out of his mouth as if he was unsure of what he had written (listen to “Viscious” or “Gimme Some Good Times”).

1) David Byrne—The genius behind the Talking Heads was the king of eccentricity. Often times , his stage presence ran laps around other musicians. When he danced and sang like a marionette, he almost made a mockery of his own voice. This truly makes him the greatest of all odd rockers.

tsikitp1@lasalle.edu