The 15 ultimate front men of the 80s

They rule the stage with absolute authority. And back in the '80s, they probably ruled the posters hanging in your bedroom and dorm rooms. Without them, the band would be playing the Holiday Inn lounge in Kankakee, Illinois.

We asked our readers for their picks for the best front-men of the 80s, and we received an avalanche of replies. Today, we unveil the final ranking.

Remember, solo acts weren't eligible, so no whining about Rick Springfield, Prince, Huey Lewis or Madonna not being on the list. Females, of course, are eligible, but it just sounds weird to say "front-women." As usual, fire away with your feedback.

Here are the final picks, along with reader comments on why they belong on the list.

THE 15 BEST FRONT-MEN OF THE '80s:

15. DAVID GAHAN (Depeche Mode): "Without him, Depeche Mode are just three guys playing keyboards. Who the hell wants to see that?"

14. ROBIN ZANDER (Cheap Trick): "Forever associated with the words, 'I want you ... to want ... me!' "

13. BONO (U2): "White flag in hand, he's hard to top."

12. ANNIE LENNOX (Eurythmics): "She can really command a stage."

11. MORRIS DAY (The Time): "The only reason to watch 'Purple Rain' -- and this year's Grammy Awards."

10. CHRISSIE HYNDE (The Pretenders): "Chrissie IS the band, regardless of whatever weird lineup they sported."

9. DAVID BYRNE (Talking Heads): "He was Mr. 80's and was everywhere. Speaking In Tongues, Stop Making Sense, Little Creatures is a great run. Not to mention all the pioneering and great videos for MTV."

8. JELLO BIAFRA (Dead Kennedys): "I think Jello gets the nod just because of the whole FrankenChrist controversy."

7. DANNY ELFMAN (Oingo Boingo): "An amazing manic energy when I saw Oingo Boingo in the 80s. It was a thing to see."

6. STEVE PERRY (Journey): "I've seen a LOT of concerts, mostly AOR, and Steve Perry was the best. He sounded just as good or better on stage than he did on the studio cuts."

5. STEVEN TYLER (Aerosmith): "I saw Aerosmith in 1988 -- with Guns 'n Roses as opening act - and no I will not nominate Axl Rose -- Steven tore up the stage."

4. BRIAN JOHNSON (AC/DC): "I'd bet money that he could have wiped the floor with any other guy you name, and then out-drink him."

3. DAVID LEE ROTH (Van Halen): "I was listening to Van Halen this morning on my commute, in effect casting my vote for Diamond Dave all the way...the hair, the clothes, the moves, the attitude."

2. MICHAEL HUTCHENCE (INXS): "I saw them on the Kick tour, and he held the audience riveted."

1. FREDDIE MERCURY (Queen): "The ultimate showman. I still get chills when I see 'Radio Ga-Ga' performed at Live Aid." (See it)

Honorable mention: Terri Nunn (Berlin); Debbie Harry (Blondie); Martin Fry (ABC); Colin Hay (Men at Work); Robert Smith (The Cure); Morrissey (The Smiths); Jim Kerr (Simple Minds); Bryan Ferry (Roxy Music); Paul Stanley (Kiss); Rob Halford (Judas Priest); Henry Rollins (Black Flag); Peter Wolf (J. Geils Band); Phil Collins (Genesis); David Coverdale (Whitesnake); Belinda Carlisle (Go-Go's).

Comments

[DoctorDrew]

Nice list Spears

I was starting to sweat and work myself into a rage as I was going down and did not see Mr. Mercury on the list. Glad to see him at #1. An incredible showman.

Glad to see Michael Hutchence recognized. I saw them in 1988 at Texas Stadium - huge show and he commanded the stage. The opening act BTW, for those who remember the tour, was Guns and Roses. Wow a blast of "that makes me feel old" just blew past me.

[Eric62]

So I guess it's too late to cast a vote for David Cassidy?

[Spears]

He's 70s, right?

[specialkness]

what a list! how sad that the top two died so young

[Spears]

Kinda cool that I've met and talked with No. 4 and No. 14 in person.

Still hoping to nab Steve Perry and Jello Biafra for the podcast.

[Bassnote]

I have seen 2,5,7 &15. Great list, and some great quotes : ).

[Spears]

I've seen 3, 4, 6, 7, 13 and 14 perform live.

Still hoping to see AC/DC again, assuming their tour brings them here after their upcoming studio album.

http://blogs.tampabay.com/80s/2008/02/for-those-about.html

[jane]

Excellent list -- can't quibble with any of those entrants.

I, alas, have only seen one of those 15 live -- #10 -- which begs the question: where the hell have I been?

[Neil]

I always, wanted to see Freddie Mercury, I don't think they toured the United States all that much in the 80's. Not sure why they stopped but I always wanted to see them live. I was really disappointed when he passed away. I have probably seen AC/DC the most on the list and I actually have to say, I love Brian Johnson as a front man, but for me Angus Young really makes AC/DC so much fun live. Angus is all over that stage, but I always said you can pretty much take Angus and Brian and plug in the rest of the peices...for me they are like Jordan and Pippen of the 90's Bulls teams.

[Melissa Donovan]

Uh, Huey Lewis wasn't a front man? Remember the news? As in "Huey Lewis and the News." He was very much a front man. I know this because the first concert I ever attended was Huey and the boys playing at my local fairgrounds.

Oh and you forgot Robert Smith of the Cure.

Nice list though ;)

[chad]

most of my musical tastes are rock-oriented. there are some great pop frontmen as well. so of the list ive only seen 3, 5, 6, and 14. although in recent years ive kinda started listening to more stuff of the 80s. i can only say who was any good by personal expierence. so some of my favorite frontmen are in no particular order: joe elliot, robert plant, steven tyler, kevin cronin, sammy hagar, paul stanley, jon bon jovi, steve perry, jack blades, bret michaels, axl rose, simon lebon, jeff keith. although many would consider robin zander the frontman of cheap trick, the truth is rick neilsen is really that person. robin hardly says a word. but the guy can still sing his a** off.

[Marissa]

The Holiday Inn in Kankakee is now a Quality Inn, but thanks for the shout out, Steve. It almost takes away the Amanda Overmyer drooling remarks on Sean's blog.
ps. I still hate you a little.

I haven't seen any of the bands or frontmen listed. That doesn't make me any less of a fan, mind you. Freddie was a performance god.

[jeremy]

Ok...so, I think I'm going to get some hatred for this: Boy George? Not only did he front one of the biggest selling 80s acts as singer for Culture Club, but he basically became the band. Even though the band was Culture Club, they were always introduced and reviewed as Boy George and Culture Club. I think he's completely underrated as a front man because of his crossdressing gimmick, and -- dare I say -- I believe that Colour By Numbers is easily a Top 20 80s album.

[Spears]

There's never any hatred on Stuck in the 80s, Jeremy. Only good times.

That being said, I hate you.

No seriously, I actually did consider Boy George for the list, but I looked up some live performance clips and he didn't impress me much.

Now, if we did a list (and I'm sure we will) on stars with enduring images from the 80s, he's near the top of the list.

[Carla]

Steve, who would you think would/could top Boy George for Most Enduring Images from the 80's??

[Carla]

There is your FAV... Madonna! lol

[Marissa]

George Michael, Madonna, Boy George, Rob Lowe, Anthony Michael Hall, Demi Moore, Bill Murray, John Cusack, for a start.

[Marissa]

..and yea! Carla is commenting because she's stuck at home in the snow with a pile of work to do lol

[Carla]

LOL Marissa.... I told you, I can view the blog from work... just can't comment. And all the comments that I think of while there, I've long forgotten by the time I get home. My brain..well, she ain't what she use to be! lol

[Carla]

While I've seen #6 & 14 in concert before, I'm very pleased to see that Morris Day made the list. I do agree with #1... he was awesome!

I give you grief for Perry only making it to #6. But actually, you're list, is a pretty good and acurate one. With the execption of a couple. I may have switched out #9 for Jon Bon Jovi and #12 for Paul Stanley -- even though in the case of Kiss, I think the front man was a duo of him and Gene Simmons.

Over all a great list!

[Marissa]

IT's flippin' cold and blizzard-like threatening outside. So, my Saturday is being spent glued to youtube and Queen. Live at Wembley 1986 is just... awe inspiring. It just blows me away how he performs "Who Wants To Live Forever" live. Dare I say even better than the studio? Indeed I do. Raw emotion.
I had to write about it I was so moved. (yeah, blog pimp)

[jane]

'80s Icons/Enduring Images -- now that could be a list...

Michael Jackson
Madonna
Boy George
George Michael
The gang from "Bloom County" (particularly Opus)
Ronald Reagan
The original MTV VJs (Martha Quinn, JJ Jackson, Alan Hunter, Nina Blackwood, Mark Goodman)
Molly Ringwald
John Hughes
Prince
Pee Wee Herman
Spuds McKenzie
Princess Diana

The mind, it reels with possibilities...

[Douglas Arthur]

Carla, as far as enduring images go from the 80's, I don't think that you can get much better than the red "energy domes" from DEVO. Nothing screams 80's like those energy domes. David Byrne's Big White Suit from Stop Making Sense also comes to mind.

[Spears]

Is Spuds McKenzie really that enduring? I'd have totally forgotten him until he popped up on Jane's list.

Hey gang, I'm here and online today. Just editing the podcast - per usual on Saturday. I might have it online early this afternoon -- but only as a sneak peak (not on iTunes).

[jane]

Spuds might not be all that enduring when looking at the big picture, but for this '80s college coed, he was everywhere in her world during the early part of the decade.

I was just trying to think of icons outside the my standard music/film go-tos.

[chad]

wow i forgot about spuds, used to love the commercials with him. although i was a bud drinker back then, the commercials were very entertaining. maybe i liked spuds, because he kinda looked like mr. springfield's dog, ron.

[chad]

don't i feel old, just checked some of spuds' commercials on you tube, they were for bud. i sure thought they were for miller. maybe i consumed a few too many libations back in dem days

[David-b]

Might be a short list of folks that didn't have a few too many libations back in dem days....

jane - bloom county. Nice add. Along those lines pehaps calvin and hobbes.

I'd also says springsteen - or at least the album cover to born in the usa.

[Marissa]

hey HIGHLANDER lovers! Here's a video for you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yxg6qY4at98

[specialkness]

Marissa I had that video on my myspace page for a long time! Love it!
And I have to say I'm so glad to not be the only one who enjoys watching Queen on DVD live in conert. What a show!!

[Eric S]

Not even a honorable mention for Bruce Dickinson. Oh well.

[Chrid C]

I'm a Kevin Rowland man myself... Morris Day was also great in the movie: "The Adventures of Ford Fairlane."

[jenne]

Oingo Boingo is my favorite band of all time - thank you for honoring the awesomeness of Danny Elfman :)

GREAT list - i was also hoping to see Dave Gahan!

[Mark T.]

Where the heck is Sting???

[JK]

Bogus List. No Sting??? David Lee Roth was only the band until 85 and he is at #3. There is no better than Bono.

[Shane S.]

Dear "and The News":

Apparently the author thinks Huey Lewis was a solo act. Crazy, I know! Despite 8+ albums and 12 Top 10 hits, you don't exist. That wasn't you guys on the cover "Sports," that was just Huey in an empty bar.

PS: Pass this on to The Revolution, will ya? They need to know they didn't exist either. Thanks!

[Scott S.]

Freddie was the best of all time. It's a shame most of us never got to see him in person. I own like 3 or 4 of Queen's live DVDs.
(p.s. Paul Rodgers was absolute shite on the recent tours)

But where is Springsteen? He still commands a show with the best of them!

[Vaughn]

Where is Axl?

[Vaughn]

Where is Axl?

[Douglas Arthur]

that is a question people still ask, Vaughn! :) I think GNR only really released 1 album in the 80's...granted it was huge. Axel had that annoying "mic stand shimmy", and shared a spotlight with Slash. I think honorable mention or maybe low on the list at best.

As far as Huey Lewis and Prince go I believe Steve exempted them from consideration due to their names being first, foremost, and prominent.

[utahwelsh]

Great list! Danny Elfman usually doesn't get enough credit, so thanks. I would have to move Morris Day out; one great song doesn't make a career. Morrissey would have to move onto the list. Robin Zander goes and Billy Idol is somewhere in the top six.

[Spears]

I consider Billy Idol a solo artist, so he's exempt. But a great performer nonetheless.

Morris Day gets me on my feet, so he's always got a place on the list.

[Shelleybelly]

How about Roland Orzabal?

[Dr. Quest]

Paul Westerberg.

[patti z]

What about Bon Jovi? He is the frontman of a huge 80s' band.

[cheryl]

Michael Hutchence is number 1 for me and I am also a huge freddie mercury fan. Bono needs to move up on thelist and so does Bon Jovi. Add Springsteen with his band to this list otherwise it seems bogus.

[DoctorDrew]

Enough already! Bruce Springsteen is a solo artist who happens to have a band that is known by a separate moniker.

What about Bob Mould? Only saw Husker Du (can't make the umlauts) once and it was a great show.

[Debbie]

Wonderful list. Having grown up in Los Angeles, I was fortunate in seeing #'s 15, 14, 13, 10, 9, 7 (my all time fav band), 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1. To this day, any of their songs start playing on the radio, the volume goes up and I sing & enjoy the music -- I become my own rock star!!! Thanks :)

Prince, David Bowie, john hiatt, james brown....brian johnson, david lee roth....give me a break...if you put any of your picks in front of a black audience (the Apollo)...they wouldn't last a minute!!

[Missy]

C'mon, what about Simon LeBon?? Dude was strapped to a windmill & whipped around in water, chased a chick in the jungle, & went all Goth in "Arcadia". And he did all that while singing his heart out!

[Spears]

I had Simon really high on my original list, but I nobody else seemed to really care for the guy. I'll always consider him Top 20 though!

How is Sting and the Police not included anywhere on this list? Surely they should receive an honorable mention, at the very least!