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Rock music would be nothing without the stars that made the genre marketable. People may not know every song that Queen made, but they will forever remember Freddie Mercury for his unbelievable performance energy.
These rockstars are the best of the best—let's see if your favorites passed the test...
Robert Plant
Led Zepplin was enormously famous for a multitude of reasons. Between John Bonham’s complex drumming, Jimmy Page’s legendary guitar tones, and John Paul Jones’ thumping heartbeat rhythm driving the band, Robert Plant had the perfect backbone to support his wild, erratic range. Plant held the stage like nobody else, and for that, he is a legend.
John Lennon
Lennon was known for his intensity, creativity, and unrelenting dedication to his craft. John Lennon was the Beatle that pushed the others further than they could even push themselves. Legend has it, Lennon was the one who innovated the Beatles through the Sargent Pepper years, and he pushed his own limits to inspire his bandmates to push themselves further.
Mick Jagger
The Rolling Stones were famous for their infectious energy, powerful songwriting, and unforgettable performances by none other than "His Majesty," Mick Jagger. Jagger exploded with passion on stage, pulling himself far ahead of his peers in terms of admiration and crowd interaction. People worshipped this man like he was some kind of king, which he was, according to his fans.
Bruce Springsteen
Springsteen is the pride of New Jersey and the posterchild for what made American music “American” when he hit the scene in the 1970s. Springsteen wasn’t the most energetic performer, but what he lacked in excitement he made up for with his unbelievable talent and witty charm. Springsteen still sells out the majority of his shows, and he hasn’t lost one bit of his inspiring energy and confidence on stage.
Jim Morrison
The lead singer of The Doors passed far too early in his life. Morrison only had a few good years as the frontman of The Doors before his unfortunate passing, but his stage persona and haunting voice skyrocketed him into the “legendary” class almost immediately. Fans were drawn to Morrison like moths to a flame or followers of a cult to their leader. His stage performances were likened to prophetic experiences. He was truly the Jesus of rock and roll until his passing.
Kurt Cobain
Another key member of the 27 club, Kurt Cobain inspired an entire generation of musicians and youth to defy the standard conventions and consider nihilism. This is the essence of the grunge movement. Nirvana’s music was just as edgy as it was tasteful. Parents and teenagers alike felt equally involved with Nirvana’s themes, and Cobain was the driving force behind that. He spearheaded the “lazy leader” movement, and without him, modern music likely wouldn’t be as impressive as it currently is.
Stevie Nicks
Nicks is a feminist icon who bulldozed her way into the hearts of every American teen between the 1970s and 80s. Fleetwood Mac was an unforgettable band that was led by an equally unforgettable and charismatic woman, Stevie Nicks. Her ability to work a crowd (and a guitar) netted her several awards and global acclaim over a short period of time, and her shows still sell out to this day.
Steven Tyler
Steven Tyler has the biggest mouth in the business and he isn’t afraid to use it (to sing, duh). His tenure as the lead singer of Aerosmith has yet to end, and in an era when you’re contending against bands like The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Led Zepplin, and Steely Dan, you have to make yourself stand out somehow. Steven Tyler embodied the rock and roll spirit—he literally lived “sex, drugs, and rock and roll” for the majority of his life until his health demanded he stopped.
Debbie Harry
The name Debbie Harry might not be as popular as her chosen stage name, Blondie, but her face pervades decades of new wave and punk adaptations. In the unpartable sea of music in New York in the 80s and 90s, Blondie emerged from the crowd with The Talking Heads, The Ramones, Iggy Pop, and Television, proving that she was just as talented and driven as the rest.
Bono
U2 was an unlikely contender for rock fame when they hit the scene in the early 80s. What separated Bono from the other musicians was his advocacy for activism, philanthropy, and inclusion over the entire industry. Bono never saw himself as a “rock god,” he felt, and still feels like he’s just another guy who has a platform to help others. Within that philosophy, Bono donates a fair deal of his concert funds his own charitable foundations, and he still campaigns and protests with normal people regularly.
Paul McCartney
The Beatles seemed to function harmoniously, but just like every other band of superstars, they constantly battled for control over one another. Fortunately, they were able to function harmoniously despite voicing their differences. Paul McCartney was able to breathe soul into the Beatles in everything he did, and his solo career has been equally as successful as his work within the most legendary pop band of all time.
Bob Marley
Marley was a man of many talents. In addition to being a world-class musician, his ability to congregate like-minded individuals to promote peace and kindness was unparalleled by virtually every other musician who walked the Earth. However, his dedication to his religion eventually proved to be his downfall. Marley contracted melanoma that grew on his toe early on in his career. Marley refused to remove the toe because one of the principles of Rastafarianism states that removing a body part is a cardinal sin. The message behind Marley's music is still prominent in our culture. His promotion of peace and equality speaks volumes to the current state of politics.
Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop is the reason your parents don't want you to listen to punk music. He popularized danger in a public music format, and he also industrialized straight edge culture and brought forth punk rock's first street gangs. Iggy Pop pushed the boundaries of what a live performance meant to a casual audience. He even offered a $1 million dollar incentive to a promoter at Madison Square Garden for him to commit suicide on stage. This was a joke, but that was the length that Iggy Pop was willing to go for showmanship.
Jimi Hendrix
What Hendrix lacked in stage energy, he backed with pure musicianship and explosive skill. This young mastermind drove the realm of emotional guitar playing to the place it's in today. If it weren't for Jimi Hendrix, nobody would use the term "making the guitar sing."
Ozzy Osbourne
The speculative rumor that Ozzy bit the head off of a bat is just the tip of the iceberg of what could be misconceived during Black Sabbath's live sets. Ozzy was a haunting beast with an innocent face and a voice that could command 1,000 demons to walk backward into Hell. If you haven't researched Black Sabbath's live performances, you really need to change that about yourself immediately.
Patti Smith
Patti Smith woke up the world when she released her debut album "Horses" in 1975. Smith mashed rock with poetry, driving the punk movement to focus their energy on activism instead of violence onto one another. Smith was the chariot driver of the beat generation, and when young new yorkers weren't reading Keroack and dreaming of running away to South America, they were listening to her.
David Bowie
Bowie was a movie star on stage and on the screen, but mostly on stage. His brilliant self titled first album was followed up by one of the most highly celebrated albums in rock history, Space Oddity. However, the album that seems to have stood the test of time better than the rest is Alladin Sane. The live tour of this album meshed a few different worlds of showmanship together into one perfectly clean package that forever will hold a place in the rock and roll industry.
Janis Joplin
Janis Joplin was like the Patti Smith of psychedelic rock. Joplin left nothing on the stage, emotionally. She did not exhibit the explosive masculine force that the others on this list might have put forward, but her authenticity and attention to detail were unparalleled. Joplin was unafraid to be who she was, both on stage and in the studio, and for that, we love her.
Joan Jett
Joan Jett didn't pretend to be a rockstar, she was born as one. She oozed confidence and spouted radical feminist jams that are still sung by even the most conservative types today. She was the first musician to have an all-female band in her power-pop group. Without Joan Jett, we wouldn't have songs like "I Love Rock & Roll" and "I Hate Myself for Loving You." Her persona on stage was erratic and animated, similar to the other male rockstars at the time, just a little more impressively female.
Elvis Presley
Elvis was the original heartthrob, the original youthful crooner, and the King of Rock and Roll. He usually performed alone and belted out diverse tunes, ranging from rock and roll to gospel and beautiful love songs. There is a reason people still consider Elvis the King of Rock and Roll because he was and always will be.
Jon Bon Jovi
Young Bon Jovi had the looks, the energy, and the sex appeal to drive a nation of supporters. Bon Jovi was continually scoffed at by critics for not being the most "instrumentally talented" rockstar. However, he progressively proved that he had what it took to be one of the greats.
Bon Jovi's largest release was "Slippery When Wet," which drove an entire generation onto the American Rock and Roll train tracks and kept them rolling along. Bon Jovi still prides himself on being a very good boy. He lives a drug and alcohol-free life, and he is extremely philanthropic with his concert earnings.
Pat Benatar
Pat Benatar was one of the '80s most prolific lead singers, and arguably one of the greatest in history, and she has dozens of gold and platinum awards to prove it. She was a megastar who has yet to be matched by a modern musician.
Pat Benatar has two multi-platinum albums, five platinum albums, and three gold albums in the United States alone. In addition to that, "Video Killed the Radio Star" is one of the most covered songs of all time. We're unsure why she hasn't been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame yet, but we're confident that she will be eventually.
Axl Rose
Some people think Guns 'N' Roses was a band that shouldn't have existed. While that may be true, at least sonically, there is an extremely high merit for their showmanship and theatrics. Axl Rose, in particular, was a supremely integral member of the band, and his sex appeal might have been the reason they even reached such a supreme level of fame.
This man had the honor of fronting Guns 'N' Roses and AC/DC for quite a long time. These bands shared similar energy that seemed to only be harnessed by the alcoholic wild boy standing behind the microphone. While these bands might have lacked the artistic ability and lasting power (you know, besides drunk dads), they delivered an onslaught of energy that fueled college parties and live shows like nothing else.
Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell brought feminine energy to the male-dominated singer-songwriter world right when things absolutely needed to change. Her stance on environmental issues was pivotal for the movement in the 60s, and she influenced some of the greatest female musicians of all time.
Mitchell remained uniquely herself when she hit the big time. There was no gap in her personality, and she was always authentic and unadulterated by the pitfalls of the industry. She was always quiet and humble as well. When she was inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame in 1997, she chose to forgo the ceremony and let her induction pass gracefully.
David Lee Roth
David Lee Roth's performances were always described as "Intoxicating," "wistful," and "buzzworthy." When Roth split from Van Halen, he took his energy with him. His solo records also sold platinum, and with a voice like his, how could they not?
David Lee Roth provided unique driving energy that permeated every song he wrote with Van Halen. If you listen to this band, there's virtually no way to avoid tapping your toes or dancing in your seat to them. David Lee Roth has since been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and when he rejoined Van Halen 20 years after his departure, he burned every venue to the ground night after night.
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan told a story with his eyes, not just his words. Since his appearance in the 1960s, Bob Dylan has been credited as the "spokesman of a generation," and his political boldness helped ring in the Beatnik generation's socialist-humanitarian ideology.
Dylan never held himself to any preset conventions—he was extremely punk in that way. He never marched to the beat of anyone else's drum. He was uniquely himself, and he never took any unsolicited advice from anyone else. Dylan inspired "counterculture music, and thousands of bands have been following in his footsteps since.
Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash stirred up the world with his stark views on social justice and his conscious effort to de-stigmatize American perceptions built through the media. Cash made a lasting impact with his "prison tour," where he traveled to play for inmates in prisons around the country for free.
He was also pivotal in the media movement to give back native lands and preached the plight of the Native American people. Cash found his way into three different halls of fame, both from his masterful lyricism and masterful instrumentation. Ring of Fire is still one of the most played songs of all time.
Dave Grohl
The former drummer of Nirvana kept pushing on his way up to stardom even after the death of his good friend and former frontman, Kurt Cobain. After Cobain's death, Grohl transitioned to the front of the stage and became the frontman for his very own rock band called the Foo Fighters
Since then, the Foo Fighters have won 13 Grammys and sold millions of records, all thanks to this edgy, long-haired legend. Grohl has a commanding presence on stage, but he always makes sure the focus is on his band, not himself.
Sting
Sting's tenure with The Police cemented him as a British rock legend at an extremely young age. This talented bassist also plays his fair share of guitar parts on all of his records, and his solo act gained global critical acclaim after critics realized how well his energy translates to the stage.
Sting didn't come from wealth. His parents were manual laborers in the UK, and he had forever seen more for himself in his future. After picking up music as a hobby in his young life, he knew that this was what he needed to commit himself to. After taking home 17 Grammy Awards, it's hard to argue against his ideas for himself.
Vince Neil
Vince Neil was always a respectable character in the music world. Mötley Crüe was another one of those party metal bands from the 80s who overindulged in the rock and roll lifestyle to their own detriment. Despite his unfortunate past and struggle with drugs and alcohol, Vince Neil was a force on stage, and he remains to be today.
A long time ago, Vince Neil pleaded guilty to a vehicular manslaughter charge that put him in jail for 6 years all while he was actively using heroin. Since then Neil has cleaned up his act, and he still performs in a modern iteration of Mötley Crüe. His unique sound and inhuman energy held him at the top for decades, and he has yet to step down.
Gene Simmons
Despite his contriversial political ideologies that put him under scrutiny recently, Gene Simmons is one of the greatest rock legends in history.
Going to see kiss was like going to a Broadway production. The entire band would be adorned in armor and chains, pyrotechnics, shiny polished cymbals, and high budget sound design. Part of Simmon's charm is that he has never drank alcohol or done drugs in his life, contrary to the perceived rock and roll lifestyle that he was assumed to live. He accredits sobriety for his ability to put on artistically unforgettable performances.
Bon Scott
AC/DC was party metal, and the legendary frontman brought all the energy, and the party, to the party. Unfortunately, Bon Scott passed away at a very young age from complications caused by his alcoholism. If it weren't for Bon Scott pushing AC/DC forward, they might have never left Australia.
AC/DC struggled without Scott until they were able to hire a singer named Brian Johnson with the hope that he could bring the same energy to the table. Although he never quite reached the mark that Bon Scott was at, he filled his shoes almost to the correct size. If it weren't for Bon Scott's sheer power and electricity on stage, rock and roll might not have gotten to where it is today.
Roger Daltrey
The Who was a force to be reckoned with. Driven by the theatrics of Roger Daltrey in the 1960s, The Who was able to create uniquely intense experiences for their concertgoers that was like anything else of the era.
Daltry literally mixed theater with musicianship when The Who released Quadrophenia, the first rock opera to ever exist. The Who's Quadrophenia tour sold out every single show around the globe. He and Pete Townsend, the guitarist of The Who and another Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member, hand in hand dominated the music industry for a decade.
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper invented the genre that is currently known as "Shock Rock." Cooper used fake blood, electric chairs, guillotines, and tons of other edgy imagery specifically intended to make the viewer feel uneasy.
He typically dresses like an undead pirate at his shows, which still sell out by the way. Cooper is a great frontman because of his propensity for theatrics and showmanship, in addition to his intensely piercing voice. He has been called the "campiest" rockstar of all time, but we're assuming he takes that as a compliment.
Eric Clapton
Clapton has been referred to by hundreds of musicians as "arguably the best guitarist who ever lived." Although he may have denied that statement, people didn't spend $200+ on resale tickets in the 1980s to watch a mediocre guitar player.
Clapton fused blues and rock in an accessible and exciting manner. He also incorporated a fair deal of free jazz and metal theory in his solos, but his smooth playstyle made these sounds authentic and accessible. Clapton was the first guitar player to make the complex compatible with the public, and your dad probably talks about him every opportunity he gets.
Willie Nelson
The great Willie Nelson is one of the last true cowboys that made music for the people. Nelson was born in 1933 and he's still performing with the same energy he had when he was a kid. In fact, Willie has been performing for just over 60 years!
If you've ever seen Willie live, you probably know how passionate he is on stage. He is a terrific role model, both as a person and a musician. His career has branched into acting, activism, television production, screenwriting, and many more routes. Even though he is 86 years old, Willie is teeming with youthful energy.
Muddy Waters
Muddy Waters was born 107 years ago in Issaquena County, Mississippi. His parents were poor emancipated slaves, but they were able to afford Muddy Waters his first guitar at the age of 12. He immediately showed proficiency in the art, and when he turned 26, he moved to Chicago and immediately made a splash in the local music scene.
Waters led a revolution of artistic guitar playing. He fell off a little bit in the 1960s, but regained popularity in the 1970s and played until the day he died in 1983. Muddy Waters is arguably one of the most important people in the history of music. In fact, the Rolling Stones even named themselves after one of his songs.
Tom Petty
Tom Petty was born in Gainesville, Florida in 1950. Unfortunately, he passed away three years ago, but his passing illuminated his career highlights and invigorated a whole generation to care about his music more and more.
Petty stood tall on stage and commanded numerous bands of highly skilled musicians. He stood aside the likes of Mike Campbell, Stevie Nicks, George Harrison, Roy Orison, and Bob Dylan, just to name a few, and allowed them to lead on their instruments while he performed his own songs masterfully and passionately. Since his passing, Tom Petty's music has seen a resurgence, mostly coming from a younger audience that would have otherwise not explored his music.
Billy Gibbons
Billy Gibbons or ZZ Top is an immortal figure in the rock and roll world that has only been receiving more notoriety as time goes on.
Gibbons formed ZZ Top when he was 20 years old. He shared a brief relationship with Jimi Hendrix before he passed, and he was considered to be an aficionado at a very young age. Nowadays, Gibbons isn't as popular as he was, but his unique appearance and musicianship have landed him space in with the elites.
Neil Young
Neil Young is one of those rockstars that you have probably heard of but never truly dug into. This Canadian hit the scene in the 60s with a heart of gold and a voice to match it.
Young traveled both with a band and solo, demonstrating that he could pull a crowd with just his simple instrumentation alone. His voice pushed power and passion and filled stadiums with melancholic worth. Young is still kicking, but he just stopped playing shows. However, he is planning on reprinting all of his records to be more affordable to younger audiences, which is supremely cool.
Prince
Prince was a man, he was a myth, and he was most certainly a legend. Many consider Prince to have been the greatest performer of all time.
Prince's showmanship transcended his music, his act was a work of art and passion, not of pure musicianship. Prince is widely regarded as one of the most energetic, electric, and charismatic frontmen to ever stand on a stage. His custom guitar, permed hair, and flamboyancy fueled an entire generation of musicians. Prince was the man to beat when it came to competitive artistry, and nobody was able to do so.
David Byrne
Artistry, collaboration, energy, mysticism, all of these words could only start to describe what David Byrne brings to the table in his live shows.
During the time of the Talking Heads, and after into his solo career, David Byrne has been defying conventions of what music should be like. When Talking Heads released their first album, "Talking Heads '77," they put themselves into a punk-driven sound that they gradually broke themselves out of. Byrne was famous for his antics on stage, his specific vision, and his painstaking attention to detail that eventually drove his bandmates away.
Freddie Mercury
The frontman of Queen created a world for himself on stage, he felt free to be himself. His explosive character filled entire stadiums, and his energy was infectious.
This man was the only person who rivaled Prince's energy. Freddie Mercury owned the stage in every venue Queen played in. Freddie built the compositions for Queen to entirely revolve around his passion for showmanship. He was a performer of a different caliber, both physically and emotionally. He caused fans to weep with happiness and they worshipped the ground he walked on.
Curtis Mayfield
Mayfield demanded a level of perfection that was unparalleled by other musicians of his caliber. He would command entire orchestras only with his own ear and his tweedy, open guitar tones. His voice was meek, but his presence powerful.
Mayfield breathed soul into absolutely everything he made. His most famous tracks were just simplistic highs of his career, although it seems as if any of his songs could have been smash hits. The man was a perfectionist, but he wasn't anxious about it. He commanded his backing bands with patience, he would not instill fear into their hearts, even though they were generally terrified by his musical ability. For that, he was an outstanding rock star.
Carlos Santana
You may only know him by his hit song "Smooth" featuring Rob Thomas of Matchbox 20, but Santana's roots go all the way back to Woodstock. This young, foreign guitar player was granted the lifechanging opportunity to showcase his craft on the most memorable stage in the history of music.
Santana's Hispanic roots drive the majority of his tunes, his complex rhythms are typically comprised of a mixture of thumping, rhythmic hand drums, and china cymbals. However, what made him an effective rockstar was his ability to absolutely shred on the guitar. This wasn't an extremely common trait of the music that Santana grew up listening to, but the generation he lived in inspired him to make unconventional, yet still tonally classic tunes that rocked the ages and will rock ages to come.
Elvis Costello
A lot of people credit Elvis Costello as the sole proprietor of "Power Pop," a genre that has never received as much credit as it deserves, yet has been pivotal for the progression of music as a whole.
Costello was the first man to "pop-song-ize" the ballad. You can argue that the Beatles did this, but it was only after Elvis Costello took the stage with the Attractions and set his spirit free. This man was an innovator, he was the first rockstar to popularize the Fender Jazzmaster, which is a guitar that has the utmost tonal control out of any guitar on the market. If you ever had the opportunity to see this man live in concert. you know the fervor he brought to the stage. Even in his old age (currently, he's dying of cancer, yet he is still touring) he plays his heart out every show,
Thom Yorke
Yorke wasn't just the man who revolutionized electronic-driven rock, he also revolutionized how we listen to our music to this day.
Yorke is a rockstar in the same sense that graffiti writers are artists. They're punk, driven, and built for the people. Yorke commands an emotional cloud over his audiences, yet he is outspoken about the rights of music owners and how music should be distributed. He was the first musician of all time to release a free album off of his label and was comfortable settling in court with the donated earnings he got from generous fans. In addition to that, Yorke brings immense amounts of passion to the stage whenever he steps on it, and when he steps off, it's back to activism.
Frank Zappa
People were enamored by this mustached fellow. Fans stared in awe every time he took the stage, he would reinvent another method of guitar playing, over and over and over, until the sound was uniquely his.
Zappa is a strange character that you probably haven't heard too much about if you're a young person. Old people either loved him or despised him, but musicians revered him. Zappa was a composer, among being one of the greatest guitar players who ever lived. He was notorious for conducting his band until exactly the right time, and then he would pick up his instrument. Without Zappa, music would have never reached its instrumental peak by modern artists, and he hasn't even played a show since 1989.
Johnny Rotten
The Sex Pistols were another polarizing band. Either you loved them, or you hated them, but most people hated them. Despite that, it is undeniable what they did for punk music in modern times.
If Sid Vicious was a trampoline, Johnny Rotten was the person jumping on it. They played off of each other so well, constantly wordlessly challenging one another to push themselves to their physical and emotional brinks on stage. The Sex Pistols have only released one singular album, and that was all they needed. These individuals have made a life out of the energy they poured into that singular piece of music. Seeing them was explosive, dangerous, concerning, but overtly captivating.
Jerry Garcia
Jerry Garcia is one of the most notable, most revered, and coolest rockstars of all time. His peaceful demeanor and pleasant expressions describe his personality to a T. He was just a really good dude who loved making music.
People gave up their lives, sold their homes, quit their jobs, said goodbye to their families, and hit the road to watch this man perform day in and day out. His presence on stage wasn't that of a benevolent cult leader, which some describe it as he was more like the Jesus of psychedelic rock. His concerts were like sermons, his guitar playing was akin to preaching the bible of psychedelia. Jerry preached peace until the day he died, and that's why people loved him.
James Hetfield
When Metallica released "Kill Em' All" in 1983, they hit the peak of the metal charts pretty much immediately. With Hetfield as their lead guitarist and singer, there was no way they could fail as a band.
So many famous musicians remember the first time they heard Metallica distinctly. We're sure you can too. Whether you heard Master of Puppets, Ride the Lightning, or Kill Em' All first, there is no forgetting the distinct, polished sound that Metallica drives in every single one of their songs. They are unanimously one of the most hated on and one of the most revered bands in the history of music.
Jam Master Jay
When Jam Master Jay was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, many people didn't like it. Even though he was a hip hop artist, Run DMC influenced more rock music than elitist rockers would like to admit, and Jam Master Jay is the backbone of that movement entirely.
Run DMC were the Beatles of hip hop. They drove the movement past marginalized, stigmatized communities and into the mainstream. These guys incorporated disco elements, funk, folk, jazz, and rock into their work. They even collaborated with Aerosmith. They were a model for Wu-Tang, Public Enemy, and they even set the stage for a ton of boy bands. Jam Master Jay was occasionally called the John Lennon of hip-hop, and so far, their influences are truly parallel.
Johnny Ramone
Johnny Ramone was full of youthful energy. He was goofy, strong, and quiet offstage, but he was a force to be reckoned with on stage.
Johnny held the Ramones together with his rigidity, his songwriting prowess, and his ability to play guitar like absolutely nobody else on the planet. People complained that the Ramones had no idea how to play their instruments, which was true at first, but they used their juvenile experience to their benefit. In fact, the Ramones were so simple and effective, that they preached a message to prospective musicians. If they could do it, so could you.
Lou Reed
The Velvet Underground was everything in the New York scene in the 1960s and 70s, without them, there would be no modern music.
Lou Reed was a broody addict who just so happened to write poetry good enough to catch the attention of the New York art elite world. More specifically, he got in touch with Andy Warhol. They talked, planned, and put together some songs and released an album. Everybody wanted to be Lou Reed, his quiet demeanor and commanding presence on stage struck fear and love into the hearts of his fans. If he didn't die at such a young age, the Velvet Underground would likely still be popular today.
Marvin Gaye
Marvin brought more to the music world than just a different take on Motown. He brought love, soul, pain, and complexity to an otherwise stagnated genre.
When Marvin Gaye first started releasing music, he was the drummer of a band called the Miracles. After several years of being the back of the house for others, he decided to step to the front of the band and sing. His voice was unique, raspy, powerful, and driving. Marvin had the soul to make unforgettable music, and the stage presence to let everyone in the room know that he knew exactly what he was doing at all times. Additionally, his music had more sex appeal than literally anything else ever made, and he might still hold that title.
Brian Wilson
There are a lot of perfectioniosts on this list, but Brian Wilson might be one of the most emotionally complex. He poured his blood, sweat, and tears into every song he made, literally.
When the Beach Boys released Pet Sounds, the world had never seen an album so powerful, so deeply depressed, yet so profoundly bright. Brian Wilson was known for being fairly low energy on stage, but a whirlwind in the studio. He was a teacher, a mentor, and probably unbeknownst to him, a rockstar. Brian Wilson had an uncanny ability to write extremely powerful ballads over and over, so many times that you'd assume that the man lived 5 lifetimes as a musician. Wilson was deeply plagued by his own depression and insecurity, but at the end of the day, he was able to brighten the lives of millions through his art.
Aretha Franklin
If you don't think Aretha Franklin was a rockstar, you're dead wrong. Just because she didn't have the sound, the guitars, the adoring fans, or the sex appeal. She simply had spirit, drive, and talent.
If you haven't danced to "Respect" by Aretha Franklin at some point in your life, you haven't lived yet. All of Franklin's music was a call to action, every single song was a reminder to herself and others to keep moving and never stop. Franklin was pivotal in the civil rights movement, and she advocated for gender equality better than virtually anyone else in music in the 1950s-60s. She made most of her songs alone and wrote the instrumentals as well. If that's not punk, then what is?
Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry was the OG guitar innovator. The largest bands in the history of music credit him for influencing them, he was outstandingly inspiring and unique for his time period.
Before the Beatles existed, before the Rolling Stones even decided to try making music, Chuck Berry was changing the world with his artistic interpretation of how a guitar should be played. He was the original frontman, his showmanship was truly unique, so much so that it was shunned initially. Much like other great innovators, Berry's career began with people disliking him for being different, bold, energetic, spastic even. He coined the act of playing the guitar behind the head, between the legs, and virtually every other coveted move that has been replicated over and over until it became commonplace for every guitarist to try at least once. Chuck Berry isn't just a legend, he is THE legend.
Dean Ween
Dean Ween is the pride of Pennsylvania, and quite possibly the pride of music as a whole. Ween is one of the most innovative and charismatic bands of all time, and they have literally pushed the genre of rock and roll further than any other band that has existed.
Hailing from New Hope, Ween hit the scene with a bang in the mid-1980s. Howard Stern and Henry Rollins put Ween onto the big scene, claiming that their defiance of traditional punk rock conventions was the most punk thing about music, period. Since then, Ween has never really become that famous. Despite inspiring one of the most popular cartoons in history (Spongebob Squarepants), and having several popular singles, Ween has maintained a cult following regarding their discography, which is laden with gospel, folk, country, funk, rock, punk, heavy metal, and electronic songs slipping over from album to album. Dean Ween never set a prospect for the band, he just played guitar and everyone else followed along. The genius behind Ween stems from an unwillingness to conform to a traditional standard, and raw instrumental talent.
Henry Rollins
Henry Rollins was the reason Punk was alive. His competitive nature inspired dozens, if not hundreds of similar artists to try and do what he was doing. The keyword here is "Try."
Black Flag was everything but a conventional hardcore band. Henry Rollins had terrifying energy about him that caused a rift between him and other bands of that era. Outside of the stage, he was a lovable, goofy jock who cared deeply about ethics and politics. He had ongoing competitions with Iggy Pop, Bad Brains, Circle Jerks, and even traditional hardcore bands like Cro Mags and Madball in the 1990s. Currently, Rollins works as an activist and advocate for sober culture, although he has always preached the necessity of staying true to oneself, through sobriety, artistry, and any other means necessary.
Gwen Stefani
Gwen Stefani didn't care about the way the public perceived her when she started No Doubt in the early 1990s. Her punk posture, demeanor, and credo held true through her career, all the way until now since she has had a significant tonal shift.
Although Stefani has navigated her career over to the pop side of things, her reggae-inspired punk band is still one of the highest coveted groups in the history of punk music. Stefani introduced an entire generation of women to the punk movement, signaling that you don't have to censor yourself, and you can stay cool while doing it too. Even in her current vane of music, Stefani holds true to her "I don't care" personality that people either totally love or completely hate. She is a beast on stage, her audience interaction is one of the best, and getting to see No Doubt live when they were playing was a privilege that not many people can say they had.
Billie Joe Armstrong
Critics have a lot to say about Green Day and the "only time they were good," however, those people probably never saw Green Day in their later years.
Billie Joe Armstrong has been a heavily slept on frontman since his early days in the band Green Day. From basements and back yards to sold-out stadiums, Green Day was punk for a generation, and the music they put out is still consistently good to this day. Billie Joe's ability to make a crowd feel like they are part of the show is almost intoxicating, he invites people on stage to play his guitar, he throws things into the audience, he'll even stage dive at his own shows at huge venues. People like to talk a lot of smack on Green Day since their departure from a traditionalist "true punk" sound, but for anyone that truly knows that band, they still have just as much energy as before.