I caught Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts this past weekend. My verdict? Good performance, bad setlist. A severe thunderstorm delayed the show. Hearing after the fact that the boss scratched "Racing in the Streets" from that night's repertoire makes me bitter. Alas, he exceeded the stadium's sonic curfew by more than an hour, so something had to go--why couldn't it have been the twenty-minute version of "Mary's Place" instead of my favorite Bruce song? This was my sixth time seeing Bruce, who is a showman's showman. But is he a frontman? I ask because the Boston Globe laments an endangered species in rock n roll: the frontman, that superhero who has charisma to match the voice. The piece cites Wilco's Jeff Tweedy, Coldplay's Chris Martin, and Radiohead's Thom Yorke as the biggest offenders in the category of would-be rock gods who are all-too human on stage. Just call them the anti-David Lee Roths. I agree with the piece. I like my rock stars to act like rock stars. They should be larger than the stage they perform upon. They shouldn't be able to walk the streets unnoticed. I've seen some extraordinary frontmen in my day--Roger Daltrey, Axl Rose, and Mick Jagger come to mind. Where are their progeny? Hiding behind their microphones, bridging the gap between audience and performer instead of calling attention to the wide talent chasm between. It's an egalitarian age, I guess, and musicians would rather blend in with the crowd than stand out from it. I doth protest. They're called rock stars for a reason. My message to any of the regular-guy rock "stars" out there? Stop acting like a forty-watt light bulb. Start acting like a rock star.

Roth was the man, bon scot, damn the good ole days. the only frontman i can think of today worth a crap is sully from godsmack.

There is such a thing as trying to be too cool. And Springsteen is guilty of trying to be too cool. You’re not going to get D.L.Roth out of him so you’ve got to take him as he comes. But, it does seem to be a trend among most groups these days to have a Springsteenesque front man. I’m not all that familiar with the newer music because I think most of it $ucks but from what I’ve observed, there are a lot of lead singers who fall into this category. Maybe that’s why the music is just not that good or exciting.

http://www.myspace.com/backwardsracoon

Musician, not "Rock Star", Jimmy Page is a rock star.........

oh, I can't stand Bruce Springstein.......

i still remember nights of listening to racing in the streets numerous times in a row and harrassing shred at bcn at 3am.. totally agree that is his best song. btw someone gave me eight tickets to the show and i couldn't think of 8 people who would want to go to be honest. tried giving them away to a few people who said no haha

I agree. I think Sully is one of the few frontmen who is a "rock star". Another I can think of is Anthony Keidis of RHCP.

here we go again... Chris Robinson = the poor mans Robert Plant but still brings it.

sully does bring it. as does phil anselmo from pantera.

I know most who contribute to this site are not Jethro Tull fans, but if you saw Ian Anderson in concert, you might agree that he was a top flight front man. The old dude had (has?) a lot of energy.

Now, on the other hand, you have the Can't-you-just-shut-up type, i.e. Bruce Dickinson.

Or Eddie Vedder.

I wish you had added Bono and Black Francis.
Also I want to like Bruce so badly, but I just cant. I saw him at Fenway Park and he was AWFUL. Another contender for that award is Elvis Costello, these are two people ive seen in concert that others have a high opinion of that just stink.
Also heard Bruces son is headed to Boston College. Does that mean Bruce will be playing with Screaming Eagle Marching Band at Halftime of BC games. Maybe their attedance will improve.