Top 5 BBQ Songs to start your summer grilling playlist

We finally figured out who is listening in Ashburn, Virginia 

Top Songs to Grille / Cookout/ BBQ to!

Heaven on a Paper Plate by Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers 

Summertime by DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince

Summer Nights by Van Halen

Rooster by Alice in Chains 

Bad Fish - Sublime (there’s a Jack Johnson Bad FIsh/ Boss DJ acoustic version which is excellent

30 Day Song Challenge - Days 15-21

Day 15- Cover song

Love Rollercoaster - Red Hot Chili Peppers 

The Joe Cocker All-Stars: Cover songs that are either vastly superior to the original or just completely original musical arrangements 

Joe Cocker "Get by with a little help from my friends”, “You are so beautiful”, “The Letter” and “Feelin’ Alright” 

He’s the king of the “Cover where the band makes it there own”. 

UB40 is a great example of this with “Red Red Wine” - which is a PERFECT COVER in my opinion

Rod Stewart was really good at this as well. 

Boyz in the Hood By Dynamite Hack - another great example 

Take on Me - Reel Big Fish - another great example 

In Bloom - Sturgill Simpson  

Ryan Adams “Wonderwall” and like 10 other songs by him 

Johnny Cash "Rusty Cage” 

I will Survive by “Cake” 

Gin and Juice - The Gourds 

You Really Got me - Van Halen (honorable mention to Diamond David Lee Roth for “Just a Gigolo” 

Faith - Limp Bizkit (hate it, but gotta give ‘em credit) 

Straight Away Covers

Ring of Fire by Social Distortion 

You might Think by Weezer 

Hurt by Johnny Cash 

Voodoo Child - Stevie Ray Vaughn 

Here’s a straight ahead cover the STINKS — Phil Collins - Can’t Hurry Love — THAT’S how you make a great song WORSE! KARAOKE Style 

Carless Whisper by Seether - that’s exotic dancing music right there 

Smoking in the Boys Room - Motley Crue 

Land of Confusion - Disturbed 

Covers in which you thought they were the Original 

Whitney Houston “I will always love you” All-Stars  — This song isn’t even great — SHE IS JUST SO TRANSCENDENT and her voice is impossible to explain with words 

Me and Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin Cover by Kris Kristofferson 

Urge Overkill “Girl you’ll be a woman soon” 

Nirvana "Lake of Fire” - really any of the covers off of the unplugged   

Gary Jules and Michael Andrews "Mad World” 

Take me to the river - Talking Heads — THAT WAS AN AL GREEN JAM???? I’ve since really enjoyed learning of this Jam and now think the original is pretty fire in it’s own right.

Tainted Love - Soft Cell — i just thought the “where did our love go part” was a cover  during the outro 

"It’s my Life" No Doubt 

My top 5 

Signs by Tesla 

Scarlet Begonias by Sublime (Honorable Mention)

Gypsy Kings - Hotel California - in Spanish and from an iconic scene for the Big Lebowski (honorable mention) 

All Along the Watch Tower - Jimi Hendrix 

Knocking on Heaven’s door - GNR 

Sweet Dreams are made of This - Marilyn Manson (honorable mention) 

Blue Monday by Orgy 

Mony Mony - Billy Idol (this is my #6) 

It’s My Life - No Doubt 

Nothing Compares 2 U - Prince cover a song he wrote and gave to somebody else to make famous - In addition it’s been covered by Chris Cornell, The Dixie Chicks, Capital Cities, Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies and More 

No Woman, No Cry - The Fugees 

Red Red Wine - UB40 

Blinded by the Light - Manfred Mann (stole it from Bruce Springsteen and made it a bigger hit) that one’s for your Rosco. In addition - Manfred Mann took Bob Dylan’s Mighty Quinn to Number 1 in the 1960’s 

Fun Fact: Bob Dylan covers being better performed by somebody else are plentiful - Guns N’ Roses, Manfred Mann, Jimi Hendrix,  the Byrds with Mr. Tamborine Man 

Day 16 - A classic favorite 

Ben E. King - Stand By Me

Shout Pt 1 & 2 - the Isley Brothers 

The Weight by the Band 

It’s 9-7 in favor of Cindy 

Day 17 - Karaoke Song w/ friend 

Take me home tonight 

Lady Marmalade 

Hunger Strike 

Wanted Dead or Alive 

Friends in Low Places 

No Woman No Cry 

I remember you - Skid Row 

Podcast Idea — Ranking Playlist on spotify and beaking them down

Day 18 - A song from the year you were born - 1978 vs.1983 - Roxanne by the Police vs. Africa by Toto 

Day 19 - Rubbish 

Day 20 - Rubbish 

Day  21 - A song with someone’s name in it 

Crazy Mary - Pearl Jam

Call me Al - Paul Simon 

Come on  Eileen - Dexy’s Midnight Runners 

Cindy, I’ll marry you one day - Robert Plant 

My Michelle - Guns N’ Roses

Allison - Elivs Costello 

Gloria - Laura Branigan 

Help Me, Rhonda - Beach Boys 

Brandy - Looking Glass

Janie’s Got a Gun ( Jane Says)

Jenny 867-5309

Karen - the national (of course there’s a song named Karen)

Lay Down Sally & Layla (Clapton and D + Domino’s)

there’s a song called Lindsay quit Lollygagging - Chiodos (What a name?!)

Lola - the Kinks

Marcarena - Los Del Rio 

Maria Maria - Santana 

Mary Mary - The Monkees

Mustang Sally - Wilson Pickett 

Oh Sheila - Ready for the World 

Oh Sherrie - Steve Perry 

Ophelia - The Band 

Peg - Steely Dan 

Rosalita (Come out tonight) - Bruce Springsteen 

Rosanna - Toto 

Stacy’s Mom - Fountains of Wayne 

Suzie Q - CCR

Sussudio - Phil Collins 

Tessie - Dropkick’s 

Valerie - Steve Winwood 

Wake up Little Susie - Everly Brothers 

Whole Lotta Rosie AC/DC

Wyona’s Big Brown Beaver - Primus 

Along Comes Mary - The Association 

Jenny Was a Friend of Mine - The Killers 

Johnny B Good - Chuck Barry 

Captain Jack - Billy Joel

Dropkick me Jesus (Through the Goal posts of Life) - Bobby Bare

Duke of Earl (Gene Chandler)

Hey Joe - Hendrix 

Hey Jude - The Beatles 

Jeremy - Pearl Jam 

Jessie’s Girl - Rick Springfield 

Jumpin’ Jack Flash - Stones 

Levon - Elton John 

Mack the Knife - Bobby Darin

Mickey - Toni Basil 

Sam’s Town - The Killers 

Jenny Was a Friend of Mine - The Killers 

Stan - Eminen 

Tom Sawyer - Rush 

Uncle Johnny - The Killers 

What’s the Frequency, Kenneth? - REM

2018 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction preview

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2018 - Song selection picks

thoughts are with Huey Lewis - cancelled all future tour dates due to hearing issues

Place listening - Amarillo, TX / Nudgee Australia  / Sao Paulo Brasil / Petaling Jaya Malaysia

Nations of Hungary and Jamaica checked in this week as well. 

What songs will 2018 Rock Hall of Fame inductees play during the ceremony - and who is the best person/ artist to induct them??? 

likely 3 or 4 songs make the televised ceremony on HBO

Bon Jovi: Inductor (Emilio Estevez of Young Guns 2 fame), one of the captain’s from Deadliest Catch (theme song is Dead of Alive), Bill Belicheck? Bruce Springsteen (especially if Richie Sambora skips the ceremony, cuz Springsteen will play with them)

"Livin’ on a Prayer" 100% lock // "It’s my Life" aka Prayer part two // “Dead or Alive” // “Who says you can’t go home” (I’d rather hear Blaze of Glory, Bad Medicine, or You give love a bad name). Dark Horse is “Bed of Roses” — Please to play “I’ll be there for you” and don’t play “Have a Nice Day”. If they want to play New England Patriots TD song “this is our house” i will allow it.

The Cars: Inductor - please don’t be Steven Tyler or Marky Mark. Dark Horse Inductor — Dicky Barrett of the Mighty Mighty Bosstones. I think the LCD Sound System Guy, James Murphy will induct them. more on that at the end of my take. 

Just What I Needed

My Best Friend’s Girl

Good Times Roll

You’re all I’ve got tonight

Moving in Stereo — the Phoebe Cates pool scene song from Fast Times at Ridgemont High

Shake it Up

Magic

Drive 

Let’s Go 

The Song “Blue Tip” off of Move like This album is basically the LCD Soundsystem  Starter kit song - it’s good

The Moody Blues - again no clue who will induct them

Tuesday Afternoon

Nights in White Satin

I’m just a Singer (in a Rock N Roll Band) 

Your Wildest Dreams - their 80’s hit 

Question

“I know you’re out there somewhere” - their other 80’ hit has a slim shot 

“The Voice” has a shot

"The Story in your eyes" is a decent jam- good riff, great harmonies  

“english Sunset” is pretty interesting and decent too

Dire Straits:  These dudes are the kings of the 7 minute slow song - almost narrows their choices down to like 5 of their songs. 

I have No clue on who will induct them

Sultans of Swing 

Money for Nothing 

Romeo and Juliet

So Far Away 

Walk of Life 

They have a song entitled “Calling Elvis” which is kind of cool, but again 6:33 long and never heard it until my research for this podcast

Hot Take — i don’t think Dire Straits should get in. This is why LL Cool J was a better choice. If you won’t perform and you’re still alive - that’s messed up

Nina Simone - if Lauryn Hill is in singing shape — she better be involved in this tribute — Since Nina is no longer with us, this has a chance to be a fantastic medley of singer songstress all-stars 

Alicia Keys will likely be involved // honestly Adele might be a great fit here

"Feeling Good" is a no-brainer - such a Classic jam - great horns — great song 

“Sinnerman” 10:22 live version from NYC in 1965 is still very well known

“Baltimore” — super funky song — i think it’s a potential song they’d play

"I wish i Knew how it would feel to be free"

She has a song called “Mississippi Goddamn” — i think it will resonate with the times 

“to be young, gifted and black” - so many of her songs are incredibly appropriate for our time and space here in 2018 

“I put a Spell on you” - strong candidate

Nina does a nice over of “Here comes the sun” by the Beatles  

Sister Rosetta Tharpe  - they better get Eddie Van Halen to induct her - cuz this lady did things with the guitar that were so ahead of her time, it’s not even funny

“That’s all” - her guitar work os like Early Johnny B Goode 

“Sit Down” - catchy pop song - great acoustic guitar work 

“Shout, Sister, Shout!” - also catchy, got some sass to it

“Nobody’s fault but mine” - Did Led Zeppelin cover this?!?!?!?! - they did but modified lyrics. Written in 1927 by Blind Willie Johnson  

“Jericho” - great 2 min diddy 

Roseanne is back, Rant of the month & props to Van Halen

Places listening Tokyo Japan #1 city listening last week and Japan was #2 as a nation to the United States

Kansas City , Tatabanya Hungary and Lima Peru get props as well

Ain’t talkin’ bout love is Van Halen’s best overall song - it’s their most Van Halen-Esque song. 

It hits everything those guys are great at and none of the stuff they’re not.

Vince Carter- left school early. Played at UNC 3 season, made the Final Four twice.  Finished degree & Walked at graduation during the playoffs a few years later

Here’s my beef. People gripe that these guys don’t go to school, but they also gripe that he chose to walk for graduation during playoffs. 

And you can question his focus in that moment… But he’s played in the league for like 20 years. He’s reinvented his game twice. 

You can’t question his love and drive to play hoops and make money. 

Vince Carter has had the last laugh - he’s 40 years old, playing in the NBA 

8x All-star 2x all nba rookie of the year and greatest slam dunk champ ever - certainly top 3. Was picked #5 in the 98 draft 

Played for 7 NBA teams // won Gold Medal at 2000 olympics  

#11 all-time in career earning with over $167 million in salary 

Only 7 guys have played 20+ seasons in nba. Only Kobe and Vince were wings - and Kobe came out of high school - Vince went to UNC for a couple years 

Robert parish 21 seasons most all time

Kareem, Dirk, Kevin Garnett, Kevin Willis

Tom Brady’s injured hand — how much stock do you put into it?

Who you picking for Eagles - Vikings game? 

If Crystal Palace wins London Derby over Arsenal this weekend, i’m elevating CP over the Gunners in my heart and the only way Arsenal gets it back is to win the Europa League

top Nations listening - United Kingdom, France, Saudi Arabia, Peru, Hungary, Canada, Spain, South Africa and Australia

Wearing a Hawaiian shirt — for good Karma - it’s been cold in the east, we’re supposed to get 1-3 inches of snow in charlotte - which will shut Charlotte down… they’ve literally already cancelled school.

So i’m in New York walking around and it’s raining — more like misting, and a lady is walking her dog. The dog has like 4 little boots on it’s feet. like aqua socks but for a dog.

If you have time to put “water shoes” on your dog to go out in the rain for a walk- you’ve got too much time on your hands (not snow & ice, rain! Not extremely hot blacktop, rain)? Dogs descended from wolves. Wolves don’t wear shoes ever - dogs will be ok in the rain. 

And if you’re worried about our dogs feet messing up your house- maybe you’re not a dog person

You know how airports have the bag sizing apparatus- so they can nix certain bags from carry on? They should have one for passengers - and ban certain people from sitting in the middle seats in coach

Cosby Show remake — like the Roseanne remake — No Cliff Huxtable, but Claire and all the kids are in the show. And don’t call it the Cosby show, and don’t have Bill Cosby in the show. Call it the Huxtables. People would watch that. 

Coming up next Andy Maslin joins us for the rant of the month - but you can’t get that on our facebook live feed, you’ve got to go to filibuster freestyle.com or subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and the latest episode will be automatically delivered to podcasts app. It’s easy and while you’re there, please leave us a review, it helps people find the filibuster freestyle 

Picking the Greatest Front Man of all time - Bracket Style tournament

The Greatest Frontman of All-Time - Elimination Tournament

Here are the areas the judges will be grading on

  1. Sizzling dance moves/ stage presence 
  2. Singing ability
  3. distinctness of voice (which is close to number 2, but also very important
  4. X Factor/ It Factor/ and or legendary partying stories from the road/ antics 
  5. Commercial success/ critical acclaim 

Brackets: 

Charisma Bracket: 

David Lee Roth Vs Paul Stanley - To me this one is very easy - my only concerns on DLR is the fact that as lead singer of Van Halen-  ultimately he was replaceable. 

Sammy wasn’t as good, but he made people forget about Dave. And Dave, didn’t hold up well as a solo artist or even in his rebooted VH appearances. 

One question - was Paul Stanley replaced in KISS for a bit as well??

But if I rank these guys in any of our five categories - David Lee Roth beats Paul Stanley in all 5 — “Jump” was nominated for a Grammy in 1985 (As well as several VMA’s and AMA’s, etc) - Kiss did win a People’s choice award in 1977 for “Beth” but this matchup is a cake walk for diamond dave.

Kurt Cobain vs Dave Grohl - Hot Take on Grohl vs Cobain - I like Foo Fighters better than Nirvana. I agree that Dave Grohl has become a better front man… but, what if none of it would’ve happened without Kurt Cobain. Kurt Cobain gave Grohl a platform and Grohl ran with it — but there’s an argument that Curt was good and made Nirvana so big, that he is the reason Dave is even in our consciousness. Curt is an ICON — part of what hurts his case is a brief career — but part of what helps his case is his brief career

Sizzling moves/ stage presence - I gotta go with Grohl

Singing Ability - I gotta of with Grohl again / but it’s a larger and more broad sample size

Distinctiveness of Voice - Cobain easy

X Factor — I think for as much as Grohl has done to become an ICON over 20 years — Kurt Cobain was the whole enchilada from Jump street

Commercial success Critical acclaim - Well you pretty much give Grohl at least some credit for Nirvana’s success and you can’t give Kurt ‘direct’ credit for Foo Fighters’ success 

Foot fighters have been nominated for 91 total awards, winning 26 of them - including 27 grammy nominations and 11 grammy wins

Nirvana has been nominated 25 times with 12 wins, including 7 grammy nominations and 1 win

I’m picking Cobain

Energizer Bunny Bracket:

Mick Jaggar Vs Eddie Vedder

This is a heavy weight battle - 

Sizzling moves/ Stage presence: Jaggar all day, Maroon 5 didn’t write “Moves like Vedder” they wrote “Moves like Jaggar”

Singing Ability - this is tough for Mick cuz now we’re seeing 70 year old Mick since - but overall I think maybe Eddie in a close one

Distinctiveness of voice — same deal this is really tough - two incredibly distinct voices — I’m voting for a “push” 

X Factor - In terms of true Front Man persona - I gotta go with Mick - In 7th grade Mick Jaggar was in my english class encyclopedia wearing a Philadelphia eagles jersey on stage the Encyclopedia company deemed him worthwhile enough to document as existing — that’s X factor people

Commercial success/ Critical Acclaim: Pearl Jam 37 nominations including 12 wins - 15 grammy noms with 2 wins - Rolling Stones won 2 Grammys in 1994 for Voodoo Lounge and Love is Strong

I’m going with Mick Jaggar

Bon Jovi vs Bono

Another heavyweight matchup - two polarizing figures

Sizzling Moves: This is very tough — I’d say in the 80’s it was JBJ thanks for the Glam Rock era of antics and showmanship. I’d say in the 90’s it would shift to Bono - I’m punting on this category for now

Singing ability: Again - super tough - both guys have range, versatility, etc — I’m going slight edge to Bono

Distinctiveness of voice — JBJ is usually distinctive, Bono is always distinctive

X Factor — Bono is tough to beat in this realm — but I gotta go slight edge to JBJ - he’s even charmed Bill Belicheck as a super fan

Commercial Success/ Critical Acclaim: Bon Jovi 68 nominations with 22 wins, including 9 grammy noms and 1 win - U2 has won 95 awards including winning 22 grammys - U2 wins this category hands down

I’m taking Bono is a marathon death match

Epic Voice Bracket:

Axl Rose vs Anthony Keidis - Anthony could be a huge match up problem for a lot of people on this list — and so could Axl Rose - it’s fitting that they are up against each other

Sizzling Moves: Nobody is going to question that Keidis’ career is based upon sizzling moves — but Axl in the 1980’s and frankly Axl last summer does such a great job still, that I’ll give Keidis the win in this category but not by a lot

Distinctiveness of voice - again two dudes who totally stand out in a crowd. I’m going with Axl though

Singing Ability: Axl... Nuff said… next question

X Factor: here’s a hot take - Both Axl and Keidis are beneficiaries of at least 1 other mega persona in their respective bands - Slash and Flea. 

My ultimate take away is that Red Hot Chili Peppers are an X-Factor band (with at least two virtuosos at their peak Flea and John F - plus Chad Smith is no slouch). GNR is not fully respected as GNR without Axl and Slash on stage together. Duff matters a lot to legitimizing that lineup too, but Axl ain’t Freddy Mercury and neither is Keidis. I’m going with a “push” on this one

Commercial Success/ Critical Acclaim: GNR 27 nominations w 10 wins, 3 grammy noms 0 wins — RHCP 68 nominations, 23 wins - 16 grammy nominations and 6 wins — Keidis wins this (with help from his band) 

Robert Plant vs Chris Cornell

Battle of the big time voices - might be the two best singers in this whole tournament

Sizzling moves — neither one of these dudes is big on the captivating moves - but Rosco talk about seeing Cornell’s one man show again…

Distinctiveness of voice: Cornell has distinctive voice — but Robert Plant is pretty singular — i’m going Robert Plant

Singing Ability: This is such a tough call — but i think Cornell’s versatility (Audio Slave, Sound Garden, Ave Maria) gives him the edge

X Factor: The partying antics of Zeppelin count a lot here - Almost Famous was based off of Zeppelin - Unless Rosco can sway me, I’m going Robert Plant

Commercial Success and Critical Acclaim: Led Zeppelin has been nominated for 896 awards, winning 638 of them. Including 7 Grammy Noms with 5 wins /// Soundgarden 10 noms total with 4 wins — 8 grammy noms with 2 wins - Cornell was nominated for 3 more grammys with Audio slave and 3 more as a solo artist with 2 more wins - Soooo Cornell is in the mix

Triple threat Braket:

Freddy Mercury vs Chuck D

Tough Matchup for Chuck D

Sizzling Moves - Nobody is beating Freddy

Distinctiveness of Voice: Chuck D is distinctive, Freddy is more distinctive

Singing ability — Well Chuck D’s rapping ability is fantastic — but Freddy can sing his face off

X Factor — very strong category for Chuck D - but I’m still going Freddy

Commercial Success / Critical Acclaim -  Queen very surprising only 3 noms and zero grammy wins  /// Public Enemy has 6 grammy nominations and zero wins

Steven Tyler vs Scott Weiland

Steven Tyler took a lot of heat getting into this thing /// Scott Weiland had a love fest getting in (despite being a 3 seed) 

Sizzling moves: Steven Tyler has great moves, especially pre-Year 2000

Distinctiveness of voice: Steven Tyler again, I’d say

Singing ability: Scotty Weiland  

X Factor: Steven Tyler has a lot of this, he truly does — but I gotta go with Scotty Dubs on this one

Commercial Success/ Critical Acclaim: STP 4 Grammy noms Zero Wins, Velvet Revolver 3 noms with 1 win for Slither in 2005 /// Aerosmith 79 total noms with 32 total wins. 17 Grammy noms with 4 grammy wins 

 

Greatest Front man (or woman) of all-time - Selection Show

Greatest front man ever (or front women) aka the greatest Front Person of all-time

 

Quest is to name the greatest front man of all time — and i’ve now shared this idea with two people — both said unsolicited — Gonna be tough to pick anybody over Freddy Mercury 

 

True story — but just as the Super Bowl trophy is named after Vince Lombardi, everyone once in a while somebody rights an article about maybe it should be renamed for another great coach.  First question, is Freddy Mercury too good to be on this list, or does he have to earn a victory to get this trophy named after him?

 

My original questions to Rosco P were as follows - and Rosco can answer:

 

Do we get to count people like Bruno mars? 

 

Do we put an era limit / genre limit on this - ie is James brown too early or not? Are we counting country singers/ Raggae singers?

 

Is anyone too good to be included - Freddy Mercury for instance?

 

Can anyone not get a fair trail ? Bruce Springsteen wouldn’t but we’re excluding him any way 

 

Are all people like Tom Petty out? Because they are technically a solo act w a backing band?

 

Are we essentially looking for David Lee Roth types? Fronted an actual band?

 

Thinking 1981-2016 edition. Couple names to get it going - Anthony kedis Gwen stefani no doubt era. Scott weiland. All of the Seattle big 4. Axl. David Lee Roth? Steven Tyler?

 

Rosco thoughts - off the dome I would say no genre of era limit. No solo acts (Michael Jackson, Madonna, Prince, Bruno Mars). Tom Petty is a tough call. I think he's I'm but need to think more about it. James Brown and Hendrix are tough calls. Probably out but not sure yet. 

 

Beatles - Out — they had 2 and a half front men — if this was best bands ever — sure Beatles win it But this is about front men (or women) of bands 

Drillings 3’s should’ve been called “2 and a half frontmen”

 

311 has a similar issue 

 

Rolling stone did 100 best singers, and that’s where you’ll find Elvis and Johnny Cash and Ella Fitzgerald and Prince and Mary J Blige 

 

Criteria for eligibility: Can’t be a solo artist or the named singer fronting a back-up band 

 

Actual lead singers of actual bands — that’s who qualifies — it wasn’t Freddy Mercury & Queen — it was Queen 

 

Format - 8 auto bids - Rosco Picks 4, Gavin picks 4 — and then 8 at-large bids

 

Fan vote: hit us up on Twitter, on Facebook, on soundcloud, on iTunes or on FilibusterFreestyle.com and nominate someone we might’ve missed

 

It’s gonna be a bracket style elimination tournament 

 

if Rosco and Gavin agree on any of their 4, it opens up another at-large bid (Fans of the freestyle — send us your suggestions 

 

Here are the areas the judges will be grading on

  1. Sizzling dance moves/ stage presence 
  2. Singing ability
  3. distinctness of voice (which is close to number 2, but also very important
  4. X Factor/ It Factor/ and or legendary partying stories from the road/ antics 
  5. Commercial success/ critical acclaim 

 

Steve Perry from Journey - Good command of Arena crowds all over the globe, BIG TIME VOICE, very distinct voice, not any off the dome X factor stories, huge commercial success to say the least

 

Sting of The Police  — Decent stage presence, fantastic singer, uber distinct voice, Tantric references alone are off the charts here, huge commercial success (though arguably more as a solo artist)

 

Adam Levine - Maroon 5 (That’s a pass for me)

 

Trent Reznor (Is he truly eligible?)

 

Chris Martin of Coldplay  — I’ve seen this due on the old Palladia / Glastonbury Days — this guy owns crowds. Great voice, distinct voice, not a ton of X factor stories i’m aware of, massive success

 

Robert Smith of the Cure — Not enough of a front man — but probably one of the best song writers on here

 

Ann Wilson of Heart (did Nancy Wilson sing too much to count here) // while we’re here Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane?? 

 

Brendan Flowers from the killers - I love this guy — i don’t think he’s gonna get in

 

Caleb Followill from kings of Leon (voice distinctiveness matters a bit)  — I really love this guy - Decent stage presence, very good voice, ultra distinct voice, tons of booze bender related stories, fantastic critical acclaim 

 

Joe strummer. from the Clash Meh?

 

Lead singer of cheap trick ? Robin Zander — he’s got a sneaky good resume including Rock & Roll hall of fame — still a no for me 

 

James Hetfield- Dave Mustane - these guys are metal — ozzy clearly take the Metal throne - so they’re out

 

Pick #2: Mick Jaggar - He’s one of my automatic bids - saw him in the encyclopedia one time - he was HUGE 

 

Pick #3: Axl Rose - He’s one of my automatic bids (all the G n R stuff, plus AC/DC just hired him)

 

Pick #7: Anthony Kiedis - infinite charisma, limited singer, ultra distinctive voice, tons of X factor, tons of success and acclaim 

 

Billy Joe Armstrong - Green Day  — As far as Corporate Punk Rock from the 90’s goes — this guys has all the tools - i can’t rule him out 

 

Geddy Lee - Rush — Geddy is lacking in stage presence, but that’s only cuz he’s slappa da bass, mon — great and distinctive voice 

 

Brian Johnson - AC/DC  — Stage presence check, limited singer, super distinct, tons of road antics, tons of success writing the same album 14 times in a row 

 

Gwen Stefani from No Doubt days — I love the idea of getting her in — huge charisma, good voice, distinct voice, style and x factor for days, lots of success but more as a solo artist 

 

Scott Weiland — Handsome as EFF, Charismatic as EFF, literally almost became the first guy to defeat heroin addition without quitting, really good voice, pretty distinctive voice, fantastic stories, fronted 2 big-time bands, out partied Slash and Duff from G N R, great commercial success 

 

Pick #5: David Lee Roth — How can this guy, at his APEX, not get in? DO i even need to waste an auto-bid on Diamond Dave???  

 

Paul Stanley - Kiss  — Here’s the thing — i could talk about Paul Stanley all day — i love Paul Stanley. BUT, (DO A PAUL STANLEY VOICE) he ain’t no Stephen Tyler, He ain’t Diamond Dave, he’s a CARTOON CHARATERRRRRRR 

 

Chris Cornell - Seattle — Eddie Vedder, Kurt Cobain, Layne Staley

 

Jack White ? Is this a band or a duet 

Stokes singer- Julian Casablancas - probably 

 

How about Pharrell in neptunes? Or Cee Loo in goodie mob / gnarls Barkley??

 

Dave Grohl — Grohl checks ever single box on this list at a high level — plus he was the drummer for NIrvana — maybe too much of a musician/ song writer for his own good? 

 

Debbie Harry — X factor, first female punk star (plus they did some disco and some rap), Great voice, kinda distinctive, commercial successful 

 

Jim Morrison - I respect this dude. I respect the Doors — but I kinda hate the doors, and feel biased

 

Pick #8 Bono — Lots of X factor and Charisma, Huge Voice, Distinct as eff, Crazy Successful to the point of being able to become a geopolitical ambassador (which might hurt his case in this contest) 

 

Pick #6 Jon Bon Jovi— Watch out for JBJ —  the guy has been relevant in 4 different decades — he’s an ageless, timeless, wonder. I might need to use an autobid on JBJ 

 

Robert Plant — OK this guy - stage presence wasn’t his thing (in the classic front man sense), but who’s better looking? Who’s got a better voice? HIs voice is as distinct as anyone, and the success and acclaim of LED ZEP is at the top of the heap. plus, we haven’t even gotten into the “stories” the movie almost famous is based on them and you know it’s turned WAAAAY Down

 

Pick #4 Steven Tyler — How does he not get in — Has the best moves on this list, Great voice, Distinct voice, all kinds of stories about these dudes, all kinds of success in multiple decades, and helped launch Hip Hop as a commercially viable genre with their cross over video of Walk this way with Run DMC 

 

Pick #1: Freddy Mercury - he is the list 

 

Ozzy Ozborn  - Ozzy is kind of the Metal version of Robert Plant - just not as good looking nor talented of a singer — but also bit the head off of a bat turning a meeting with his record company 

 

Who’s in: Steven Tyler, Mick Jaggar, Freddy Mercury, Axl Rose, David Lee Roth, Jon Bon Jovi,  Chris Cornell, Chuck D 

 

Stevie Nicks ? Fleetwood Mac — Too much success as a solo artist?

 

Annie Lennox ???? The Eurythmics — Same question as Stevie 

 

Iggy Pop - The Stooges - I’ll just say “NO” 

 

John Fogarty - Creedance  - Also a “No"

 

Thom Yorke - Radio Head — Also a “No"

 

Roger Daltrey - the Who  — See i can make an argument that this guy is marginalized by The Who getting drowned out by the Stones and Beatles. Also, I feel like he and Robert Plant if they go toe to toe — it’s a lot closer of a contest then one would suspect. Better Moves on Stage, Voice is almost as good and almost as distinctive, Keith moon was in his band so he’s got “Stories/ antics” covered, they wrote the first “Rock opera” of all time

 

Chuck D - Just sayin’ - i think he’s got a legit case as a front man

 

Tina Turner? Smokey Robinson? 

 

Lionel Ritchie   Commodores