How Important is good frontman in a band?

[electracoyote]

... and a Bass God and a Drum God ...

Good point. I think the Power Trio with three very talented musicians may be one of the exceptions to requiring a dynamic dedicated frontman. Sometimes, all three members are just about equally important in fronting or representing for the band.

 

[delta7fred]

50 years ago bands, especially bands like Cream, were judged more on musical content than slick production and presentation (unless they played cabaret of course).

Nowadays production and image seem to have taken priority over musical content maybe because of the need to keep TV audiences engaged when they are not that interested in the musical side of things and it is so easy to hop to another channel.

 

[sean_on_bass]

As has been said, anybody in the band can be the "front man," doesn't have to be the singer. If the other band members can handle the mic and stage banter, then it's all good. But someone has to do it. if no one is doing it there is a problem.

 

[AlexBassMP]

50 years ago bands, especially bands like Cream, were judged more on musical content than slick production and presentation (unless they played cabaret of course).

Nowadays production and image seem to have taken priority over musical content maybe because of the need to keep TV audiences engaged when they are not that interested in the musical side of things and it is so easy to hop to another channel.

I've playing in bands since I'm 16 ... and I believe that there's a place and a time for musical content and there's a place for the show.. I like jazz and is in jazz gigs or jam sessions when I expect some musical content..because in that context music creation and improvisation are the priority..

I have a theory that people don't go to pop or rock shows to pay attention to musical content...they go to be entertained... In Steve Vai's words : "Most of the times audience doesn't say Look, he plays a B flat 6th chord" . Music is a part of the show, obviously.. but not the only one. Alice Cooper know it , Kiss know it , and many more...

A week ago I went to a local band gig .. it was a spanish rock tribute band ...it's supposed that people know the songs and will sing along them..I knew them and the band didn't make me sing...Why if they played the songs note by note?

The singer was some kind of jerk who had a jack daniels bottle over his amp and he went to drink shoots between songs...and nobody in the band took his place in order to keep audience's interest. Translation: Two or three minutes of silence between songs... Why I say "kind of jerk"? The few times which he talked with audience were used to complain about people don't singing along , yelling or jumping .. Dude! It's your job to excite us, make us sing,yell and jump!!! Not audience's fault if your band is doing it wrong. Don't complain about audience's lack of excitement if you're more interested in a Jack Daniels bottle.
One more thing : nothing says "I'm a douchebag" more than a slight drunk singer yelling using a rude language to the sound tech in the middle of a song... If there's a sound issue try to keep it running until the end of the song and then ask to fix it..Be professional and respect other people..
He was trying to be his impersonation of a badass rick musician.. but he wasn't the real deal..

In other words : A single person attitude can ruin your band's image and work . It doesn't matter that your musical skills are the best out there...audience judge the whole experience..