# Front men/women who can't play an instrument **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [November 15, 2021, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/front-men-women-who-cant-play-an-instrument/954386 "2021-11-15T15:08:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2021, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/front-men-women-who-cant-play-an-instrument/954386/61 "2021-11-15T21:23:55Z")
Joe Cocker? Leonard Cohen? Iggy Pop? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2021, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/front-men-women-who-cant-play-an-instrument/954386/62 "2021-11-15T21:27:24Z")
Iggy Pop plays guitar. I have no idea what else he plays, but he plays guitar for sure. ETA, same for Leonard Cohen. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2021, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/front-men-women-who-cant-play-an-instrument/954386/63 "2021-11-15T21:30:10Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > Joe Cocker? Joe Cocker was a pioneer with the air guitar. (Sorry, couldn’t resist.) [![](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/304/mcs/media/images/79900000/jpg/_79900505_cocker_woodstock_ap.jpg) ](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/304/mcs/media/images/79900000/jpg/_79900505_cocker_woodstock_ap.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2021, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/front-men-women-who-cant-play-an-instrument/954386/64 "2021-11-15T22:14:35Z")
> [@Kzbre5m](#): > > I was going to suggest him too, though I don’t know if he can’t or doesn’t play an instrument. Sigh. Does no one read my posts anymore? > [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > [Here’s the answer](https://www.artgarfunkel.com/articles/may1998.html): > > > **When did you learn to play guitar? Piano? Do you play by ear?** > > > > > Guitar: 13, I think. Piano: about 8. By ear: not really. > > > > **You played piano on “Silent Night”, have you ever played an instrument on any of your solo records or on stage?** > > > > > No. Save once - at a concert with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Michael Tilson Thomas and I played a Ravel piece for four hands at a keyboard. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2021, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/front-men-women-who-cant-play-an-instrument/954386/65 "2021-11-15T22:24:52Z")
Anthony Kiedis, who fronted one of the most successful bands of the 1990s and 2000s, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, played no instrument. The rest of the band’s lineup, which changed numerous times, all had a high level of technical proficiency on their instruments, but Kiedis is strictly a vocalist. Looking it up, it seems like there were a few occasions when he performed, nominally, while holding a guitar and playing a few chords, but this was a massive outlier. Scott Weiland of the Stone Temple Pilots was also not known to perform with an instrument. Again, there may have been a few times when he did so for novelty value, but he was another 90s alt frontman who was strictly a vocalist. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2021, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/front-men-women-who-cant-play-an-instrument/954386/66 "2021-11-15T22:43:45Z")
Various accounts say Ann Wilson of Heart was given a guitar when she was 12 but didn’t much care for it. I guess she at least learned a few chords even if she never played in public. Micky Dolenz of the Monkees famously had to fake playing the drums after he was told to play a drummer on TV, but Dolenz had a guitar at home, and so probably also knew a few chords. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2021, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/front-men-women-who-cant-play-an-instrument/954386/67 "2021-11-15T22:43:55Z")
Perhaps there should be a distinction between a vocalist not performing with an instrument, and a vocalist not knowing how to play an instrument (which obviously includes the former). ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2021, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/front-men-women-who-cant-play-an-instrument/954386/68 "2021-11-15T22:46:31Z")
> [@alovem](#): > > What about Rod Stewart? He played some banjo with the Faces. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2021, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/front-men-women-who-cant-play-an-instrument/954386/69 "2021-11-15T22:52:04Z")
> [@racer72](#): > > The last time he did a drum challenge with Joey Kramer, he held is own pretty damn good. > [@bobot](#): > > Steven Tyler kills on harmonica, too. I always thought this was an impressive performance… [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cjfduB2n9QQ/hqdefault.jpg "The Gap Aerosmith (commercial, 1999)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjfduB2n9QQ) > [@Akaj](#): > > > [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > > > Does that mean I can still ask about Art Garfunkel? > > Hmmm … is he technically a front man? Let’s say yes – duos count. I was wondering about 3/4 of the Mamas and the Papas. My hunch is that many play some instrument or other (guitar and piano being most common) well enough to compose songs. [Denny’s entry lists guitar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denny_Doherty) [Cass’s lists vocals, nothing else.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cass_Elliot) [Michelle’s says vocals and tambourine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Phillips) I love how you can listen to them and think you’re hearing instruments but they’re singing “dit…dit…dit dit dit” etc. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hYOChRn1Zuo/hqdefault.jpg "MAMAS@PAPAS LIVE") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYOChRn1Zuo) ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2021, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/front-men-women-who-cant-play-an-instrument/954386/70 "2021-11-15T23:12:46Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > (So is there a verdict on Brian Johnson?) It depends on whether or not you count this: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XlPEqAhqJho/hqdefault.jpg "AC/DC") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlPEqAhqJho) Actually he can play the guitar. I can’t find any audio or video to determine how well. All I found is this pic: [![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CAx3buOWQAA-Pz6.jpg) ](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CAx3buOWQAA-Pz6.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2021, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/front-men-women-who-cant-play-an-instrument/954386/71 "2021-11-15T23:14:22Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > Iggy Pop? > [@Joey\_P](#): > > Iggy Pop plays guitar. I have no idea what else he plays, but he plays guitar for sure. Iggy was a drummer before he formed the Stooges and became the singer. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2021, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/front-men-women-who-cant-play-an-instrument/954386/72 "2021-11-15T23:14:32Z")
Morrissey? I’m pleased to report that **Joe Strummer** did indeed play some guitar. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2021, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/front-men-women-who-cant-play-an-instrument/954386/73 "2021-11-15T23:15:55Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > I’m pleased to report that **Joe Strummer** did indeed play some guitar. You can’t have a name like this and only play tambourine or harmonica. ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2021, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/front-men-women-who-cant-play-an-instrument/954386/74 "2021-11-15T23:22:15Z")
This website lists him as a percussionist > **[Brian Johnson](https://acdc.fandom.com/wiki/Brian_Johnson)** > > Brian Francis Johnson (born 5 October 1947) is an English singer and lyricist who has been the lead singer for the rock band AC/DC since 1980. He was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2003 along with the other members of the band. In... Since it provides no details it could just be referencing him banging on a huge bell as part of the **AC/DC** stage show when they perform the song **Hell’s Bells**. TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2021, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/front-men-women-who-cant-play-an-instrument/954386/75 "2021-11-16T00:03:00Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > Micky Dolenz of the Monkees famously had to fake playing the drums after he was told to play a drummer on TV, but Dolenz had a guitar at home, and so probably also knew a few chords. But he played guitar and keyboards. And eventually learned drumming well enough that he played it on tour. Interesting fact from his Wikipedia article: he purchased the 3rd modular Moog sold commercially. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2021, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/front-men-women-who-cant-play-an-instrument/954386/76 "2021-11-16T00:23:16Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > Interesting fact from his Wikipedia article: he purchased the 3rd modular Moog sold commercially. The Monkees were were pioneers in that regard and one of the very first rock/pop bands to work with and release synthesizer (Moog) tracks. Cite: > **[The Monkees’ “Daily Nightly” introduced the rock world to the Moog](https://www.avclub.com/the-monkees-daily-nightly-introduced-the-rock-world-1798284317)** > > In Hear This, A.V. Club writers sing the praises of songs they know well. This week: Our favorite songs featuring unusual instruments. ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2021, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/front-men-women-who-cant-play-an-instrument/954386/77 "2021-11-16T01:03:00Z")
I can’t find any evidence to suggest Fee Waybill ever played an instrument. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2021, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/front-men-women-who-cant-play-an-instrument/954386/78 "2021-11-16T01:07:38Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > Micky Dolenz of the Monkees famously had to fake playing the drums after he was told to play a drummer on TV, but Dolenz had a guitar at home, and so probably also knew a few chords. All four of the Monkees got placed onto instruments/roles that didn’t necessarily match up to their preferred instruments. Peter Tork has commented that, if the four of them had been assigned based on which instrument they were best at (out of the four of them), it would have been Davy Jones on drums, Mike Nesmith on bass, Tork on lead guitar, and Dolenz as frontman/singer. ---
**Author:** ![mtnmatt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a3d4f5/32.png) [@mtnmatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mtnmatt)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2021, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/front-men-women-who-cant-play-an-instrument/954386/79 "2021-11-16T01:07:43Z")
I don’t recall that Jim Morrison played any instruments with The Doors, or could have. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2021, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/front-men-women-who-cant-play-an-instrument/954386/80 "2021-11-16T01:11:19Z")
> [@mtnmatt](#): > > I don’t recall that Jim Morrison played any instruments with The Doors, or could have. Wikipedia says that he played a bit of keyboard, and harmonica, as well as tambourine and maracas. > [@](#): > > Morrison did not play an instrument live (except for [maracas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maracas) and [tambourine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tambourine) for most shows, and [harmonica](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmonica) on a few occasions) or in the studio (excluding maracas, tambourine, [handclaps](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handclaps), and [whistling](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whistling)). However, he did play the [grand piano](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_piano) on “[Orange County Suite](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lost_Paris_Tapes)”[[37]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Morrison#cite_note-37) and a [Moog synthesizer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moog_synthesizer) on “[Strange Days](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strange_Days_(The_Doors_song))”. > **[Jim Morrison | 1965–1971: The Doors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Morrison#1965%E2%80%931971:_The_Doors)** > > In the middle of 1965, after graduating with a bachelor's degree from the UCLA film school, Morrison led a bohemian lifestyle in Venice Beach. Living on the rooftop of a building inhabited by his UCLA classmate, Dennis Jakob, he wrote the lyrics of many of the early songs the Doors would later perform live and record on albums, such as "Moonlight Drive" and "Hello, I Love You". According to fellow UCLA student Ray Manzarek, he lived on canned beans and LSD for several months. > Morrison and Manzar... [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/front-men-women-who-cant-play-an-instrument/954386.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/front-men-women-who-cant-play-an-instrument/954386.md?page=5)