# Who is the second greatest rock star of all-time? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 31, 2010, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-greatest-rock-star-of-all-time/541399 "2010-05-31T17:12:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-greatest-rock-star-of-all-time/541399/41 "2010-06-01T02:08:23Z")
I’m going with Jagger. The Beatles were huge as an ensemble, but Lennon’s presence didn’t dominate the stage the way Jagger’s does. As a purely solo act, probably Bowie, or Elton John if you’ll let-in a pianist. If you have a look [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biggest_selling_music), you’ll see they eclipsed Springsteen by 20 million and 130 million units sold, respectively. In John’s case, that’s over double. ---
**Author:** ![Dahnlor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dahnlor/32/533_2.png) [@Dahnlor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dahnlor)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-greatest-rock-star-of-all-time/541399/42 "2010-06-01T02:12:52Z")
OZZY ---
**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:** [June 1, 2010, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-greatest-rock-star-of-all-time/541399/43 "2010-06-01T02:29:57Z")
If The Beatles weren’t rock then neither was Elvis. But of course The Beatles were rock. Ask anybody in 1964. Rock star can’t be about the style of music alone or Presley wouldn’t make the list. It has to be about persona. And it has to be about an individual who is not part of a band with recognizable personalities of their own. And it has to be about somebody both elevated above ordinary human presence and clearly driven insane by the process. That leaves either Michael Jackson or Bob Dylan. Pick 'em. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-greatest-rock-star-of-all-time/541399/44 "2010-06-01T03:05:09Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > Jim Morrison made Elvis look like Ricky Martin. Maybe, but Elvis is a much, much, much bigger star. It’s not even close. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-greatest-rock-star-of-all-time/541399/45 "2010-06-01T03:31:39Z")
Heh, this is really weird…it seems like if you ask 10 different dopers, you get 10 different definitions of “rock star.” ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-greatest-rock-star-of-all-time/541399/46 "2010-06-01T03:36:14Z")
David Bowie. Swagger, longevity, influence, sexiness, great music, and fucked up eyes. It’s gotta be Bowie. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-greatest-rock-star-of-all-time/541399/47 "2010-06-01T03:50:16Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > For this Hallowe’en, dress your son up as Janis Joplin. > > That should make the holiday traumatically memorable. I like you. > [@Chefguy](#): > > Clapton. For longevity, versatility, instrument virtuosity, singing and songwriting ability, and ability to put asses in seats for several decades. Oddly the man who sang “Cocaine” benefits from longevity when his competitors did not BECAUSE of drugs … > [@Erdosain](#): > > I think that’s the problem with this thread. The OP specifically excluded 90% of the candidates. How many **ROCK** stars are solo acts? Very few. And most of those aren’t that great. The whole genre of rock is geared around bands, not solo acts. It’s silly to insist on a solo performer. That’s why he’ll have to settle for a front man. > > 1. Elvis > 2. John Lennon > 3. Mick Jagger (unfortunately) > 4. Jim Morrison > > There, you have the next few Halloweens planned. I don’t really see it as a problem. It is top two solo rock stars. It doesn’t matter how crappy 2-5 are. ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-greatest-rock-star-of-all-time/541399/48 "2010-06-01T04:35:20Z")
Hendrix was my first thought as well- plus it’d make a GREAT costume if you can really put it all together well. ---
**Author:** ![HepToTheJive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7bcc69/32.png) [@HepToTheJive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HepToTheJive)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-greatest-rock-star-of-all-time/541399/49 "2010-06-01T04:35:33Z")
Elvis isn’t even on my list because I don’t consider him “rock.” Neil Young is called “The Godfather of Grunge” but it’s not like his music was grunge music (in the sense that we all think.) In a similar light I don’t believe Elvis is a “Rock Star.” Objectively: 1. Jagger 2. Plant Personally: 1. Bowie 2. Prince And of course Arthur Lee is amazing, but for reasons discussed could not be considered. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-greatest-rock-star-of-all-time/541399/50 "2010-06-01T14:24:00Z")
> [@Dahnlor](#): > > OZZY You know, given his TV exposure this isn’t that far-fetched. My kids (11, and 12) would recognize Ozzy instantly, but would have a hard time picking out most others in this thread. I’m pretty sure they know what Elvis looks like; he’s too iconic to not recognize. ---
**Author:** ![Tequila\_Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/41988e/32.png) [@Tequila\_Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tequila_Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-greatest-rock-star-of-all-time/541399/51 "2010-06-01T14:38:21Z")
No love for Angus Young, huh? When my son dressed up as him for Halloween, a whole lot of people recognized the look. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-greatest-rock-star-of-all-time/541399/52 "2010-06-01T15:09:29Z")
My vote is coming from a combination of these considerations: 1. Has had a long term influence on the music of the genre 2. Has not required a band’s identity to support his or her individual identity 3. Has the “star” quality of the title 4. Has had durability 5. Without this person “Rock” would mean a lot less All that leads me to Stevie Wonder. No doubt in my mind that Elvis is #1. For various reasons I had to skip over: Jerry Lee Lewis Little Richard Chuck Berry Tina Turner Aretha Franklin Michael Jackson (probably more important than Elvis as an entertainer) The “band” importance to the success of these people has them out of consideration – to me: Lennon McCartney Jagger Bono Gregg Allman Clapton Springsteen ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-greatest-rock-star-of-all-time/541399/53 "2010-06-01T15:15:44Z")
I don’t see Elvis as Rock. Springsteen? Way too long after the fact and more pop than rock. Chuck Berry, Hendrix, Clapton, Jagger are rock stars. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-greatest-rock-star-of-all-time/541399/54 "2010-06-01T15:33:42Z")
It being a Hallowe’en thing maybe we should be discussing the rock stars who would make the best costumes. I mean, how do you dress as Mick Jagger? How does Bruce Springsteen dress? Look, jeans and a shirt. Great costume potential: Steven Tyler Elton John Stevie Wonder, though it’ll take some acting Angus Young is a fantastic idea, already mentioned ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-greatest-rock-star-of-all-time/541399/55 "2010-06-01T15:46:15Z")
What about Ted Nugent? Longevity, well-known as a solo artist (though he did start with a band), definitely a rocker. Like Elvis (the King) and Jerry Lee Lewis (the Killer), Nugent has even picked up a nickname: the Motor City Madman. I’d suggest that Nugent should at least be in the running. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Peyote_Coyote)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-greatest-rock-star-of-all-time/541399/56 "2010-06-01T15:47:06Z")
Late to the thread, Middleman, but it’s Jimi Hendrix. Ignore all other responses on this thread. ---
**Author:** ![filling\_pages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b9bd4f/32.png) [@filling\_pages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filling_pages)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-greatest-rock-star-of-all-time/541399/57 "2010-06-01T17:06:39Z")
Jerry Lee Lewis, all the way. Rock stars should do bad, bad things and play good, good music. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-second-greatest-rock-star-of-all-time/541399.md?page=2)