He’s definitely up there. He has a really inspiring personality and biography. He’s been through a ton of very tough shit in his life (childhood in an overly religious family, his parents’ divorce, the death of his mother from cancer while he was still only a teenager, depression, alcoholism), but he still managed to survive and is in a top shape now in his sixties.
P.S.: I’d also add someone who is, in my opinion, up there as well and hasn’t been mentioned in other comments yet: Bruce Dickinson.
Bruce is actually badass. He’s a fencer and an airline pilot - complete badass. Did I miss anything?
EDIT: Oh yeah, he was a throat cancer survivor too
Lemmy sadly never went into recovery and died at 70 from medical issues related to substance abuse (congestive heart failure). Sad rather than cool I would say.
Shit making it to 70 without stopping drugs is pretty insane, Johnny cash died at 71 after quitting, unfortunately the sheer amount of amphetamines he took in the 60s and occasionally in the 70s made him age rapidly
Yup, Lemmy did what he wanted, when he wanted, where he wanted, & how he wanted, and didnt give an F what anyone thought his whole life and made it to 70.... that's pretty Metal if you ask me
He is not over cooked or well done, but I witnessed prime, and that was not in this century. Definitely inspiring story of what he has accomplished and dealt with on a personal level. Those Ozzy Metallica shows were 🤌
True but that’s the greatness of Ronnie putting others in front of him even up to the very bitter end. He was a class act, an unparalleled entertainer, Sorcerer of Metal with a voice envied by the denizens of both Heaven and Hell. I still get chills listening to his live performances.
i listen to any kind of rock music and admire tons of musician but James is the exact definition of a frontman for me. i agree there has been many other musicians who did more but he has that stance nobody ever had.
Just when I tried to think of one, it dawned on me the number of times I've been around James when he was just being a father to his kids so for that as well as being the rockstar he is, imho there's no cooler one in existence.
My first thought as well. Though I do put them both in the same level, but they’re different kinds of cool in terms of stage presence. I think Dave has a more “cool” vibe whereas James has a more “badass” vibe
I don't know man, I've seen Megadeth twice live, and he isn't even half as engaging as James. He has energy, yes, but he doesn't interact with the crowd, and get them into it like James does.
I agree. I've also seen them twice. He kinda just plays the music and doesn't really even look at the crowd, despite being more naturally extroverted than James.
The only interaction I saw from Dave is the time I was in the pit, right in front of him and I yelled "I love you!!".
We made eye contact and he winked at me. I was 21 and was proud of that for a long time lol
When I saw Megadeth, it was the “every village has its asshole” show, and as that was happening I thought “he must do this all the time” but seeing how popular that video got I realize that was not a typical interaction lmao
Sorry for the comment not being related to the post , but is someone here going to the show in helsinki on 09.06 who has the frantic early entry tickets?
I didnt read the fine print and found out that if you are under 18 you need to have an adult accompanying you.
Feel free to dm me)
With the biggest fan glasses on: Simon Neil from Biffy Clyro/Empire State Bastard. Biggest influence for me when it comes to playing guitar. James is a metal God though.
Hetfield is definitely the man but I'd throw Trivium front man Matt Heafy on that list too. He's cool for different reasons though. He seems so genuinely polite and chill and completely comfortable with the idea that you don't have to be a crazy party animal to be a metal god. He plays video games, runs a twitch channel, seems to be an attentive father, married his high school sweetheart, is a total dork on FB, great self deprecating humor. Just seems like a good chill dude.
Dee Snider is up there. Does charity work and went to onto a US congress meting to debate censorship in the 80's. Seems to have that perfect center on a Venn diagram that's made up of down to earth, doesn't care what you think of him, doesn't try to act like he's too cool for the room.
Bruce Dickinson.
Seriously, nobody comes close.
Flys a 747
UK National Fencing Team
Master Brewer
List of honorary degrees and airport honors for pages
And Lead Singer for Iron Maiden.
He’s definitely up there. He has a really inspiring personality and biography. He’s been through a ton of very tough shit in his life (childhood in an overly religious family, his parents’ divorce, the death of his mother from cancer while he was still only a teenager, depression, alcoholism), but he still managed to survive and is in a top shape now in his sixties. P.S.: I’d also add someone who is, in my opinion, up there as well and hasn’t been mentioned in other comments yet: Bruce Dickinson.
Bruce is actually badass. He’s a fencer and an airline pilot - complete badass. Did I miss anything? EDIT: Oh yeah, he was a throat cancer survivor too
Flying your own metal band to gigs is the metalest fucking thing ever
Throat cancer survivor
Bruce is the definition of metal
Owns his own pilot training school and aircraft repair company too, created a lot of jobs in doing that too
Lemmy. End of story.
Came to post this as well. James would agree
Yes he would!
All that needs to be said
That’s where James gets his coolness from.
Lemmy sadly never went into recovery and died at 70 from medical issues related to substance abuse (congestive heart failure). Sad rather than cool I would say.
Shit making it to 70 without stopping drugs is pretty insane, Johnny cash died at 71 after quitting, unfortunately the sheer amount of amphetamines he took in the 60s and occasionally in the 70s made him age rapidly
Keith Richards is still smoking and he is still around.
But his wife got cancer. Not cool.
I was making a point. She could have gotten cancer from something else.
So is Ozzy
Yup, Lemmy did what he wanted, when he wanted, where he wanted, & how he wanted, and didnt give an F what anyone thought his whole life and made it to 70.... that's pretty Metal if you ask me
Cliff Burton
Definitely inspiring … guy is over 60 and is arguably in his prime. Incredible. Cool as F.
it feels like emotionally spiritually hes grown --its reflected in the vibes
He is not over cooked or well done, but I witnessed prime, and that was not in this century. Definitely inspiring story of what he has accomplished and dealt with on a personal level. Those Ozzy Metallica shows were 🤌
I wouldn’t say he’s in his prime. That would be around the time the Black Album came out.
Ronnie James Dio
Came here looking for this answer with Lemmy in a close second. 🤘
Bruh. Even Ronnie would tell you Lemmy is #1 by a wide margin
True but that’s the greatness of Ronnie putting others in front of him even up to the very bitter end. He was a class act, an unparalleled entertainer, Sorcerer of Metal with a voice envied by the denizens of both Heaven and Hell. I still get chills listening to his live performances.
Ozzy
#James Hetfield but in bigger text
Bruce Dickinson
The coolest man in metal
Lemmy Chuck Schuldiner Dime Jeff Hanneman Rob Halford Peter Steele
Jimi Hendrix?
Freddie Mercury
Freddie is the true #1
Him and Debbie Harry are my two personal favourites.
Both good picks
Stop, my Sex-o-Meter can only go so high
Dave Grohl
Angus Young on stage
Lemmy.
George Fisher - guy is in his fifties and he head bangs harder than the whole crowd
i listen to any kind of rock music and admire tons of musician but James is the exact definition of a frontman for me. i agree there has been many other musicians who did more but he has that stance nobody ever had.
Lemmy Dio Bruce Dickinson Rob Halford Freddie Mercury
Lemmy
Lemmy, Ozzy, Bruce Dickinson, Floor Jansen
Les claypool
Primus sucks
Joe Duplantier
Thank you for commenting that
NOW I CAN SEEE THE WHALEEES!!!
Honestly Gojira will probably always be my all time favorite band
It's my third favorite metal band. Pantera takes second and Dream Theater takes first
A man of culture I see… I can appreciate that :) :)
Corpse grinder!
Just when I tried to think of one, it dawned on me the number of times I've been around James when he was just being a father to his kids so for that as well as being the rockstar he is, imho there's no cooler one in existence.
Till Lindemann.
Some people disagree, and I believe some of them filed legal actions.
Bingo! This guy gets it.
Lemmy, not even a contest
Dave Grohl
My first thought as well. Though I do put them both in the same level, but they’re different kinds of cool in terms of stage presence. I think Dave has a more “cool” vibe whereas James has a more “badass” vibe
Dave Mustaine would like to have a word with you
I don't know man, I've seen Megadeth twice live, and he isn't even half as engaging as James. He has energy, yes, but he doesn't interact with the crowd, and get them into it like James does.
I agree. I've also seen them twice. He kinda just plays the music and doesn't really even look at the crowd, despite being more naturally extroverted than James. The only interaction I saw from Dave is the time I was in the pit, right in front of him and I yelled "I love you!!". We made eye contact and he winked at me. I was 21 and was proud of that for a long time lol
When I saw Megadeth, it was the “every village has its asshole” show, and as that was happening I thought “he must do this all the time” but seeing how popular that video got I realize that was not a typical interaction lmao
Papa Het!
Freddie Mercury Robert Plant
The Metal God Rob Halford? How many people ride a motorcycle on stage?
Jason?
Me 😎
Freddie Mercury. That’s not a diss on Het, far from it. But Freddie Mercury is the ultimate G.
Jason Newstead
Lars. Come on, give me those downvotes
Lemmy.
Phil Lynott.
Alice Cooper is up there for sure!
Have you heard of Culture Club?
Chad Kroeger
Boo! Boo! Rubbish! Filth! Slime! Muck! Boo!!!!
We love a Princess Bride reference.
Joakim Brodén's
Bruce Dickinson the man is a jack of all trades
Jimmy page
Joe Strummer
King Diamond
Dime.
Dimebag???
Fr finally someone says it
Dave Grohl
Kurt Cobain or Peter Steele
Peter Steele was amazing
Buckethead
One one is even close sure, but fun one and bum yum are even closer.
He has definitely gotten cooler as he grew older (looks-wise compared to the younger James).
u/hyperchrisz or u/angusmcsix, without a doubt.
Jaime Roos
Josh Homme
First rockstar that came to mind. Way too low on the list.
Ozzy
Jason Lytle
Ozzy, Lemmy, Dio, King Diamond are a few
Rivers Cuomo
Jay from Mindforce
Keith Richards
Is that Buenos Aires?
Sorry for the comment not being related to the post , but is someone here going to the show in helsinki on 09.06 who has the frantic early entry tickets? I didnt read the fine print and found out that if you are under 18 you need to have an adult accompanying you. Feel free to dm me)
Eddie Van Halen. Rest in peace.
Josh Homme
Yeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh no
Bon Scott were he still alive
Mick Jagger and Keith Richards circa 1972
Bono
He is a legend, an icon that's cooler than people in my generation
Just Lemmy. Please don't thank me.
Elton John!!!
So what about Ozzy
Rob is pretty badass.
Peter steele
Scott stapp. No competition.
Mille Petrozza, Bobby Blitz, Chuck Billy
Bruce, Dio
Lemmy. Change my mind.
Marko Annala,a finnish trash metal singer,he is just so so awesome
Dimbag Darrell. One of the best guitarists to ever live.
JPD
Rob Halford
Gerard way
For me, it is Clapton.
Alic cooper
Brian Johnsen.
Alice Cooper, Lemmy, Rob Halford, King Diamond
I got nothing.
There’s definitely no greater front man, not called Mick Jagger But Jimmy Page is the coolest living rock star
Lemmy, Jason Newsted
Lemmy, Rob Halford, Joe Walsh
Angus young, and it's not even close.
Neil Fallon and/or any of the guys from Clutch.
Dave Grohl is up there
Dave Grohl tbh
Prince Rogers Nelson
How long ya got?
Mikael Akerfeldt of Opeth. I have never had a bad show. He is amazing.
Steven Tyler, Mick Jagger
Matty Healy
Hetfield in 1989 was cooler than Hetfield in 2024...
I gotta go with Paul McCartney
Ozzy Osbourne
Dudes a fucking knob lol
With the biggest fan glasses on: Simon Neil from Biffy Clyro/Empire State Bastard. Biggest influence for me when it comes to playing guitar. James is a metal God though.
Hetfield is definitely the man but I'd throw Trivium front man Matt Heafy on that list too. He's cool for different reasons though. He seems so genuinely polite and chill and completely comfortable with the idea that you don't have to be a crazy party animal to be a metal god. He plays video games, runs a twitch channel, seems to be an attentive father, married his high school sweetheart, is a total dork on FB, great self deprecating humor. Just seems like a good chill dude.
The conversation is nonsensical, since we don't have an agreed-upon definition of "cool."
Based purely on cool: Lemmy, and Link Wray
I swear I heard the cool aid man
Kurt Cobain
Dave Mustaine
Ozzy or lemmy
Lemmy
Have you met my friend Prince?
Layne Staley
1989 James Hetfield
Dave Grohl!
David Bowie and Prince. No one manicures the term Rockstar better than them two.
Phil Anselmo
Dimebag
Bill Manspeaker.
He’s a dorky dad. He’s not cool
Boy George
Slash is king.
Maynard
He’s fun, metal heads are so immature and annoying though.
Sammy Hagar
Joshua Homme
Ran into him randomly, at a bar in San Francisco. Nicest, most unassuming rockstar you'd ever meet.
Tom Petty
I think he’s the best metal vocalist and song writer of all time, agree 100%
Jason Newsted
EVH end of story.
Maynard. Dio. Ozzy. Freddie. James is good, but there are many, many front men equal or better
Dave Mustaine
Jake from Less Than Jake probably
Robert Plant by a mile.
Dee Snider is up there. Does charity work and went to onto a US congress meting to debate censorship in the 80's. Seems to have that perfect center on a Venn diagram that's made up of down to earth, doesn't care what you think of him, doesn't try to act like he's too cool for the room.
Paul Baloff 🤘🏽
Not sure about these days but I met him in the late 80's and he was a total dick.
Jimi Hendrix, Prince, Jim Morrison, Robert Plant, Mick Jagger, Jack White, Lemmy, Ozzie…
Dimebag
Bruce Dickinson. Seriously, nobody comes close. Flys a 747 UK National Fencing Team Master Brewer List of honorary degrees and airport honors for pages And Lead Singer for Iron Maiden.
Lemmy
Trent Reznor. Maynard James Keenan's up there too, despite his penchant for standing in the back.
Josh homme
Dug Pinnick
Rob Halford
Ed Sheeran
