Better rockstar, Freddie Mercury or Robert Plant?

[MusicPeople]

Freddie Mercury

Robert Plant

[Lliam]

I saw Queen perform a couple of times and I've seen Led Zep a bunch of times.

Freddy Mercury was a great vocalist but his persona bugged me. I'm not even a super big fan of Queen's music.

Personally, I liked Led Zep and Robert Plant way more.

I went to hundreds of concerts in the 70s and saw things that people wouldn't believe. But one of the best performances was one particular Led Zep show. They were super versatile and knew how to put together a set that took you on a journey.

That particular concert at the Forum in Los Angeles began in darkness before the explosion of light and sound with the Emigrant Song. The song set was like a roller coaster. They finished their set and came back for one encore and then another. Then the house lights came on. Nobody budged. They applauded and stamped on the bleachers in unison for five minutes before the lights went off again and Zep came back out. After that third encore, the same thing happened again. I think the owners of the place were afraid it was going to be shaken to the ground like the walls of Jericho.

They wound up doing six encores all together. For the last one, they played Thank You and Robert Plant improvised some lyrics for the audience.

After the last notes of that song faded, there was complete silence. The lights came on and people stood there as if in stunned before silently filing out of the auditorium. They realized that that song had been the perfect ending. Anything more would have been anticlimactic. It was really emotional.

[LiamJHayden]

Tough one, but I kind of have to go with Plant even though I'm a bigger Queen fan than Zep fan. The main reason is that Freddie had two capable "could be lead vocalist in most bands" guys singing backup (and occasional lead), but Robert was basically the only vocalist. Sure, you can multitrack in studio and sing harmonies to your own lead vocal, but in concert it really would show. At least in the footage I've seen, as I obviously could not have seen either band "live."

[Guy13]

https://www.youtube.com/embed/tzVJPgCn-Z8

Zeplin guy…the best buzz song ever…what’s the name…. I can hear the screams from the depths of dark places… Cashmerethst it

[Adventurer23]

I consider Robert Plant to be a better rock star and Freddie Mercury to be a better showman. With that said, as much as I love Robert Plant, there's no doubt that Freddie was a more technically sound singer. Both great in their own right.

[Nikki1989]

I like Zeppelin way more than Queen, so I have to say Plant.

[HaveNoName]

Freddie Mercury was surely evergreen and would still be producing hit album after hit. Robert Plant, not as much and not universally likeable in terms of his music style, unlike Freddie.

[zagor]

How do you define "better"? They were both appropriate for their respective bands. Freddie was more of a showman. Plant was more of a bluesy singer.

[Pterodon]

Whoa I can’t choose between that! Better voice overall is Freddie but better songwriter overall is Plant. I’d have to call that a draw