Who was the quintessential rock star?

Among front men it's got to be Freddie. For all around iconic rock star, none other than Jimmy Page.

 

As far as rock'n'roll front women, I gotta go with Siouxsie!

 

Keef in the 70's. Without a doubt.

 

Go over to the Allman Bros. album thread and check out Gregg Allman.

 

For women, Shirley Manson, Stevie Nicks, and PJ Harvey come to mind.

EDIT: Oh and Joan Jett.

 

Clapton

 

Phil Lynott

 

Elvis in the 50's, Jim Morrison in the 60's, Bruce in the 70's

 

Elvis

 

She was a student of all the "greats" and intent on embodying their qualities in herself. That's why I say it wasn't all to her credit, because sometimes it appears she tries too hard.
What's quintessential? Her look. Her rebellious stance. Her insistence on the seriousness of her art.
Many of the male rock stars (Jagger, Bowie) dance around like they wish they were women, and Smith actually had the real parts, to boot.

 

Elvis

 

Burl Ives

 

Lennon

 

Bowie, all the way!

 

Franz Liszt:

 

So many in my mind that are quintessential and are true Rock Gods its hard to pick just one or even 5, so I'll go with 10.

David Gilmour
Paul Stanley
Jimi Hendrix
Jimmy Page
Joe Perry
David Lee Roth
Keith Richards
Edward Van Halen
Mick Jagger
Steve Clark

 

Having read the whole thread I was umming and aahing, not sure who to say... very much in agreement with many folks saying Mick Jagger...

But then I remembered who came to mind immediately when I first read the OP...

Jimmy Page

 

Missed the editing timeout yesterday to add this pix of Keith before he destroyed his hotel room on his birthday and Holiday Inn banned the Who forever.If that doesn't say R&R...

 

Jagger.

 

Elvis is da Man........

 

Mick Jagger is the first name to pop into my head.

 

Eric Clapton. He almost seems like a fictional character: sensational early fame, supernova stardom with Cream, soap-opera tragedy with Layla and heroin, boozy maturity through the 70s and 80s, real tragedy with Conor, and for now a long, fat, life of leisure playing concerts at will and doing cell phone commercials. Since this is fictional, let's say the Devil and Robert Johnson come to his deathbed and lead him away. Maybe Robin L's painting of Liszt is appropriate too. God got more tail than a toilet seat.