Big Figures
 

Everyone knows the time of rock stars in the classic sense has passed, but there are still characters whose charisma extend beyond that of the regular musician, regardless of whether you like their music everyone with a certain degree of interest in rock knows of the likes of Iain Mackaye, Henry Rollins, Thurston Moore, Steve Albini, or Mark E. Smith, and I think this has as much to do with their character as it has their music -I mean lets face it, Henry Rollins isn't a particularly great vocalist, and Rollins Band are fairly rubbish.
So I was wondering who else people would say they find to be charismatic, mysterious, magnetic or whatever kind of personages, from the last 20 years. This isn't about how much you like their music, it's about how much you are drawn to a person's character, be it for whatever reason.

WOOHOO!
LIST TIME!!!

Keiji Haino
Adris Hoyos (Harry Pussy)
Bob Pollard (Guided By Voices)
Jon Olson (Wolf Eyes)
Yako (Melt Banana)
Solex (Elizabeth Esselink)
David Yow (The Jesus Lizard)
Iain Svenonius (The Make Up, etc)

Eugene Robinson (Oxbow)
Mike Ladd
Thurston Moore
Bjork
Roger Waters

Good calls, especially on Mike Ladd.

It seemed simple didn't it Toilet&Bowels, but the shit really hit the fan when you set out to spell Ian.

people called ian/iain make life difficult for everyone else by having two spellings of their name, likewise steven/stephen

In terms of personalities, I really like Noel Gallagher. It's just a shame he's only written 3 or 4 alright tunes.

I was thinking something similar when Grayson Perry was on Question time a few weeks ago. I've not really got time for his art, but he's a good person to have in the public eye. Same with Will Self, for that matter.

(I've never come acorss the Iain spelling, how strange...)

I think Mike Ladd has a real presence and a really powerful voice. I would probably add Chuck D as being crucial to this list.

Also
Saul Williams
Katie Jane Garside
Laurie Anderson

If we're talking about a mixing of talent and enigma

Neil Haggerty
Buckethead
Johnny Marr (still)

Ian Curtis
Kurt Cobain
Trent Reznor
Kim Gordon
Kathleen Hanna
David Bowie
Madonna

TOM WAITS is still one of the few acts still making interesting music after about 30 years on the scene..

David Keenan

Seriously? The Volcanic Tongue bloke?

roger waters is a rock star. was a rock star. now is a fairly competent musician. i hold him in very high regard.

syd barrett is an icon.
david bowie: rock star.
kurt cobain: rock star.

Cantankerous I ask you, when will people learn to listen?

never, apparently.

jason pierce
pete kember
dean wareham (not that big, though).
masami akita
lee dorrian
stephen o'malley
maso yamazaki
yoshida tatsuya
kawabata makoto
wayne coyne
blixa bargled
kevin shields
lydia lunch
tom g warrior

kevin shields definitely

and nick cave

nick cave is a borderline rock star.