front man

British  

noun

1. Gender-neutral form: figurehead.  a nominal leader of an organization, etc, who lacks real power or authority, esp one who lends respectability to some nefarious activity

2. the leader or visual focus of a group of musicians, usually the singer

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Example Sentences

In an online tribute, Smashing Pumpkins front man Billy Corgan wrote: “Finally, the dang secret is out! Their place among the greats secure, their influence on the generations patently obvious.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

Venezuela's interim president on Friday dismissed businessman Alex Saab, accused of working as a front man for deposed leader Nicolas Maduro, from his post as minister of industry.

From Barron's • Jan. 17, 2026

Still, much of the band’s history has remained opaque to listeners, with gangly front man Ric Ocasek’s presence largely obscuring the contributions of his bandmates.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 23, 2025

I first heard about ICEBlock through various posts by former Rosenbergs front man David Fagin, who has been raising awareness on behalf of his onetime bandmate.

From Slate • May 16, 2025

Flea, the bassist, was phenomenal, and the front man, Anthony Kiedis, was a cyclone, lunging and pacing and whirling in every direction, belting out the lyrics.

From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx