Best known as a founding member and lead vocalist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Anthony Kiedis is a singer-songwriter and rapper. The start of this band was about as serendipitous as you could come up with. A local California band asked Kiedis to be their opening act in 1983, and Kiedis roped in a couple of classmates, Hillel Slovak and Michael Balzary (later known as Flea), as well as drummer Jack Irons to back him up.
After the show, the band decided to try and do something, and that lineup became the first iteration of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, though not the one that went to stardom.
Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin
With the combination of a powerful voice and electrifying stage presence, Robert Plant became a rocker that every self-respecting fan of music needed to see live at least once. He got his start in professional music back in 1968 when he became the lead singer of Led Zeppelin.
After working his way into Jimmy Page's good graces, Plant began to write songs for the band, including hits such as “Immigrant Song,” “Thank You,” and “The Rain Song.” Plant enjoyed success with the band from his time joining until 1980, when Led Zeppelin disbanded following drummer John Bonham's death.
Robert Plant Today
A few years before the end of the band, Plant's five-year-old son Karac died while Plant was touring. Plant spent some time questioning his future. After the end of Led, he considered leaving music but eventually decided to try his hand at a solo career and went on to garner quite a bit of success.
Aside from his solo albums, Plant has also had big musical collaborations. His unique style not only made him a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, but it also influenced plenty of names you might also be familiar with, including Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses, Freddie Mercury of Queen, and Jack White of The White Stripes.
Anthony Kiedis Today
Anthony Kiedis is still performing with the rest of the Peppers. The band now consists of Kiedis, bassist Flea, drummer Chad Smith, and guitarist John Frusciante. They've produced eleven studio albums, and though Kiedis's lyrical and performing style has changed over the years, he's always been a dynamic force on stage.
Along with the rest of the band, Kiedis joined the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012. Like many other members of this list, he had substance problems, but in the year 2000, he cleaned up. He had a few small acting roles before becoming big in music, including a cameo in the film “Point Break.”
Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam
If you like Pearl Jam, there's no doubt you know that Vedder is a big part of what makes the band so good. He's regarded as one of the top vocalists and singers of all time. He's the lead vocalist of the band, and he's one of three guitarists as well as the primary lyricist.
Calling him a big part of the band almost seems to be doing him a disservice. He was recruited to join Pearl Jam in 1990 after appearing as a guest vocalist in Temple of the Dog, a supergroup that included a few other members of Pearl Jam.