Mario Cuomo
The Orwells frontman, Mario Cuomo, is one of the few people on this list whose status as the greatest living rock star is ever-growing and not embedded in the 1960s or 70s counterculture. Indeed, whilst often Cuomo’s band has been compared to the likes of Nirvana, The Doors and Led Zeppelin – they continue to escape the rock star cliché by refusing to embrace the ‘dark side’ of the music industry. Cuomo has been known to pour beer on his crowd, climb various rigging on stage as demonstrated at The Orwells appearance at the Reading Festival and even unleash the mighty force of a fire hydrant at the Electric Ballroom in Camden, last year.
But, while he embodies the reckless, destructive and dangerous elements that many associate with being a rock star, he does not succumb to the concept. Cuomo is aware there is a limit to such a lifestyle. Whilst, known to heavily drink, hardcore drugs are simply not an option for the lead singer. It is ultimately the music that matters not the culture surrounding it. For that reason, one may argue that Cuomo is the greatest living rock star on the planet because he rebels against the expectations to be another Keith Richards.
However, his stage presence, music and persona can be said to match the stardom of any other ‘great’ rock star in their heyday. Thus, his ability to innovate the definition of a rock star whilst still paying homage to the greats of the past gives me reason to believe that yes, Mario Cuomo is the greatest living rock star of today and I for one, could not be happier about it.
Words by Isabella Marcantonio