A classic rock band is nothing without its frontman (or frontmen) taking charge and dishing out incredible vocals. However, on some occasions, the biggest classic rock bands of years passed have put out hits that were not actually performed by their frontmen. Let’s look at just a few examples of situations in which other members of classic rock bands took charge and delivered some killer songs.

“Coming Down Again” by The Rolling Stones

This 1973 song doesn’t feature Mick Jagger on lead. Though, Jagger is still very much part of the song. This hit from Goats Head Soup features Jagger on backing vocals and guitarist Keith Richards on lead, as well as all of the guitar tracks for the song. Richards does a hell of a job on this ballad, and he also wrote the majority of the song. “Coming Down Again” was a personal venture for Richards, as he wrote the song about his then-girlfriend, Anita Pallenberg.

“Mankind” by Pearl Jam

No Code was Pearl Jam’s more experimental venture, and the band decided to flip expectations of the album in more than a few ways. One way they did this was by taking the mic away from Eddie Vedder and giving it to Stone Gossard, the band’s guitarist. “Mankind” would also be the first song to feature the songwriting talents of a band member other than Vedder.

“Marigold” by Nirvana

Kurt Cobain’s vocals and lyrical prowess were perfect for Nirvana, and rarely did either of the band’s other two members sing lead. “Marigold” was the B-side of “Heart-Shaped Box” and was written and composed by the band’s drummer, Dave Grohl. Rarely did Nirvana ever produce something without Cobain’s melodies and songwriting talents. It’s a rare little gem, which Grohl would later release the song under the pseudonym Late! in 1992 and again via a Foo Fighters release in 2006.

“Medicine Jar” by Wings

This is one of my personal favorite hits that were not performed by classic rock bands’ frontmen. Wings was Paul McCartney’s baby post-Beatles. And the band was promoted as Paul McCartney and Wings for good reason. He took on most of the songwriting duties and lead vocals. Though, not every song featured McCartney singing lead exclusively. Jimmy McCullough provided his vocals to the swaggy song “Medicine Jar” when he was still pretty new to the band. Today, years after his untimely death, “Medicine Jar” is still one of McCullough’s most memorable tunes with the band.

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