This thread allows you to list your favorite individuals that you keep your eye or ears on while listening or watching their music.

My list:

1. Pete Townshend
2. David Gilmour
3. Andy Summers
4. Bill Bruford
5. Roger Daltrey
6. Roger Waters
7. Keith Moon
8. Richard Wright
9. Robert Fripp
10. John Paul Jones
11. Jim Morrison
12. Brian May
13. James Brown
14. Mick Jagger
15. Steve Hackett
16. Ritchie Blackmore
17. Jimmy Page
18. Freddie Mercury
19. Jack Bruce
20. Gary Moore
21. Jimi Hendrix
22. Robert Plant
23. John Bonham
24. Tony Levin
25. Stewart Copeland

out of people I've actually seen perform, I would have to go with Dam-Funk. He kills the keytar.

I could probably watch anything Karen O. does

Barack Obama

He's a great singer.

as far as singular charisma and personality goes, i have to say Hendrix, James Brown, Cobain, Elvis, Eminem, Dylan, Neil, Johnny Cash, Miles, MJ, Kanye, Jay Z, Lil Wayne, Willie, Waylon, Loretta Lynn, Ray, Coltrane, Mingus, and Marvin Gaye own post-WWII popular music for me. and as far as pre-war artists (which is more a matter of iconic imagery), Django, Sinatra, Ella, Satchmo, Jelly Roll, Son House and Robert Johnson stand out. not too surprised that a majority of those artists are personal favorites of mine. but there are a few of my personal favorites whose personalities are more reserved/subtle or are generally more private like Sam Beam, Townes, Skip James, Mississippi John Hurt, etc.

then again, i'm thinking of "performers" in a different sense that has more to do with their personalities and not entirely the music. from a purely musical standpoint, i'd add Thurston Moore, Nels Cline, The Edge, Jeff Beck, etc into the mix.