OT: Rock and Roll lead singers

[HuskyHawk]

Inspired by some Jeff Beck ranting, disdain for Geno's pizza choices and other fun off season topics, I present the lead singer challenge. Just guys (no Ann Wilson) and no opera singers or Bing Crosby types. You're starting a band, you need a lead singer (and have a time machine) who do you grab to front the band and why? Give me your top 5, and a reason for #1. It could be Shane McGowan from the Pogues just for the unique sound, or you could go for amazing vocal range with Sebastian Bach.

Mine:
#1 Robert Plant. He can sound like a 40's crooner, or scream with the best of them. Great combination of voice, presence and style.
#2 Rod Stewart
#3 Meatloaf. (the guy can flat out sing)
#4 Bono
#5 Paul Rogers

 

[August_West]

Inspired by some Jeff Beck ranting, disdain for Geno's pizza choices and other fun off season topics, I present the lead singer challenge. Just guys (no Ann Wilson) and no opera singers or Bing Crosby types. You're starting a band, you need a lead singer (and have a time machine) who do you grab to front the band and why? Give me your top 5, and a reason for #1. It could be Shane McGowan from the Pogues just for the unique sound, or you could go for amazing vocal range with Sebastian Bach.

Mine:
#1 Robert Plant. He can sound like a 40's crooner, or scream with the best of them. Great combination of voice, presence and style.
#2 Rod Stewart
#3 Meatloaf. (the guy can flat out sing)
#4 Bono
#5 Paul Rogers

Thats a decent list. But if you're main criteria is "Pipes" you are leaving out someone who is probably better than all:

Steve Perry,

 

[8893]

Off the top of my head:

Van Morrison--he has the full package and can sing in almost any style, from a whisper to a scream as they say. And in his prime he was a great front man. Also a stellar musician and conductor.

Rod Stewart--probably the best sheer rock voice ever. His later work greatly diminishes his legacy imo however.

James Brown--perhaps the greatest front man of all time.

Ray Charles--not unlike Van in terms of having the whole package.

Tie: Peter Wolf/Mick Jagger/Chris Robinson/Joe Cocker--all great front men with decent range

 

[thatguyed]

Geddy Lee

 

[Horatio]

Geddy Lee
Eddie Vedder
Corey Glover
Neil Finn
Mercury is beyond this thread

 

[John]

For sheer stage presence,
David Lee Roth (back in the day)

 

[UC313]

Phil Anselmo
Chris Cornell
Seasick Steve

 

[mauconnfan]

Robert Plant
Ian Gillan
Steve Marriott
Greg Allman
Stevie Winwood
Eddie Vedder

 

[Waquoit]

Robin Zander can still sing.

 

[Excalibur]

Good call on Winwood. I would add Brad Delp to the list.

If I'm making a list, I go with

Perry
Winwood
Delp
Young Axl
Freddie Mercury
Plant

Yes, that's 6. Too bad . . .

 

[mauconnfan]

Good call on Winwood. I would add Brad Delp to the list.

If I'm making a list, I go with

Perry
Winwood
Delp
Young Axl
Freddie Mercury
Plant

Yes, that's 6. Too bad . . .

I did 6 too and I should have 7, young Axl is a really good one.

 

[thatguyed]

Robert Plant
Ian Gillan
Steve Marriott
Greg Allman
Stevie Winwood
Eddie Vedder

I forgot about Steve Marriott. Good one. My first concert was Humble Pie and Ramatam at the New Haven Arena 1972.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Thats a decent list. But if you're main criteria is "Pipes" you are leaving out someone who is probably better than all:

Steve Perry,

Agreed. He was good. But not the right sound.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Robin Zander can still sing.

Vastly underrated. Hasn't lost his voice. I've seen them live several times in the last few years.

 

[Rico444]

Nobody can top Freddie Mercury for me. His voice is incredible, and he sounds great both high and low.

The rest of my list (no particular order):

Paul McCartney
Billy Joel
David Lee Roth
Robert Plant

 

[DogBoy]

From those of us in the Geriatric crowd:

1) Roy Orbison no explanation required

2) Jay Black of Jay and the Americans had no problem covering 3 full octaves although he was an balloon knot

2) Frankie Valli same as Jay Black but Frankie wasn't an balloon knot

3) John Lennon

4)Roger Daultry

5) Burton Cummings Jr.

A few others: Carl Perkins, Springstien, David Ruffin, Jim Morrison

 

[Dove]

Geddy Lee
Eddie Vedder
Corey Glover
Neil Finn
Mercury is beyond this thread

I'll come back to this thread at work but no Top 5 happens without Mercury. I get lost focusing on his voice.

 

[Excalibur]

Mercury



Delp

 

[dennismenace]

Jay Black (voice)
Ray Charles (talent/great live performances)
James Brown (talent/stage presence)
Elvis Presley (voice)
Justin Hayward

 

[Excalibur]

Plant

 

[Doginaus]

Chris Rea
Mick Hucknall
Joe Jackson
Fee Waybill
Phil Collins
Jeff Lynne
Elmer Gantry
Lenny Zakatek
Paul Carrack
Robert Cray

 

[HuskyHawk]

For sheer stage presence,
David Lee Roth (back in the day)

My wife would agree here. Great front man, and a good voice when young (it is gone now).

The best brownie point scenario I've had as a married man was getting tickets to see Dave solo at Foxwoods (old Fox theater). She's seen him and VH many times, but never before was she standing at the stage (no barrier or security) and had Dave give her the microphone to sing the chorus of Beautiful Girls.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Not quite an isolated vocal track, but close enough. Zander.

 

[Bliss]

Bob Seger and Springsteen

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

Off the top of my head:

Van Morrison--he has the full package and can sing in almost any style, from a whisper to a scream as they say. And in his prime he was a great front man. Also a stellar musician and conductor.

Rod Stewart--probably the best sheer rock voice ever. His later work greatly diminishes his legacy imo however.

James Brown--perhaps the greatest front man of all time.

Ray Charles--not unlike Van in terms of having the whole package.

Tie: Peter Wolf/Mick Jagger/Chris Robinson/Joe Cocker--all great front men with decent range

The only list with no one unpalatable. I'd add Daltrey, maybe Allman, instead of Crocker (preference) and Robinson (ageism).