music Who has the best voice in Rock history?

[Mesme Rize 15,683]

There are alot of vocalists in rock, who have phenomenal and unique voices. But who in your opinion is the best?

 

I go for 2 here. One for a classic artist and one for a more recent one, who is still active.

 

One is Freddy Mercury, from the Band Queen:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIZFq3VDeUY

 

The other one, is Serj Tankian, from the Band System of a Down:

 

 

Who are your favorite voices?

[Megas 27,690]

Freddie Mercury or Lemmy Kilmister

[Windseeker 546]

Geddy Lee from Rush.

 

Holy crap, that guy's voice can hit higher notes than Tiny Tim.

[Randimaxis 8,652]

Voices in Rock?  Oh, Snake-Pony... why would you give me a setup like that?

 

Okay, as far as it goes, I could give you vocalists for each era (that I find important to Rock) - and I shall...

 

1950's

 

The years where Rock began (as Rock 'N' Roll) had a lot of iconic voices, such as Elvis Presley... but most of them were simply ICONS; enough talent to do the job, but rather commonplace in the world where Rock began.  

 

Of those voices, I would have to place Bill Haley, Little Richard and Ray Charles at the top of my own personal list - Haley for the yell-it-out quality of his songs, Richard for his outrageous style and Charles for his soulful moan while he tickles the ivories.

 

Little Richard, doing his thing.

 

1960's

 

The sixties saw rock 'n' roll change from bouncy and rollicking to socially aware and groovy.  This era is nearly punctuated on every level with vocal talent, and picking only a key few is among the more difficult of my choices.  However, in the same vein as the first era, I can give you three who were, in my humble opinion, absolute pinnacles of the times.  

 

Those three would be Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and John Fogarty.  Joplin had MILES of heart in every word she sang, Morrison wove a tapestry of surrealism with the ghostly wail he used, and Fogarty sat at the heart of the Vietnam Era with his vocals accompanying machine-gun chatter on the battlefield.

 

Fogarty with his band, the incredible Creedence Clearwater Revival, on The Johnny Cash Show.

 

1970's

 

This was the era where rock got NASTY - and it just made it BETTER!  The new sound was born not of social responsibility, but of a personal desire to live, party, and to HELL with the consequences; the music reflected that, but still had a way of bringing us down to Earth when need-be.

 

I believe the vocals of Jim Croce, Robert Plant and John Lennon represent some of the best this era had to offer.  Croce's streetwise soul charmed his listeners by speaking as one of us, Robert Plant and his haunting and wild vocals, and the legendary John Lennon, whose Beatle past led to his iconic and self-searching sound before his tragic death.

 

Croce doing one of his best tunes.

 

1980's

 

Day-Glo, plastic and hairspray were the lifeblood of the 80's, and if it wasn't flashy and hip, it was TOTALLY BOGUS.  This was where Rock and Pop began to mesh in some cases, and where rock pulled farther ahead than ever in others.

 

If I had to choose only three favorites in Rock for this era, I would have to go with David Lee Roth, Steven Tyler and Geddy Lee.  Roth and Van Halen were THE ultimate sound of the 80's Rock scene, Tyler and Aerosmith made their comeback and started the next leg of their Rock Legacy, and then there was Lee and his little musical project known as Rush - 'nuff said, there.

 

David Lee Roth; Van Halen's PROPER frontman.

 

1990's

 

The nineties saw things taking a bit of a darker, more angry spin on it's music.  The fuel of the turbulent times came by the gallon in CD's, putting the old magnetic tape - and analog ways - in line for replacement.  Rock wasn't gonna join them on the heap - it was going to MELT FACES instead.

 

Three of my go-to vocalists for these years are, without a doubt, Anthony Kiedis, Billie Joe Armstrong and Rob Zombie.  Anthony gave us the bounce from the 50's back, with a little 60's soul to go with it; Billie Joe brought the punk/grunge sound across loud and crisp; Rob strode forward with doom-n-gloom vocals that were the child of Alice Cooper's legacy. 

 

Anthony Kiedis and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, on Dave Letterman in 1990.

 

2000's

 

Turn of the century, and a turn of the page in Rock.  9/11 changed everything, mostly for the worse... but Rock didn't cower - Rock got MAD.  The aggressiveness of the 2k era's rockers grew exponentially as grieving anger became vengeful anger, and the music followed suit.

 

If I had to pick some of those to list here as being among my preferred artists, I would have to go with M. Shadows, Serj Tankian and Johnathan Davis.  Avenged Sevenfold had the vocal power of the 80's and the stylings of the 70's from M., System Of A Down had the quirky harmonies and social commentary of the 60's with Serj, and Johnathan kept the heat of the 90's alive with his angered screams.

 

 

Johnathan getting KoRny.

 

2010's

 

And here we are in the (currently) modern era; we've come a long way musically - and personally, I can hardly wait to see what's next.  Who knows what Rock will be like in another decade or two?  One thing IS certain, though - whatever it sounds like, whatever the message, whatever the circumstances... IT WILL ROCK.

 

As far as 2016, I've heard a decent sound from the likes of Aaron Bruno, John Cooper and Randy Blythe.  Aaron is the howler, John is the crooner and Randy is the screamer... but mind you, this era isn't over yet - there may be more soon enough!

 

John Cooper and his crew, Skillet.

 

 

I offer a humble apology for the amount of space my rambling takes up here... but I simply cannot abide by a simple answer from myself to such a question as this.  Do forgive, please.

[Discordian 6,015]

David Draiman from Disturbed and Benjamin Burley from Breaking Benjamin. These guys have such amazing voices that hit me in a very good way.

[Denim&Venöm 19,082]

 

 

Three of my go-to vocalists for these years are, without a doubt, Anthony Kiedis, Billie Joe Armstrong and Rob Zombie.

 

If I had to pick some of those to list here as being among my preferred artists, I would have to go with M. Shadows, Serj Tankian and Johnathan Davis.

 

As far as 2016, I've heard a decent sound from the likes of Aaron Bruno, John Cooper and Randy Blythe.

 

David Draiman from Disturbed and Benjamin Burley from Breaking Benjamin.

 

Pardon my disagreement, but Rob Zombie, M. Shadows, Serj, Johnathan Davis, Randy Blythe & Draiman are all heavy metal vocalists. Different genre all together.  

 

As for my pick? Chris Cornell from Soundgarden & Audio Slave & Sammy Hagar from Chickenfoot, Montrose and formerly of Van Halen.  

[Jest (Inactive) 875]

Axel rose is one of my favourites <3 

[Darrala 269]

I'm just gonna go with the obvious choice:

 

[Spark Thunderbass 1,441]

Either Brian Johnson, or Dave Grohl.

[Mesme Rize 15,683]

I'm just gonna go with the obvious choice:

 

 

I think if it wasn't for Freddy Mercury, i would also pick Dio.

[Rarity Is Best Pony 634]

I've got to give it up for Bruce Dickinson the lead singer of Iron Maiden.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTv3pgxjXiw

 

Here's another example.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLWmf78EDjY

[Discordian 6,015]

Pardon my disagreement, but Rob Zombie, M. Shadows, Serj, Johnathan Davis, Randy Blythe & Draiman are all heavy metal vocalists. Different genre all together.  

 

As for my pick? Chris Cornell from Soundgarden & Audio Slave & Sammy Hagar from Chickenfoot, Montrose and formerly of Van Halen.

I actually agree with you but some bands sit on the line enough that you'll get a shit ton of people who will argue to hell and back that they are only heavy rock so if they wanna do that I'm gonna "cheat" and use them. <.< >.>

 

You have no idea how much I've seen people try to convince myself and others that Disturbed isn't metal.

[Envy 6,169]

I've always liked Jim Morrison of The Doors voice. Especially in this song... (Well, I love the song altogether, that's what made me actually listen to how great his voice is...was)

 

[joanro 247]

I think I would have to second Ronnie James Dio.

 

From my own personal faves, I would have to say Jesse Leach of Killswitch Engage and Claudio Sanchez of Coheed & Cambria.

[Frostgage 7,975]

Chris Cornell easy. There will never be a better loud singer

 

 

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 41,597]

I have to go with Dio and Rob Halford, if he counts. Halford is just friggin' awesome in so many ways. 

 

 

That might fall into the heavy metal category but still! 

[captainborgue 343]

wow, so many people are misspelling Christina Scabbia in this thread.

 

[CandyStrike 603]

Freddy Mercury (Queen) or Ann Wilson (Heart)

[Denim&Venöm 19,082]

I've got to give it up for Bruce Dickinson the lead singer of Iron Maiden.

I have to go with Dio and Rob Halford, if he counts. Halford is just friggin' awesome in so many ways.   

I'm just gonna go with the obvious choice:

I think I would have to second Ronnie James Dio.   From my own personal faves, I would have to say Jesse Leach of Killswitch Engage and Claudio Sanchez of Coheed & Cambria.

wow, so many people are misspelling Christina Scabbia in this thread.

 

Again, pardon the disagreements. But I'm pretty sure the artists themselves would argue that they are heavy metal singers. Halford himself is called 'The Metal God.' Dio introduced the world to the devil horns. Bruce Dickinson led the 'New Wave Of British Heavy Metal.' (Also saw him live last night.)

 

Again, all good choices, but they belong to the genre with all the headbangers in it. 

Edited April 7, 2016 by Denim&Venom

[nolongerabout 403]

Rock is rather varied. If I'm looking for something a bit chill, I'd choose Robert Plant or Roger Waters. For something a bit, well, 'less chill' I'd go with Bon Scott or Elton John. Those would be my personal preferences, but rock is one of those genres that can be broadly different, and it's hard to pick one singer over all others. You can hardly compare the vocals of Pink Floyd to those of Guns'n'Roses, because they sound so dissimilar. Far easier to compare overall bands.

[Discordian 6,015]

If only this was a topic about metal vocalists. I could name quite a few. <.< >.>

[Grepper 3,192]

Chad Kroeger, hands down.

 

 

I'm not serious.

 

[On-Locoweed 108]

Speaking both in terms of influence in the larger idiom of "rock music" and historical/aesthetic significance, it's Bob Dylan.

 

It's Bob Dylan,

It's Bob Dylan,

It's Bob Dylan.

 

Y'all made some good suggestions though.

[Discordian 6,015]

Chad Kroeger, hands down.

 

 

I'm not serious.

 

I would actually say this and mean it. People will hate me for it but that voice is amazing.