Basenotes › Groups › House of Rock › Discussions › Favorite rock vocalists?

House of Rock

‹ Back to Group Overview
Home to anyone who enjoys any form of rock from AC/DC to ZZ Top. » More

Favorite rock vocalists?
« Back to Group Discussions

post #1 of 28
2/19/09 at 8:52am
Thread Starter 
I'm a victim of my generation I guess.

I always thought Foreigner ( Gramm) and Journey ( Perry) had the 2 top vocalists in the biz. There are bands I preferred over them, but these guys had some terrific pipes.

Who's yours?
Reply
Reply

Features on Basenotes

Petals Falling From The Sky - A Report From The Cote d'Azur's Bataille De Fleurs
Basenotes Reader Awards 2013 - Finalists Announced.
Greatest Hits: Annick Menardo
post #2 of 28
2/19/09 at 1:34pm
Nice choices Aromi.

For myself, I have always liked the voice of Scott Weiland ( formerly of Velvet Revolver and now back with Stone Temple Pilots). Different time period than you choices for sure. But from the first song I heard Weiland sing, I was hooked. Of course it has to be more than the voice that draws me in, but it makes a difference for sure.

My other favorite, someone whom I can appreciate more than Weiland, is Tom Cochrane ( Red Rider). Just an amazing voice, unique and very underrated. I highly recommend his collection entitled Trapeze ( 2002)
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 28
2/19/09 at 4:54pm
Thread Starter 
I am listening to STP "Sour Girl" right now. I always loved that song. I agree that Weiland is good to go. Too bad about his narcotics problems.
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 28
2/19/09 at 7:16pm
In my opinion, Alice In Chains' frontman Layne Staley's voice tops everyone's. His voice, combined with Cantrell's, makes an "electric" sound that I've never heard before. You can actually hear the suffering in Staley's voice (heard best in his Unplugged performance).

Apart from Staley, I would also say that Sebastian Bach's voice is amazing. Back in the 80's, he had a great range. He still does.

OH !!! I almost forgot!! HOW ABOUT ANN WILSON OF HEART?! "Ooooh Barracuda" Enough said?
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 28
2/20/09 at 5:06am
Thread Starter 
Ah yes.....the Wilson sisters. Great voices and some not too shabby guitar playing also. Nancy is an underrated player besides being great looking.
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 28
2/20/09 at 1:48pm
Joey Tempest and David Coverdale are my two top vocalists. Both have a tremendous range, and use their voices as an instrument!
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 28
2/20/09 at 3:29pm
Oh man. how could I forget David Coverdale!? This guy is just a great singer. He can reach so many notes. And on top of this, he's just a great guy with a great personlity (as I actually met him once and we chat about Whitesnake and a lot of other 80's bands). Can't believe I forgot this,.
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 28
2/21/09 at 7:28pm
David Coverdale came first to my mind, too. Amy Lee of Evanescence. Aromi, I second Steve Perry. And dare I say, Joe Elliot of Def Leppard. If by great, you mean range-y, Steven Tyler and Sammy Hagar. If by great you mean unique, David Bowie.
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 28
2/23/09 at 8:28pm
Hmmmm...
Many may disagree with me, but Robert Plant's banshee was the perfect complement to the rest of the band's ominous sound. Gave me chills.
Paul Rodgers of Bad Company....excellent pipes..made for rock and roll.
I must agree with Scott Weiland and also in the same genre, Chris Cornell.
Also Eddie Vedder. Deep and vibrato-y. Neko Case with the New Pornographers-- so powerful. Sam Cooke, Stevie Winwood, Paul McCartney, Murray Lightburn of The Dears, Morrissey, another vote for Bowie, Burton Cummings (Guess Who?)..oh so many great voices out there. Too many favorites for me to name.....
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 28
2/25/09 at 5:23pm
Okay, it would be redundant of me to superlatise anything regarding Led because they are my favorite and have been since I was 14, but I agree 100% on Plant's voice. He's got range and control. He can convincingly sing the blues, the rock anthem, punk, the ballad, and folk.

In the Paul Rodgers vein...Jack Russell of Great White.
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 28
3/1/09 at 4:29pm
Robert Plant and Roger Daltrey are my favorite classic rock vocalists. Chris Cornell and Mark Lanegan are favorite modern rock vocalists.
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 28
3/20/09 at 2:07am
I will definitely agree with Steve Perry. OMG! I love Journey. I also will definitely agree with Scott Weiland of STP. His unplugged performance...yeah nuff said. Aaron Lewis of Staind and Brandon Boyd of Incubus are my absolute favs.

Let me tell you something. When I went to see Incubus live, I was just standing there with my mouth hanging open when Brandon belted out his 1st note. His voice is amazing live. Oh and I loooove Aaron's voice live as well. It's one thing to sound good on the record, but I looooove when they can actually sing live.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DG1oH...eature=related
Brandon Boyd.....damn this is a good looking man


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y7p0...eature=related
Aaron Lewis...one of my favorite live performances by him
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 28
3/20/09 at 11:46am
I heard Rainbow's Man on the Silver Mountain on the radio a couple days ago, and I thought, 'Dang, why didn't I think of this guy before?'

Ronnie James Dio.
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 28
5/20/09 at 5:54pm
Jan Gillan - Deep Purple
Sebastian Bach - Skid Row
John Oliva - Savatage (and the project band Trans-Siberian Orchestra)
Sharon den Adel - Within Temptation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VK9qf...eature=related
Liv Kristine (Leaves Eyes)
Cristina Adriana Chiara Scabbia (Lacuna Coil) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCxFTh-XDy8
Reply
Reply
post #15 of 28
8/5/09 at 2:34pm
I second Robert Plant.
Also Axle Rose, Freddie Mercury, David Bowie, Janis Joplin, & Jim Morrison
Reply
Reply
post #16 of 28
9/11/09 at 3:28pm
Roger Daltrey and Ian Gillan were great screamers. I love the way Bono inflects as he sings. Jon Anderson is a great one just because YES was such an important group for me as a teenager.
Reply
Reply
post #17 of 28
9/20/09 at 12:09pm
Robert Plant (sounds like an angel and yet an evil at the same time)
Ian Gillan
Glenn Hughes
Ronnie James Dio

Not technically, but I also like Ian Anderson's voice (Jethro Tull).
Reply
Reply
post #18 of 28
8/27/10 at 11:28am
I have favorites in common with others that were mentioned, but I want to add Joe Cocker.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQYDvQ1HH-E
Reply
Reply
post #19 of 28
9/2/10 at 10:41pm
Scott Weiland. Not only does he have a great voice and a great sense for melodies, but the man has amazing stage presence! When I think of rock 'n roll, my first thought is Scott Weiland. Chris Cornell also has an amazing voice and as for crooners, I'm gonna have to go with the pope of mope, Morrissey.
Reply
Reply
post #20 of 28
9/5/10 at 11:18pm
Layne Staley
Chris Cornell
Neko Case
Robert Plant
Ann Wilson
John Lennon
Reply
Reply
post #21 of 28
9/13/10 at 9:57pm
Definitely Robert Plant because he did so many genres well, but I was really surprised the first time I heard Axl Rose. I really couldn't believe he was vocals on Mr. Brownstone AND the rest of the album. I would have sworn it was two different people. I also always loved STP and Alice in Chains and Soundgarden. So gritty.
Reply
Reply
post #22 of 28
1/18/11 at 12:36pm
Not a bad voice on the list. Two missing for me are Eddie Vedder, bags of soul in his voice and Maynard Keenan. Once described as 'the human vioce'.
Reply
Reply
post #23 of 28
3/31/11 at 11:29pm
I have to add Brad Delp, late lead of Boston. Such power, range, and lung capacity. Anyone who's ever played Rock band or Singstar has to respect this guy.
Reply
Reply
post #24 of 28
4/4/11 at 3:04pm
Well, since it's favorite rock vocalists (not best) I'll throw my hat in the ring with Bob Pollard, front man for the greatest live band in the history of rock n' roll, Guided by Voices. People in my generation moan about missing out on Jim Morrison and Bon Scott, my children will moan about missing out on Mr. Pollard. Truly entertainment incarnate!
Reply
Reply
post #25 of 28
4/23/11 at 8:06am
Ian Gillan - Deep Purple, "Child in Time" blows me away.
Reply
Reply
post #26 of 28
6/8/11 at 8:45am
It is totally the nerd in me but when I hear Robert Plant all I hear is "mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm SSL input compressors....."

Sorry if no one gets that...
Reply
Reply
post #27 of 28
7/30/11 at 4:54am
Quite obviously, it's Freddie Mercury!
Reply
Reply
post #28 of 28
6/5/12 at 1:43pm
My top 3

1. Chris Cornell (Soundgarden/Audioslave)
2. Rob Halford (Judas Priest)
3. David Lee Roth (Van Halen) there's no one else in the world like Diamond Dave!

Honorable Mention: Sebastian Bach

On a side note... Sebastian Bach is obviously a better vocalist than DLR but I'm a Van Halen fanboy.
Reply
Reply
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: House of Rock

Features on Basenotes

Petals Falling From The Sky - A Report From The Cote d'Azur's Bataille De Fleurs
Basenotes Reader Awards 2013 - Finalists Announced.
Greatest Hits: Annick Menardo
Basenotes › Groups › House of Rock › Discussions › Favorite rock vocalists?