Best vocalist I would have to say Rob Halford but my favourite pick is Ian Gillan of Deep Purple. He was the first of the "power" voices in rock.

Steve Perry is who I was going to say.

Josh Groban has a hell of a voice. Not rock or pop, but he can still sing his ass off.

Maynard is actually a really good vocalist. Not a great singer but a great vocalist - sometimes there is a difference.

Another good one like that - Layne Staley:



Possibly the most unique voice in rock history. RIP brother.

Music, like movies, books and art is all speculative. For example people love and adore Roger Plant. While I can appreciate the talent of Zepplin his voice annoys me so there is no right and wrong.

That said, here is the top 5 list. Sorry Freddy isn't on it. He was great and would make my top 10, just not quite in the top 5.

#5. Eddie Vedder. Haters will hate, but when it comes to power, honesty and emotion it is hard to match him.


#4. Lennon/Mcartney combo. The topic is greatest rock vocalist, not showman. Nobody influnced more people than the Beatles.


#3. Bono. Again. Haters will hate, but I have seen them live three times and I would rank those three shows among the best I have ever seen. The guy has the ability to project emotion and make a stadium feel like a small intimate club.


#2. Springsteen. How can you even have this topic and nobody has mentioned the boss. You want longevity? The guy is still putting out records that are relevant and great.


#1. Elvis Presley. Say what you will about the guy, but he did something few singers ever do. When he first started out the parents of his fans hated him. A decade later those same haters loved him. As Eddie Murphy famously said,"He sang so good they put him in movies and he can't act." how many singers grew up wanting to be Elvis?

I vote Dave Gahan.

Another personal fave of mine and possibly one of the coolest and most emotive voices in rock history - Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees, QOTSA, Soulsavers, Gutter Twins, solo):






(Stones cover).

The OP was about vocalists. I personally think Maynard is a great singer also.

kd lang
roy orbison

Mike Patton, the end.

Rod Stewart



David Bowie



Thom Yorke




Michael Jackson





Sting

Oh, and Stevie Nicks.

mindwaste

PJ Harvey

Some of you have some warped ideas of who is a good singer -- but if we're just talking about the role of "vocalist" then I guess singing ability is a trait that would be below showmanship.

Dunnot Care ...

Agreed. Freddie Mercury was a great showman, but he wasn't really a fantastic singer. I like vocalists who have a bit of range, passion, and can hit difficult notes... the kind that you couldn't hope to mirror if you're singing along.

My favourite would be David Coverdale from Whitesnake:



Start at about 2:07 if you're impatient... 2:44 if you're really impatient. 10 seconds later he hits a pretty amazing note: it's powerful, in tune, and modulated. This is a guy in his 50s who's at the tail end of a 2 hour concert. :pimp

Did any voice before him have this kind of energy?
http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=US#/watch?v=lidFipyLG8k

In terms of vocalism alone, nobody but nobody was better than Brad Delp. I would put him up against Pavarotti, Domingo, and Carer... Carre...That Other Guy and day.

The man could scream, croon or just simply speak words with nothing short of devastating effectiveness.

#1- bob dylan
#2- neil young
#3- Tiny Tim

I'm actually surprised to see Karen Carpenter listed here, But I agree with you 100% on that call. AMAZING SINGER!!!!
:2 cents:

Brad Delp was actually the first singer to pop in my head when I saw this thread. He was under rated.

Upon further reflection I'm gonna have to through Geoff tate of Queensryche in this mix, in the eighties he was the guy all singers wanted to emulate.

My absolute personal favorite is Roger Daltry, this may be due to my wearing who records out one after the other. (When they were actually records)

Steve Perry is the most obvious choice as the winner for pure voice.

:2 cents:

Coverdale indeed. When talking that kind I have to mention Sebastian Bach too :)

btw, I am still the only one to even give Dio a mention?

Danny Elfman - great live performer and amazing composer

and early Mariah Carey. insane voice.

last but definitely not the least - Bryan Ferry, Roxy Music

John Lennon, greatest voice in music ever, period.

Florence Welch

For rock.hard rock the singer of Steelheart, Miljenko Matijevic would be one I would put in the class of greatest vocalist.



Also Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden), Geoff Tate (Queensryche) etc.. etc..

"Imagine" certainly have him great lyrics to sing. That song will inspire even me toward being a socialist weenie for about four minutes. ;)

Hah, I saw Jesus Christ Superstar in play form with Bach playing Jesus - he did a hell of a job and was a wild singer, so good mention there.

Queensryche singer is a good call too.

Definitely Enrique Iglesias


https://youtube.com/watch?v=flvC3Uokdtw

:error:error:error

I agree with a ton of these.


New Editions-

Bruce Dickinson
Sabastian Bach
Roger Waters

Freddie Mercury as for me.

These days I'm liking IU. She has a 3 octave range. Probably never break out in the western world, but she does a few english covers.

In history? Maybe agree with Boston. Because even my one brother who doesnt care for rock and roll or pop music liked Boston because of the vocal expertise.

Maynard did that too. :thumbsup

That's just depressing.

agreed 888

She's cute - not even near Freddy Mercury's league, though. I did check her out and ended up wasting an hour, so thanks for replying :thumbsup. Too cute and sweet for me, though.

Boston - forgot about Brad Delp. I agree - the guy had a stunning voice. Tragically, he took his own life a few years back. Sad.

It's kind of funny to watch her play guitar when her fingers barely reach around the neck. One of those self taught wunderkinds.