Greatest rock singer of 20th century

John Lennon or Freddie Mercury?

 

with honourable mention to John Lennon.

  • Axl Rose loses points for being an utter thunderkhunt.
  • Turning up to gigs at 1am and playing to half empty crowds.
  • Reclassifying the rest of the band as hired hands.
  • Cancelling shows as his hair plugs hurt.

Heh @ Tomlinorder

Springsteen has a great rock voice; maybe not the best of the century, but great nonetheless 

Jeff Buckley’s tragic early demise deprived us of some brilliant vocals 

Roger Daltrey on his night had, maybe still has, a huge voice

Good shouts already: Chris Cornell, Robert Plant, and Freddie.

I would add Rob Halford and Glenn Danzig.

I would not call a John Lennon a rock singer at all. He gave grit to the Beatles, but the rock voice was Paul. That's why Paul sang Helter Skelter, Oh Darling and Hey Jude. Closest thing by John is arguably Yer Blues.

Honestly, I sweated my bits off in the early 90s rave scene and looking like a hobo the next morning but this guy and those two tramps he influenced need to be locked up and jet hosed at least once a month like the police used to do with vagrants. 

‘Good choice Tom. Big Man Utd fan.‘

Yeah now you come to mention it, I prefer Liam, Noel, the fella from the Blossoms, Johnny Marr, and Bernard Manning.

Luckily this is a greatest rock singer thread so we can avoid all the technically superior singers. This shows you all the top singers ranges and where they hit their highest and lowest notes:

https://www.concerthotels.com/worlds-greatest-vocal-ranges

Axl is clearly out in front as a technically superior singer but is also a massive tool. I think even he would go with Freddie as The Greatest as all the members of GnR were Queen fans.

Having seen most of the above, Freddie was great, both a great singer and a great showman.

I think the best ( or the one I enjoyed the most) I ever saw was Phil Lynott.

Yeah now you come to mention it, I prefer Liam, Noel, the fella from the Blossoms, Johnny Marr, and Bernard Manning.

Christ that's a motley crew. Get yourself a better class of celeb fan, like Mick Hucknall.

 

Iggy is an interesting one, def a good singer, but I think beats Freddie hands down as a "show man"

I have seen him countless times and Iggy at the Powerhouse in Birmingham was a show second to none.

Jon Bon Jovi's an interesting one. There was a brief period in the early to mid-90s when he came very close to being a truly great rock star in a great band. They'd put the 80s big hair stuff to bed and could fill wembley and appear credible (Keep the Faith/These Days). Then it all went to shit. If you ever feel like cringing, just watch recent concert footage. It's all nasal voice and a bit tragic now. Some rock stars (Springsteen comes to mind) seem to age well, others become bad tribute acts. 

Some of these... I mean Ian Brown? The guy talks...  Talks! A weak, pathetic voice. I thought Sting had a weak voice until I heard Brown.

The Ian Brown suggestion has to be a joke.  His voice is notoriously crap.

Axl massively overrated. He famously introduces the GNR live version of Whole Lotta Rosie with the words “I ain’t no Bon Scott”. And then proves it. The band also prove they’re no AC/DC. Awful cover version.

Mercury (tbf not just a showman; astonishing vocal range and ability).

Springsteen

Elvis

Maybe Liam actually

John Lennon? No way - great song writer. But rock singer? Not even the best in his own band...

 

 

Love the first four Muse albums, but Bellamy is too limited as a singer for true greatness. Falsetto, lots of pathos and a very decent scream (last one on Falling Down is amazing!), but nothing you would not get elsewhere. His guitar is where it's at. The live versions of his solo on Invincible are hard to believe.

Mercury (for his sheer experimentation)

Springsteen (for his sustainable performance across the decades)

Clapton (for crossing the spectrum and mastering all)

Turner / Houston - amazing range and variety

Axl - still as my personal favourite

A few good shouts, lots of terrible shouts.  Cornell probably the best shout.  Freddie Mercury is a very limited singer, technically

JC has it with Ronnie James Dio  

Perclean, try

  • Cornell's acoustic cover of Nothing Compares to You, it's on Youtube.
  • Audioslave: Be Yourself (if you only listen to one, make it this), Like a Stone and Cochise.
  • Soundgarden: The Day I Tried to Live.

 

+1 for Jim Morrison amongst the boys.  Debbie Harry probs for the girls. Not a massive Blondie fan but she had a truly ace voice in her day. 

Van Morrison is a great singer but its not rock! 

 

 

For pure vocal ability and technique, Don Henley (Eagles).  His live performances sound like perfect studio takes and he can still do it in his 70s, whilst drumming.  Phenomenal!

John Lennon’s singing and all of his solo work incredibly overrated IMHO. 

Dio, Plant and Axl all great calls, but they can grate somewhat depending on the song.

Paul Rodgers, David Coverdale, Prince and Lou Gramm deserve mention. Perhaps not the greatest, however.