Best Rock Singers

[cj66]

Mike Patton is a good call as is Sammy Hagar.

I'll add Eddie Vedder, Steve Hogarth, Mark Lanegan, Axl Rose, James Hetfield and none of us have mentioned Bruce Dickinson!!

 

[davidsrsb]

No love for Mick Jagger, OK his backing band are a bit special?
Ozzy Osbourne?

 

[Dinovector]

Ozzy Osbourne described Noddy Holder as the best voice in rock period. Worth adding to the list at least

 

[Pedro83]

Lowell George.
Chris Cornell.
Paul Rogers.

Mike Patton is a good shout too.

 

[calorgas]

Steve Marriott, surely got to be up there.
A few grunge band singers as has been mentioned - Eddie Vedder, Layne Staley from Alice in Chains etc.
Lemmy is pretty unique, at least. Maybe even Axl Rose deserves a mention, though not really my thing.

 

[BillT]

Don't know about the best rock singers but favourites would be;
Joe Strummer
Rob Tyner
Roger Daltrey
Lee Brilleaux
Jim Morrison
etc....

 

[Amber Audio]

Best for me Freddie Mercury although not really a fan of Queen.

Fave would be Peter Gabriel.

 

[roman]

I don't like all his stuff but Ian Hunter is good, also Bon Scott and for a brief period Brian Johnson

 

[Joe Hutch]

Iggy Pop is clearly the correct answer, plus Mark E Smith as UK representative.

 

[Hip-Priest]

Kurt Cobain must be in there somewhere?

Personally Frank Black would in the running too, but Robert Plant would have to take the top spot.

 

[Hip-Priest]

Iggy Pop is clearly the correct answer, plus Mark E Smith as UK representative.

Point of order - amazing as The Fall were, Mark E Smith will be sssssspining in his grave at thought of being described as rock, or possibly even a sssssinger for that matter!

 

[radamel]

A truly impressive list!

I must also add Jeff Buckley.

 

[Big Tabs]

David Bowie

Michael McDonald

Ian Dury

Iggy Pop

James Dean Bradfield

PJ Harvey

Henry Rollins

 

[Caliente]

Actually a couple more spring to mind:

Mike Harrison (Spooky Tooth) and Chris Thompson (Manfred Mann's Earthband) - both had soul.

 

[ToTo Man]

David Bowie

Michael McDonald

Ian Dury

Iggy Pop

James Dean Bradfield

PJ Harvey

Henry Rollins

He may be a master of soul and R&B, but classifying Michael McDonald as a rock singer is a bit of a stretch!

 

[Big Tabs]

He may be a master of soul and R&B, but classifying Michael McDonald as a rock singer is a bit of a stretch!

It depends what one thinks of as ‘rock.’

I wouldn’t class him as a soul or R&B singer.

Do you really think of Steely Dan or Doobie Brothers as Soul or R&B???

 

[Yank]

Do you really think of Steely Dan or Doobie Brothers as Soul or R&B???

They're smooth jazz.

 

[mik_rik]

Roger Chapman

 

[ToTo Man]

It depends what one thinks of as ‘rock.’

I wouldn’t class him as a soul or R&B singer.

Do you really think of Steely Dan or Doobie Brothers as Soul or R&B???

IMO Doobie Brothers were overtly southern rock in the Johnston-era and became more soul/R&B-orientated when McDonald stepped in. A Michael McDonald solo concert definitely has a strong soulful vibe. Steely Dan are a genre unto themselves but the nearest category would probably be Smooth Jazz or Jazz Rock.

EDIT - Wikipedia lists McDonald as "blue-eyed soul, R&B, pop, and rock", I guess that covers it all!

 

[Seeker_UK]

I'll also add Elkie Brooks

Chris Thompson (Manfred Mann's Earthband)

I prefer to think of him as the 'Voice of Humanity'.