Who are the best Rock Singers of all time?

[coaster]

Originally Posted by tussery

It sucks that Roger Daltry is on here so much when Pete Townshend was the better singer of the two. Oh well I guess you can't be famous for all three of writing great songs, singing, and playing guitar.

While Townsend's unique voice is O.K.,he is nowhere near the class of Daltry IMO.
I thought I'ld add another great voice that I thought would have been mentioned by now if not just for being Canadian and a Prarie boy.
Burton Cummings

[the-rasta-masta]

No Paul McCartney? Sacrelidge!

[Vulcan]

Little Richard wasn't badd in his day. Here he is getting into it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyswxUZ42L8

[liamenator]

My top 2 have always been Robert Plant and Rod Stewart.

In fact, in a curious little "did you know", Jimmy Page actually attempted to recruit Stewart to sing for a new little project he was just getting off the ground in the late 60s. Stewart said no, opting instead to focus on his solo career while dabbling in a few "Super-Groups" (the Jeff Beck Group & The Faces).

But it all worked out as Page discovered an unknown singer thanks to Terry Reid (who also turned him down - whoops) in Birmingham by the name of Robert Plant.

And thus the beast of Zeppelin was born.

In terms of sheer quality, though, I think nobody has ever been able to hold a candle to Roy Orbison.

[Dan]

I have to add John Fogerty

[RougeUnderoos]

Youtube has lots of clips of Queen at Live Aid. That performance pretty much seals the deal. The songs were for the most part kind of goofy but Freddie Mercury was definitely "on" that day. Parts of it are almost like a Nuremberg rally but with a way better moustache.

And Axl.

[Ford Prefect]

Jon Anderson, from Yes.

[Dion]

Freddie Mercury
Randy Bachman
David Lee Roth
Jackson Browne
Mark Knopfler
Steve Winwood
Don Henley
Bob Seger

[icarus]

Originally Posted by coaster

While Townsend's unique voice is O.K.,he is nowhere near the class of Daltry IMO.
I thought I'ld add another great voice that I thought would have been mentioned by now if not just for being Canadian and a Prarie boy.
Burton Cummings

### on both accounts.

Seriously, what did Townsend sing better than Daltry? Daltry sang both "Love Reign O'er Me" and "Won't Get Fooled Again". Tough to beat either of those two vocally, IMO.

[Mango]

I have an odd list:

Freddie Mercury - "Who Wants to Live Forever" gives me goosebumps every time I hear it.
Jackson Browne
Pat Benatar
Lenny Kravitz
Steve Perry
Robert Plante
Russ Ballard
Elvis
Joan Jett
Chris Isaak, although he's probably more classified under soft rock/pop, but an amazing and unforgettable voice nonetheless

[prarieboy]

Freddie Mercury
Paul Rogers
Roger Daltrey

Stevie Nicks

and what about Jeff Beck???

[Burninator]

Robert Plante
Maynard James Keenan
Ozzy Osbourne
Jimi Hendrix
John Fogerty
Neil Young
Kurt Cobain
Don Henley

[disco_inferno]

Originally Posted by Shazam

Axl Rose.

agreed

[Vulcan]

Not too many females picked yet. Besides some of my favorites like Janis Joplin, Grace Slick, and Joni Mitchell I'd like to mention German singer, Nico. I only heard her with the Velvet Underground in the mid 60's but she helped influence rock music to this day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S52aR94DYVs

[The Unabomber]

Shannon Hoon was incredible
Neil Young
Ozzy
Bob Dylan
Bruce Dickinson is one of the best as well.

[FlamesAddiction]

I thought I'd thown in a couple more as greats:

Ari Up
Dave Grohl

[icarus]

Is it just me or are some of the names listed in this thread not great singers at all?

[Engine09]

Bon Scott

[octothorp]

I'm not sure about great singers, but as far as my favorites to listen to, I tend to like baritone voices, and I particularly dislike the American Idol sentiment that being a good male vocalist means being able to hit really high notes or scream in perfect pitch (not that doing so doesn't require talent). Tom Wilson (formerly of Junkhouse) is one of my favorites--just a fantastic voice. Gordon Lightfoot, Bruce Springsteen, Nick Cave, Tom Waits, David Bowie are some other singers whose voices I love. Similarly with female vocalists, I really enjoy PJ Harvey, Annie Lennox, and Fiona Apple for their low, smoky voices. None of these people are what you'd really call 'rock singers', I guess; for more convential rock singers, Chris Robinson of Black Crowes is great.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by icarus

Is it just me or are some of the names listed in this thread not great singers at all?

I'll bite. While being two of my favorite musicians, Hendrix and Dylan aren't or weren't great singers.