The Top 200 Greatest Rock Singers - 10 to 1

Now we are in the top 10, where I really had to be honest with myself; in what we are doing here which is focusing not only on technical vocal ability, in terms of range and power, as well as their dynamics, phrasing and the overall character of their voice. Can they emote from different places? How well does their voice hold up live? . How they control a crowd or their entertainment value as performers is also not a factor; there are some great front men who are also sub-par singers. There are also not going to be any Bob Dylan like singers, who are better songwriters than vocalists.

Pop singers, are far and few between, with; a few country or jazz singers who crossover just enough to qualify for this list, while having a significant influence on rock music. Don't expect rappers on this list or metal vocalists who just scream or growl, but never actually sing. I am keen on singers who are derivative of other singers. The bulk of these do their own thing, the few paying tribute to other artists made enough of an impact with their music. Having a unique vocal quality is going to be one of the most important factors often trumping technical ability. If they sound too much like Steve Perry from Journey after listening to their vocal coach rather than developing their own style, it is also not going to fly. Some of these might have been ignored by mainstream music media, now at the top 10, I am sure it makes sense, so here are the Top 200 greatest rock singers.

 10-Sade

 When I saw Sade in 1993 for "Love Deluxe" I was blown away. She shed a great deal of the restraint she uses in the studio and showed the real power she has. I also came up with the theory she might also be a siren who uses her voice to drain people sexually like a succubus. 

 

9-Freddie Mercury

He is not the only operatic singer in the top 10. Sure he was powerful live, sometimes his health in the last tours of the 80s caused his voice to wane from what they did in the studio, but no one can say he is anything less than amazing. Brian May and Roger Taylor deserve a foot note in his entry as the held their own harmonizing with him and both took over the mic at times. 

 

8-Prince 

Hard to say if he was a better guitarist or singer, since he was always flawless at both every time I saw him live. He had a great scream and impressive notes in his lower register for a little guy. He made songs about masturbation and god sound equally sexual.

 

 7-Elvis

I used to be obsessed with watching VHS tapes of his Vegas residency. I collected them. Even at his most fucked up, forgetting the words and laughing at himself moments, he hit every fucking note .He did not have to write his own songs, because as soon as he sang a song it was his no matter if George Harrison or Frank Sinatra sang the original. 

 

 6-Elizabeth Fraser

I do not think the guardians of the realm she was from meant for her to sing live. The results were always bizarre, so going off the recorded work she created, she was not singing for our mortal ears were were just lucky enough to hear her.

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5 David Bowie

When Bowie left this Earth, some one in my mental health support circle told me, I did not need to fall into a deep depression , because Bowie was only meant to bring the music down from the cosmos to the people then get beamed back up. His voice was a reflection of that sentiment.

 

 4-Robert Plant 

When it comes to rock of the harder variety then it is clear Plant is the last man standing. Zep was not a metal band, but he delivered his vocals with the kind of bombast that would inspire generations of metal singers to come. That just happened to only be one aspect of who he was as a singer. 

 

 3-Roy Orbison 

How did Roy beat out Robert Plant? Well I am sure Plant would agree he should bow out in favor of Roy. In 1961, there was little in the way of effects and he did not have a Jimmy Page experimenting with mic placement and what hall way of the castle he should sing in. He just stepped up to the mic and poured himself into every note. One of the most powerful voices ever.

 

 2-Kate Bush

 Do yourself a favor and watch her show at the Hammersmith. She not only knocks out notes fit for a top tier soprano but she does it while dancing ballet, because it was no big deal .She would be number one if I had not witnessed the fury of the top singer in person, Kate I only have her legacy to pine after.

 

 1-Lisa Gerrard 

I have seen more than my fair share of actual opera. When I went to see Dead Can Dance, the first notes Lisa uttered were more powerful than ny singer of any opera I had ever witnessed. Not to mention the sublime breadth of range her work in the studio has touched upon. Dead Can Dance might not be a rock band in the sense that most of the songs they cover are 400 years old, but there are rock elements and rock bands have been inspired by them. She is a force of nature.

The Top 200 Greatest Rock Singers - 20 to 11

 

Now we are in the top 20 and  harder choices are having to be made. I am having to be more honest with myself; in what we are doing here which is focusing not only on technical vocal ability, in terms of range and power, as well as their dynamics, phrasing and the overall character of their voice. Can they emote from different places? How well does their voice hold up live? . How they control a crowd or their entertainment value as performers is also not a factor; there are some great front men who are also sub-par singers. There are also not going to be any Bob Dylan like singers, who are better songwriters than vocalists.

Pop singers, are far and few between, with; a few country or jazz singers who crossover just enough to qualify for this list, while having a significant influence on rock music. Don't expect rappers on this list or metal vocalists who just scream or growl, but never actually sing. I am keen on singers who are derivative of other singers. The bulk of these do their own thing, the few paying tribute to other artists made enough of an impact with their music. Having a unique vocal quality is going to be one of the most important factors often trumping technical ability. If they sound too much like Steve Perry from Journey after listening to their vocal coach rather than developing their own style, it is also not going to fly. Some of these might have been ignored by mainstream music media, but by the time we get to the top 10, I am sure it will all make sense, so here are the Top 200 greatest rock singers.

20- Morrissey 

If we were talking about lyricists then he would be number one. Some people might be upset that he is on this list at all since he is supposed to be cancelled. By why is rock n roll supposed to be polite or care about your feelings? It should only give you the middle finger ,which is what Moz does but with the depressive grace of a proper English Man

 

 19- Roland Orzabal 

The bigger bolder voice of Tears For Fears, sounded just as good on stage last summer as he ever has. At 61 he sounds like he could keep it up for another 10 years. Of the 80s radio icons , he has some of the best pipes going. 

            

18 Brendan Perry 

Before I saw Dead Can Dance live, I was under the faulty impression that Perry was like a darker Neil Diamond, I liked a few of his songs , but most were fast forward classics, then I saw them live and that changed everything he was jaw dropping. 

                

 17-Mike Patton

 Where to start, we could just look at his work in Faith No More and that alone would justify his place here, not to mention Mr. Bungle, Peeping Tom, Fantomas, Dead Cross... I can keep going, but if you know who he is and what he does there is no reason.

   

 16-Danny Elfman

 Oingo Boingo was ahead of there time, but that answer alone is not going to work for people wanting to know how did he rank higher than Patton, well he was doing what Patton does before Patton did it, and I am sure Mike would agree. The end of story answer is he is the voice of Jack Skellington Mike Patton is not

.  

 15-Jeff Buckley

The only problem here is we never got enough music from him to hear what he was really capable of , but the glimpse we did get out shone decades of work by other singers who would never have a chance to come close to what Jeff did on the "Grace' album. 

                     

 14- Peter Gabriel

 The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway alone says it all , but He do not even have to bring up Genesis which would be enough to justify his place on this list. Based off his solo work alone, which was less theatrical than the prog grandeur of Genesis, his vocals still retain the emotional urgency and his stellar range.

   

 13-Rob Halford

 He refers to himself as a metal god, and as long as we are talking about poly theism then I agree. His wide range and blending of various registers influenced metal singing. The first three Priest albums alone earn his place here.

   

12- Ian Gillan

If you think my only defense for this guy beating out Halford is "Child in Time" , you have forgotten his album with Sabbath and the fact he was Jesus in The Original Cast Recording of Jesus Christ Superstar.

   

11-Bruce Dickinson

Rob Halford is not the only metal god, if you saw them on their last tour Bruce is a beast. He belts it out to the rafters. He is operatic in the least pretentious manner, and knows no matter what voice you have you have to serve the song. 

The Top 200 Greatest Rock Singers - 30 to 21

Now we are in the top 30 and  harder choices are having to be made. I am having to be more honest with myself; in what we are doing here which is focusing not only on technical vocal ability, in terms of range and power, as well as their dynamics, phrasing and the overall character of their voice. Can they emote from different places? How well does their voice hold up live? . How they control a crowd or their entertainment value as performers is also not a factor; there are some great front men who are also sub-par singers. There are also not going to be any Bob Dylan like singers, who are better songwriters than vocalists.

Pop singers, are far and few between, with; a few country or jazz singers who crossover just enough to qualify for this list, while having a significant influence on rock music. Don't expect rappers on this list or metal vocalists who just scream or growl, but never actually sing. I am keen on singers who are derivative of other singers. The bulk of these do their own thing, the few paying tribute to other artists made enough of an impact with their music. Having a unique vocal quality is going to be one of the most important factors often trumping technical ability. If they sound too much like Steve Perry from Journey after listening to their vocal coach rather than developing their own style, it is also not going to fly. Some of these might have been ignored by mainstream music media, but by the time we get to the top 10, I am sure it will all make sense, so here are the Top 200 greatest rock singers.

30-Chino Moreno

From hushed cooing to full on hard core like screaming, his voice has grown over the years which kept his band from being lost in the mire of nu metal an evolving into their own thing.

 

 29-Maynard James Keenan

The Tool singer who has branched out into projects like A Perfect Circle and Puscifer, has come a long way since he was raging with more of a metal band on the Opiate ep, though even then we heard his potential. He might not try as hard these days, but laid the ground  work well.

             

 28- Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

 Not only the greatest of his kind but he brought his traditions into a modern setting by working with western producers. His voice is a spiritual experience.  

            

27-Skin 

 The front woman for Skunk Anansie knows no bounds when it comes to what she does with her voice. It is a shame they never broke bigger in the States as their are singers who have tired to do what she does and got more credit for not even covering half the ground she does vocally. 

               

26 Cedric Bixler

How often would a band like Mars Volta find themselves putting out songs that are even better than what they were doing 20 years ago. Cedric is the reason for this. Not as aggressive as he was during At the Drive In, he has taken his androgynous voice to new highs.  

           

 25--George Michael

 After he shattered the world with the Faith album , he followed it up with an album that solidified him as the best make POP singer of his era. He should have been the one to replace Freddie. 

        

  24- Chris Isaak 

His smooth style of melancholy rock a billy crooning with a mellow western feel , would not hit like it does without his mastery of his falsetto yodels. His low end notes are gutsy and he has tons of power, making him even better live than in the studio.

 

23-Chris Cornell 

 The Soundgarden singer continued to make an impression on people with his solo career before he died. He had a Robert Plant like wail to his voice that made him stand out among his peers who were just baritones.

   

22-King  Diamond 

You might be surprised the King is not in the top 10 , he would if this was just metal singers. He does have the best metal yodel, but metal yodels alone does not the best make, that is even including his death metal demon snarls and doomsayer moans .King Diamond is great at the songs he wrote , but can you imagine him covering some one else in his style? 

  

21-Peter Steele 

How did Peter Steele beat out King Diamond. It was a tough, but, given his band's penchant for covering a song and making it better and his resonate baritone that finds him being able to gracefully navigate a wider range of melodic territory , unless we were ranking by voices most likely to summon Satan then King wins hands down.

 

the Top 200 Greatest Rock Singers-40 to 31

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Now we are getting deeper into the second half of the list, harder choices are having to be made. I am having to be more honest with myself; in what we are doing here which is focusing not only on technical vocal ability, in terms of range and power, as well as their dynamics, phrasing and the overall character of their voice. Can they emote from different places? How well does their voice hold up live? . How they control a crowd or their entertainment value as performers is also not a factor; there are some great front men who are also sub-par singers. There are also not going to be any Bob Dylan like singers, who are better songwriters than vocalists.

Pop singers, are far and few between, with; a few country or jazz singers who crossover just enough to qualify for this list, while having a significant influence on rock music. Don't expect rappers on this list or metal vocalists who just scream or growl, but never actually sing. I am keen on singers who are derivative of other singers. The bulk of these do their own thing, the few paying tribute to other artists made enough of an impact with their music. Having a unique vocal quality is going to be one of the most important factors often trumping technical ability. If they sound too much like Steve Perry from Journey after listening to their vocal coach rather than developing their own style, it is also not going to fly. Some of these might have been ignored by mainstream music media, but by the time we get to the top 10, I am sure it will all make sense, so here are the Top 200 greatest rock singers.

40-Peter Murphy

Unlike Ian Curtis, he actually sings, and can belt it out with more resonance than Robert Smith which is why Mr. Murphy made it up this high on the list. His voice has held up pretty well for all the meth he was getting arrested for. 

 

 39-Siouxsie Sioux

Yes she is an icon. She is one of the goth queens, if we are talking about the punk rock vein of the genre, I am not going to say she is the best female singer the goths can claim as there are a few who ranked higher. But she is great at what she does. 

 

 38- Chris Stapleton

How did a country singer get this soulful? He is unreal, though not the highest ranking country singer on the list, which considering who beat him for that spot I am sure Chris would want it no other way.

   

 37-Bjork

Bjork does not give a fuck, she will sing to aliens , mushrooms, mecha teddy bears, she uses her voice as an instrument and a weapon. She could have been a pop singer if she wanted to but did I mention the part where Bjork does not give a fuck. That is her strength as she will break all the rule of how you are   supposed to sing.

 

36-George Jones

He sings the songs of broken hearts, the greatest country singer of all time. I do not want to hear shit about Johnny Cash or even Hank sr as they could not sing their way out of a paper bag compared to George .

   

 35-Shannon Hoon

Who knows what this junkie hippie would have done if given the chance. He died to soon and all we have are the two full lengths and collection of other tid bits to reflection upon, there was a rawness to his voice that is spell binding.

 

34- Dio

 He is the singer of Rainbow and Black Sabbath, this magic elf of a man, some might bemoan is not higher on the list. He really had too dynamics to his voice belt it out from his chest register than a more hushed almost feminine croon that was still not a falsetto. He is amazing , but not the highest ranking metal singer on this list. 

  

32-Tori Amos

 Does she owe her career to Kate Bush? Yes, but she made the most of it an almost established her own identity by putting enough of her own pain in her voice. She is Kate Bush for people who prefer coffee houses to theater.

32- Thom Yorke

 I am not sure what drugs he got on after "Ok Computer" but they were good ones, he really started using his voice like an instrument. His falsetto is self deprecating rather than flamboyant.

   

 31- Geoff Tate

I want you to listen to the Rage For Order album and come back and tell me how Dio should be higher than Tate on this list so I can knock your fucking teeth in. 

    

the Top 200 Greatest Rock Singers -50 to 41

Now we are getting deeper into the second half of the list, harder choices are having to be made. I am having to be more honest with myself  in what we are doing here which is  focusing  not only on technical vocal ability, in terms of range and power, as well as their dynamics, phrasing and the overall character of their voice. Can they emote from different places? How well does their voice hold up live? . How they control a crowd or their entertainment value as performers is also not a factor; there are some great front men who are also sub-par singers. There are also not going to be any Bob Dylan like singers, who are better songwriters than vocalists. 

Pop singers, are far and few between, with; a few country or jazz singers who crossover just enough to qualify for this list, while having a significant influence on rock music. Don't expect rappers on this list or metal vocalists who just scream or growl, but never actually sing. I am keen on singers who are derivative of other singers. The bulk of these do their own thing, the few paying tribute to other artists made enough of an impact with their music. Having a unique vocal quality is going to be one of the most important factors often trumping technical ability. If they sound too much like Steve Perry from Journey after listening to their vocal coach rather than developing their own style, it is also not going to fly. Some of these might have been ignored by mainstream music media, but by the time we get to the top 10, I am sure it will all make sense, so here are the Top 200 greatest rock singers.

50-Micheal Hutchence

The late great singer of Inxs was a powerhouse of energy and gut wrenching intensity in what became 80s anthems surpassing their more post-punk beginnings, thanks to what he was capable of.

   

 49-Bryan Ferry 

 One of my favorite voices, but he is just that which is why he is not in the top ten. Putting the silky falsetto filled Ferry here feels pretty fair as he is not going to out gun some of these others guys and girls.

   

48- Sinead O'connor

 If I was going to rate singers by how emotionally heavy they were able to get by pulling their guts out by way of their vocal cords then she would be at the top of the list. Her range and the scope of her work is stunning.

   

47-Chelsea Wolfe 

 She sings lullabies to the demons she wrestles with. That is what her voice is for. Sometimes she writes a rock song, but mostly she sings lullabies to her demons. No wonder she is one of my favorite singers. Darkness normally describes the sound of a band's music here it describes her voice, but she swears she is not goth... lol. 

      

46-Trent Reznor

If you think he only wants to fuck you like an animal then you have it only half right. He can also croon out apocalyptic ballads of nihilism, and make you love his masochism.

    

45-Axl Rose 

You can say live he is spotty, but don't forget the second half of the "Lies" album is live. Are there effects on his voice on the first album, sure, but not auto-tune. His performance on the first half of his legacy is nothing short of legendary.                                                                                                                                                                                   

 44- Elton John

 Yep from getting coked up and screaming , blew out his voice in the 70s , but that live in Australia album proves he came back better. For his style of glam rock he had all the bases covered vocally.

   

 43-Paul Stanley

If 12 year old me made this list he would be in the top five. His disco falsetto meets heavy metal is the best. In his prime he went above and beyond what he needed to do in Kiss. 

   

42- Ann Wilson

This bitch snag Barracuda...nuff said.

41-Justin Vernon 

His voice is otherworldy yet , has the soul of the streets, yet you know he is cutting his vocal tracks from his living room because he is a depressed recluse. Not sure what to call his voice or style of music that is Bon Iver but divine inspiration.

the Top 200 Greatest Rock Singers- 60 to 51

Now we are getting deeper into the second half of the list, harder choices are having to be made. I am having to be more honest with myself  in what we are doing here which is  focusing  not only on technical vocal ability, in terms of range and power, as well as their dynamics, phrasing and the overall character of their voice. Can they emote from different places? How well does their voice hold up live? . How they control a crowd or their entertainment value as performers is also not a factor; there are some great front men who are also sub-par singers. There are also not going to be any Bob Dylan like singers, who are better songwriters than vocalists. 

Pop singers, are far and few between, with; a few country or jazz singers who crossover just enough to qualify for this list, while having a significant influence on rock music. Don't expect rappers on this list or metal vocalists who just scream or growl, but never actually sing. I am keen on singers who are derivative of other singers. The bulk of these do their own thing, the few paying tribute to other artists made enough of an impact with their music. Having a unique vocal quality is going to be one of the most important factors often trumping technical ability. If they sound too much like Steve Perry from Journey after listening to their vocal coach rather than developing their own style, it is also not going to fly. Some of these might have been ignored by mainstream music media, but by the time we get to the top 10, I am sure it will all make sense, so here are the Top 200 greatest rock singers.

60-Warrel Dane 

The late  Nevermore / Sanctuary singer was a myriad of shifting registers that held dramatic power, but rather than sounding too triumphant and happy there was something dark and bleak to his delivery which appealed more to me.

   

59 Tracy Chapman

Like many artists so far on this list if you judge them by their radio hits, then you only know a fraction of what they are capable of. Sure her hits give you a glimpse of her urgent alto, but they do not show you the full scope of her voice and the emotional colors at her command.

   

 58-Lauren Mayberry

 Seeing her band Chvrches live, you can hear how it is the opposite of most pop music , she is holding back in the studio. One of the best live bands I saw last year and she is a pivotal force of their sound.

 

57- Mark Lanegan 

 He took what Leonard Cohen did and made it rock. His brooding gravely voice is the sound of your soul exhaling it's last joint. The darkness inside him was more introspective than that of Alice in Chains or the other Seattle scenesters, Mark was not tied to a scene but timeless.

   

56- Robert Smith

If you have not already noticed singers on this list and though that it was odd I had not ranked them higher due to how much I like them, then this one will really high light the fact this is not a list of my favorite singers but a judging based on the merit of their pipes, which I feel Smith's are overlooked ,however he is good at what he does, if he covers say Zeppelin it is going to sound like a Cure song not Led Zepplin as he sticks close to his range of sound, which is beautifully glum.

   

 55- Glenn Danzig

Some of you are wondering how I ranked Danzig higher than Robert Smith. Well his voice is more powerful. Robert is more emotive, but I would not want to hear him sing the Misfits. Now Danzig might have shit the bed on his album of Elvis covers, so it is everything else that got him to this place on the list.

   

 54- Joni Mitchell

 She might be a folk singer, but she knows how to emulate jazz phrasing with her voice. She has a very original style of singing that is all her own. Sure the Counting Crows might try to rip her off, and Sheryl Crow might owe her career to her, but there is something very pure to Joni's voice that can not be denied.

   

 53-Annie Lennox 

 Her wide range only extends the manner with which she can play the 80s diva role with. Her alto is androgynous as her look. Her solo work stood up against her 80s classics.

   

 52- Ozzy Osbourne 

 Most conversations regarding the Ozz-man have to do with his Sabbath days. While he knocked the hell out of notes on Hole in the Sky, lets talk about his solo work where he covered a lot more ground and settled into his role as being a mad man so he uses his voice to convey the desperation needed to make you a believer.  

 51-Miley Cyrus

 She is not just Hannah Montana gone wild and twerking, in fact that has nothing to do with her voice. The fact she tackles songs by Led Zeppelin, Metallica and the Cocteau Twins live is a testament to the range of what she can do as the powerhouse of singer she is. I tried to put Ozzy in the spot of above her , but there was no way I could be honest with myself and say that was real.

 

the Top 200 Greatest Rock Singers -70-61

Now  past the half way point of our  list of the top 200 greatest rock singers, inspired by the travesty that was Rolling Stone's supposed list. Where they got it wrong, this list hopes to be more effective,  not only focusing on rock singers and those adjacent to the genre. If you have been reading you know the focus is not only on  technical vocal ability, in terms of range and power, as well as their dynamics, phrasing and the overall character of their voice. Can they emote from different places? How well does their voice hold up live? . How they control a crowd or their entertainment value as performers is also not a factor; there are some great front men who are also sub-par singers. There are also not going to be any Bob Dylan like singers, who are better songwriters than vocalists.

Pop singers, are far and few between, with  a few country or jazz singers who crossover just enough to qualify for this list, while having a significant influence on rock music. Don't expect rappers on this list or metal vocalists who just scream or growl, but never actually sing. I am keen on singers who are derivative of other singers. The bulk of these do their own thing, the few paying tribute to other artists made enough of an impact with their music. Having a unique vocal quality is going to be one of the most important factors often trumping technical ability. If they sound too much like Steve Perry from Journey after listening to their vocal coach rather than developing their own style, it is also not going to fly. Some of these might have been ignored by mainstream music media, but by the time we get to the top 10, I am sure it will all make sense, so here are the Top 200 greatest rock singers.

70-Dax Riggs

The former Acid Bath vocalist has gone in a more blues focused direction in his solo work, though it has given him a chance to explore his range and try a wider range of vocal colors.

   

 69-Layne Staley

 The late Alice In Chains singer had a soulful grit to his voice that expressed his pain and suffering with a darker shadow to it than the other Seattle grunge singers. He did it smoothly allowing his voice to slither over songs.

 

68-Alice Cooper 

Thought of as more of a showman, Cooper always had a voice good enough to back the theatrics up. He is able to shift in and out of various characters his nightmares wander through.  

 

67- John Lennon

Sure Paul screamed his brains out on Helter Skelter but John has the cooler voice and always meant every lyric he sang. The tie breaker making him the best singer in the Beatles is the fact how do we know it was Paul singing Helter Skelter as it could have been William Campbell who replaced Paul when Paul died. Only John was smart enough to leave the death clues on the album. 

 

66-Scott Weiland

His life might have been out of control, but he had the most control over his voice when compared to the other grunge kings who ruled the radio. He could summon a powerful roar up from his guts when needed or a smooth whispering croon. 

 

65 Sabastian Bach

One of the best singers from the hair metal scene. I feel like Skid Row had more in common with Pantera than Bon Jovi. A great set of pipes, and when the broke it down to power ballads his voice was the better than his peers at delivering them. 

64- Lindsay Buckingham

Imagine being in band and being eclipsed by your girlfriend because her wobbling vibrato and striking good looks is selling tickets. Buckingham had a powerful tenor voice with balls to it , but also vulnerable

.

63--Bon Scott

If there was ever a singer who got by on attitude and power, it was this guy. His raspy high pitched snarl put AC/DC where they remained after his death.

   

 62- Russell Hitchcock

One of the most pristine pitch perfect voices to grace the radio in the 70s. Sure he sounds like a closet case with a nose full of cocaine sailing around on a yacht singing power ballads but that is what Air Supply was about, his voice was almost too perfect , which is why he did not rank higher. He was born for Broadway but rocked instead.  

 

 61- Shawn Smith

  It is a crime he is not a household name as this guy is the best singer you never heard of from the 90s. He fronted both Satchel and Brad, the latter being a Pearl Jam side project that new broke as it should have. His soulful falsetto is very surreal.

 

the Top 200 Greatest Rock Singers -80 to 71

Now  past the half way point of our  list of the top 200 greatest rock singers, inspired by the travesty that was Rolling Stone's supposed list. Where they got it wrong, this list hopes to be more effective,  not only focusing on rock singers and those adjacent to the genre. If you have been reading you know the focus is not only on  technical vocal ability, in terms of range and power, as well as their dynamics, phrasing and the overall character of their voice. Can they emote from different places? How well does their voice hold up live? . How they control a crowd or their entertainment value as performers is also not a factor; there are some great front men who are also sub-par singers. There are also not going to be any Bob Dylan like singers, who are better songwriters than vocalists.

Pop singers, are far and few between, with  a few country or jazz singers who crossover just enough to qualify for this list, while having a significant influence on rock music. Don't expect rappers on this list or metal vocalists who just scream or growl, but never actually sing. I am keen on singers who are derivative of other singers. The bulk of these do their own thing, the few paying tribute to other artists made enough of an impact with their music. Having a unique vocal quality is going to be one of the most important factors often trumping technical ability. If they sound too much like Steve Perry from Journey after listening to their vocal coach rather than developing their own style, it is also not going to fly. Some of these might have been ignored by mainstream music media, but by the time we get to the top 10, I am sure it will all make sense, so here are the Top 200 greatest rock singers.

80-Jason Isabell

Breaking the country mold in many ways, he often takes the stage with his rock band the 400 Unit. His warm baritone does not rely on a country twang. He can also belt it out from his chest register as well as any rock singer.

 

 79- Phil Lynott 

Thin Lizzy is another band that if you judged them by their radio singles you would havea skewed idea of what they do. Due to this I used to think Phil just sang like a 70's cab driver in New Jersey, after hearing songs like "Jail Break" and "the Boys are Back In Town". He has a warm soulful voice that balances attitude with a lot of heart. His matter of fact delivery gives their songs an honest feel.

   

 78-Mikel Akerfeldt  

The Opeth mastermind might no longer employ his powerful death metal growl, but that is typically ok as he has perfected his clean singing voice. There is a mix of soul and 70's prog to the cadence of his voice. Light and introspective, he has slowly worked in more command to his singing though never really belts it out preferring a softer touch.

 

77 -Eugene Edwards

His band 16 Horsepower was ahead of their time as they laid the ground work for the current trend of apocalyptic bluegrass.  His voice however matured to his final for with his project Wovenhand, that is sonically heavier, calling him to deliver a more powerful performance.

  

76-Taylor Swift

Before you talk shit about Tay Tay, let me ask you one question... have you heard her "Folklore" album? Chances are you have just lumped her in with other pop singers. She proves she can use her voice as an instrument. Her country beginnings taught her a lot when it comes to having chops. She can throw her voice around how ever she sets her mind to it, and makes the most of studio tricks and stacking vocal tracks rather than relying on them.

 

 75- Simon Le Bon

Of all the big 80s super stars who emerged from the New Romantic movement, I listened to Duran Duran the least. That is not to say I do not respect the hell out of them as I do. Le Bon's vocals are at the center of that respect as his voice is pristine with a tenor that smoothly glides where he wants it. 

 

 75- Madonna 

She really became a powerhouse, once she accepted the fact she is an alto and started singing where her vocal cords were meant to go, gaining a great deal of power. She has some really impressive low notes in her range

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73- Mick Jagger

The idea of Jagger would rate higher , but we are talking about what the actually do as singers. His biggest asset is his attitude and always knowing how to put his voice in the right places. His solo work proves he can stand on his own without Richards.

 

72-Eddie Vedder

His growly baritone inspired other singers to try their hand at grunge in the 90s. Often imitated Vedder was an original, who drew from greats before him without trying to be anyone but himself. He is very emotive and uses his voice like an  instruments often making his lyrics obsolete. 

   

71- Paul McCartney

Technically he might be the best singer of the Beatles, might be. This is not a list of favorite singers, if it was Paul would not be on here, he is too sappy for my tastes. I am not going to deny his talent and he has a set of pipes on him that have graced some of the Beatles best work.

 

The Top 200 Greatest Rock Singers-90-81

Now  past the half way point of our  list of the top 200 greatest rock singers, inspired by the travesty that was Rolling Stone's supposed list. Where they got it wrong, this list hopes to be more effective,  not only focusing on rock singers and those adjacent to the genre. If you have been reading you know the focus is not only on  technical vocal ability, in terms of range and power, as well as their dynamics, phrasing and the overall character of their voice. Can they emote from different places? How well does their voice hold up live? . How they control a crowd or their entertainment value as performers is also not a factor; there are some great front men who are also sub-par singers. There are also not going to be any Bob Dylan like singers, who are better songwriters than vocalists.

. Most pop singers won't appear here, but there are a few country or jazz singers who crossover just enough to qualify for this list, while having a significant influence on rock music. Don't expect rappers on this list or metal vocalists who just scream or growl, but never actually sing. I am keen on singers who are derivative of other singers. The bulk of these do their own thing, the few paying tribute to other artists made enough of an impact with their music. Having a unique vocal quality is going to be one of the most important factors often trumping technical ability. If they sound too much like Steve Perry from Journey after listening to their vocal coach rather than developing their own style, it is also not going to fly. Some of these might have been ignored by mainstream music media, but by the time we get to the top 10, I am sure it will all make sense, so here are the Top 200 greatest rock singers.

 90- David Byrne

The nervous vibrato in his voice sells the cheerful façade in his lyrics. His delivery is always smooth and he can reach into his upper register with frantic glee. Sure there have been singers lower on the list who can belt with more power, but none are as distinct as Byrne.

   

89-Klaus Meine 

The more familiar radio anthems of the Scorpions may not convince you that he should place this high, but the deeper tracks is where he really shines and emotes. Perhaps this does not place him as equals to singers of other metal bands of the time, but he is better than most

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88- Matt Barlow

The gruff aggressive chest register to his high Paul Stanley like wailing make him the best man on the microphone for Iced Earth. They have had singers whose screams are higher and growls harsher, but it the balance of Barlow that makes him the best man for that job.

 

87-Geddy Lee

Despite his voice being an acquired taste there is not denying the power he can belt his shrill tenor with. Rush fans will tell you there is more nuance and depth to his voice than a casual listener might perceive from their radio hits , which are not a fair indicator of what he is capable of.

 86--George Harrison 

All but one Beatle is a great singer, their voices worked better as a unit. However when it is time to take the spotlight there is thoughtful tenderly reflective quality to George's voice. 

 

 85- Greg Puciato

His solo work and side projects have allowed him to really open his voice up and make the most of it rather than beat his pipes from the fury of the screaming he once did. He has clearly taken notes from the best singers of the 90s.

 

84--Kurt Cobain

Kurt had to die because he knew he could not pretend and play the game of the music industry. Sadly it got written off by his drug use and no one took his warning to heart. His raw voice was real. He was not pretending to have angst he was releasing it through this song. Typically terrible live, but he captured what could have been in the studio. 

               

83- Dave Gahan

There is something about the fluid baritone that makes the listener feel Depeche Mode's front man was struggling with the concepts of God , drugs and sexual identity. This in turn made listeners confront there own such struggles, there is power to a voice that can do that.

 

 82-Josh Homme

For someone who fronts a hard rock band his voice is very smoothly. He always sounds matter of fact like the drugs just kicked in. He conveys melancholy without whining. 

81 Orville Peck

If all there was to his gimmick was just being a gay country singer who wears a mask, he would not be on this list. However he has a great resonate baritone, a quite the range when he decides to use it including blending his head register smoothly. 

The Top 200 Greatest Rock Singers -100 to 91

Now half way into our  list of the top 200 greatest rock singers, inspired by the travesty that was Rolling Stone's supposed list. Where they got it wrong, this list hopes to be more effective,  not only focusing on rock singers and those adjacent to the genre. If you have been reading you know the focus is not only on  technical vocal ability, in terms of range and power, as well as their dynamics, phrasing and the overall character of their voice. Can they emote from different places? How well does their voice hold up live? . How they control a crowd or their entertainment value as performers is also not a factor; there are some great front men who are also sub-par singers. There are also not going to be any Bob Dylan like singers, who are better songwriters than vocalists.

. Most pop singers won't appear here, but there are a few country or jazz singers who crossover just enough to qualify for this list, while having a significant influence on rock music. Don't expect rappers on this list or metal vocalists who just scream or growl, but never actually sing. I am keen on singers who are derivative of other singers. The bulk of these are doing their own thing, the few paying tribute to other artists have still made enough of an impact with their music. Having a unique vocal quality is going to be one of the most important factors often trumping technical ability. If they sound too much like Steve Perry from Journey after listening to their vocal coach rather than developing their own style, it is also not going to fly. Some of these might have been ignored by mainstream music media, but by the time we get to the top 10, I am sure it will all make sense, so here are the Top 200 greatest rock singers.

 100- Ray Lamontagne

This Soulful folk vocalist carries bluesy husk to his voice that allow him to carry a retro vibe that recalls classic Motowm. It is not about range or power as much as it where he puts his voice, which is in all the right places.

  a  

99-David Drainman

The Disturbed front-man aside from the spastic monkey noises he sometimes makes, owes more to classic metal singers than the other singer from the nu-metal scene his band got lumped into. With each album they moved further from those tropes allowing him to his display his aggressive yet melodic style of singing

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98-Julie Christmas

The former vocalist of Made Out of  Babies qualified her self to be on this list due to the quirky nature of her voice that goes from growls to sounding like an insane preschooler, but she can also belt it out with the best of them and has matured into an excellent singer over the years.

   

97- Anneke van Giersbergen

Flowery female sirens adding a softer layer of atmosphere to metal was not always a thing. It was not until Anneke graced the Gathering with her pristine pipes that this came about.

   

96-Ics Vortex

The Arcturus vocalist is perhaps most known for his soaring clean vocals he lent to the golden years of Dimmu Borgir where he stole the show with his operatic hooks while playing bass. This provided the needed contrast to their normal growls.

   

95- Ripper Owens 

Being the man who replaced Rob Halford is a heavy title to carry around your career. Instead of just being a tribute act he preformed well with bands like Iced Earth, to show he can be his own man.

 

94-Ian Astbury

Another singer who filled in for an icon is the Cult vocalist who filled in for Jim Morrison. He has more power and range than Morrison, his powerful baritone is what makes the Cult sound so distinct.

   

93-Keith Caputo

When Life of Agony broke in the 90s, their style of melodic hard core was in many ways ahead of it's time thanks the pained bellow of Caputo that could smooth into a chilling croon. Other wings tried to fill the gap during Caputo's time away from the band and failed because they could not capture the raw emotion of suffering his voice held.

92--Jaz Coleman

His one of a kind voice that inspired the roar of most industrial bands thanks to the output of hit band Killing Joke, is also very nuance and he is capable of a new wave like croon to give a depth of dynamics

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91-Mat McNerney 

His most notable work is with Beastmilk aka Grave Pleasures and Hex Vessel, which shows how flexible his evocative baritone is. He can go from grim post punk to 60's psych-folk. He sings with both power and feeling in equal measure.  

The Top 200 Greatest Rock Singers-110 -101

Digging deeper into our list of the top 200 greatest rock singers, inspired by the travesty that was Rolling Stone's supposed list. Where they got it wrong, this list hopes to be more effective,  not only focusing on rock singers and those adjacent to the genre. I am  placing the spotlight on the singer's technical vocal ability, in terms of range and power, as well as their dynamics, phrasing and the overall character of their voice. Can they emote from different places? How well does their voice hold up live? All factors are being considered here, lyrical content and the instruments they play do not factor in as these ranking are based on vocal merit alone. How they control a crowd or their entertainment value as performers is also not a factor; there are some great front men who are also sub-par singers.  

The same can be said of song writers which is why most Bob Dylan songs sound better covered by someone else. Needless to say, ole Robert Zimmerman is not making the cut. Most pop singers won't appear here, but there are a few country or jazz singers who crossover just enough to qualify for this list, while having a significant influence on rock music. Don't expect rappers on this list or metal vocalists who just scream or growl, but never actually sing. I am keen on singers who are derivative of other singers. The bulk of these are doing their own thing, the few paying tribute to other artists have still made enough of an impact with their music. Having a unique vocal quality is going to be one of the most important factors often trumping technical ability. If they sound too much like Steve Perry from Journey after listening to their vocal coach rather than developing their own style, it is also not going to fly. Some of these might have been ignored by mainstream music media, but by the time we get to the top 10, I am sure it will all make sense, so here are the Top 200 greatest rock singers.

110-Bradley Nowell 

 The late Sublime singer had a lot of depth and soul to his voice. Not a big reggae fan, but his delivery won me over more than most, as well as his ability to make the most of his resonate croon in his lower register when called for.

 

109-Paul DiAnno

Many of you might be surprised this guy did not make it higher since he sang for one of my favorite bands.  He has more streets smarts to his voice, but struggles in his upper register, thus the comparison is this ...Bruce can sing his songs, but he could not sing Bruce's songs to end further debate. Still, he sung for Maiden's first two albums earning his spot here.

 

 108- Phil Collins

His singing style took Genesis down a more commercial path the first few albums where he took over for peter earned him a spot here.

   

107- Joey Belladonna

The  Anthrax singer has the pipes to bridge the dramatic yodels made popular by the New Wave of British Heavy Metal and grit of thrash.

   

106-Gene Simmons

Peter Criss might have the bigger hit ,but Simmons is the better singer. He might not be the best singer in Kiss, but his throaty belting gives the band a grittier edge as needed.

   

105-Debbie Harry 

Her voice helped her band navigate the tricky spot in the 70s to weave between punk and disco. She went from rapping with attitude to her head register with grace.

 

104-Jim Morrison

H He was not just a displaced beat poet who found himself in a jazz band playing rock. Morrison has a croon that held a great deal of darkness, he could unleashed a drunken blues belt or go into outright manic screaming to climax a song , before screaming was common place. He was an icon front man , so people might expect him to have placed higher, but in terms of his pipes he worked well with what he had

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 103- Daniel Gildenlow 

 Over the years his band Pain of Salvation has going from being an eclectic progressive metal band to spanning a wide scope of sounds. His range and power has been the catalyst that allows them to traverse all these sonic spaces. He covers all bases from metal screams to dramatic falsettos.

   

 102-Grace Slick

Her powerhouse voice made her a one of a kind singer in the 60s that would influence many female rock singers to come.

   

 101- Dave Byron 

 This band bridged the gap between prog and metal. Byron's falsetto yodels were commanding voice made him a bard declaring tales of demons and wizards with theatrical flare that would influence countless metal singers to follow.

 

The Top 200 Greatest Rock Singers-120 to 111

Digging deeper into our list of the top 200 greatest rock singers, inspired by the travesty that was Rolling Stone's supposed list. Where they got it wrong, this list hopes to be more effective, but not only focusing on rock singers and those adjacent to the genre, while placing the spotlight on the singer's technical vocal ability, in terms of range and power, as well as their dynamics, phrasing and the overall character of their voice. Can they emote from different places? How well does their voice hold up live? All factors are being considered here, lyrical content and the instruments they play do not factor in as these ranking are based on vocal merit alone. How they control a crowd or their entertainment value as performers is also not a factor; there are some great front men who are also sub-par singers.  

The same can be said of song writers which is why most Bob Dylan songs sound better covered by someone else. Needless to say, ole Robert Zimmerman is not making the cut.Most pop singers won't appear here, but there are a few country or jazz singers who crossover just enough to qualify for this list, while having a significant influence on rock music. Don't expect rappers on this list or metal vocalists who just scream or growl, but never actually sing. I am keen on singers who are derivative of other singers. The bulk of these are doing their own thing, the few paying tribute to other artists have still made enough of an impact with their music. Having a unique vocal quality is going to be one of the most important factors often trumping technical ability. If they sound too much like Steve Perry from Journey after listening to their vocal coach rather than developing their own style, it is also not going to fly. Some of these might have been ignored by mainstream music media, but by the time we get to the top 10, I am sure it will all make sense, so here are the Top 200 greatest rock singers.   

120-Sammy Hagar

Replacing a singer with greater charisma pushed Hagar to become an even better singer. While Van Halen themselves might not have released their best work with him, Sammy gave the best performances of his career.

   

 119-James Hetfield 

 His commanding roar might have shaped the direction metal would go, but it is when he backs away from that and gets more introspective that you can really hear what his voice is made of.

   

 118-Corey Taylor

 The versatility of Taylor's voice what has allowed Slipknot to have extended their career past the point of nu-metal's expiration date. He augments his actual singing voice with a wide array of snarls and screams.

   

 117-Don Dokken 

 He is one of the more technically textbook perfect singers I can listen to. Don adds enough of who he is to his performance. He might not be able to take shoulder to shoulder with the greatest singers of this metal are, but he does deserve his spot here.

 

116-David Coverdale

Of all the pretenders to Robert Plant's throne, this guy injected more of himself into the role. This was aided by his time in Deep Purple, where he showed the importance of letting soul flow through your pipes.

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115- Neil Diamond

If this was a list of songwriters, He would be in the top ten, but we are just judging pipes here. There is a mellow warmth to his baritone that pulls you into to his songs, even if his style of music is your cup of tea or not. He can belt it when he needs to but always serves the songs first.

    

114-Robert Lowe

 The soulful wail from this powerhouse is always heartfelt. His best work was with Solitude Aeturnus , but has also taken over the mic for Candlemass. He is not an Ozzy impersonator like most doom singer, though he does barrow a bit from Dio in his belting style.  

113-Damien Rice

The Irish singer/ songwriter only has three albums under his belt, but he puts all of his emotions in each note he urgently sings. Many folk singers are great at the hushed nuance, but few can belt it out like Rice who has an impressive range. 

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112-Tarja Turunen

The former Nightwish frontwoman helped set the bar for how to sing symphonic metal with her colorful operatic voice. What those who followed her footsteps lacked was their own personality which Tarja has m and is often more important than the notes she sings.

 

111- Chuck Billy 

The most impressive thing about the longtime Testament vocalist is how aggressive he can get and still manage to actually sing. This is what makes his band's songs so catchy and makes Chuck stand out as one of the best metal singers from the thrash scene.