Best male rock-n-roll voice of all time?

[Intelsucks]

Steven Tyler - Aerosmith

Yes I know they got cheesey, and sold out, but I'm speaking of the early days. They really only put out 3 solid albums:

Get Your Wings
Toys In The Attic
Rocks


"Get Your Wings" is still to this day one of my favorite albums of all time.



I have to give honorable mention to Mick Jagger.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

1. Robert Plant

[OneBlueSky]

34. ditto . . . n/t

.

[johnnie]

41. eeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.......

Plant gets on my nerves something fierce. That "Baby baby baby" shit was too much.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

2. Jon Anderson from Yes + what Billy Pilgrim said

How could I forget Robert effin' Plant?

[qwertyMike]

3. AXL

really - way back when

Eric Burdon
Van Morrison

[AngryYoungMan]

4. John Lennon, Roger Daltrey, Kurt Cobain, Thom Yorke

eom

[Saudade]

5. Huh?

Wouldn't the best voice have to be Elvis Presley?

[johnnie]

42. Amen!!

Elvis was the King!

[Raenelle]

79. Well, no. I don't think so. It has to be Marvin Gaye.

[RandomKoolzip]

6. Lemmy Kilmister!

Nothing says "Rock" more ferociously than Lemmy's stinking-breath bark.

runners-up:

Robert Pollard
Van Morrison
Captain Beefheart
Ike Willis
John Wetton
John Lennon
Paul Weller
Glenn Tilbrook
Glenn Danzig
Craig Wedren (Shudder to Think)
Freddie Mercury
Bob Kidney
Mike Hudson (The Pagans, the Styrenes)

[Intelsucks]

15. Motorhead?

n/t

[CanuckAmok]

57. I second Lemmy. He is the KING.

All others tremble before his might.

Chris Cornell is a close second.

[SpaceCatMeetsMars]

7. I like

Elvis Costello
Peter Gabriel
Eddie Vedder

Maybe, as a woman, I don't prefer the higher voices. Elvis Costello's voice is beautiful and sexy. Peter Gabriel has amazing range and control and Eddie Vedder's voice does something quivery to my insides.

[unblock]

17. ELVIS COSTELLO ?!?!?!?!?

don't get me wrong, i'm a HUEUEUEUGE elvis costello fan, but -- best VOICE?

i've never heard anyone sing praises about his voice, it's his prodigious and versatile songwriting talent that carries him.

[Intelsucks]

23. I'd like to start collecting his records. He has a bunch.

Right now, I have zero.:(

[SpaceCatMeetsMars]

24. If you think of it like an instrument

I think his voice has an absolutely beautiful sound, haunting, velvety and sexy. Have you ever heard "I Want You"? It's incredible.

[Character Assassin]

25. Yes, Elvis Costello. His voice is incredible

In range, depth and dynamic.

While I would think that this would be obvious, one notices that Burt Bacharach wouldn't record two entire records dedicated to a vocal slouch.

[SpaceCatMeetsMars]

26. Thank you, you described it better than I could n/t

n/t

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

31. HE sang acapella without a mike when I saw him last year at Royce Hall

his voice is an incredible instrument.

Frankly though as much as I absolutely hate the music of foreigner, Lou Gramm has one of the best rock voices and I would put Marty Balin up there too, as well as the lead singer from Scorpion...if we are talking ROCK.

[CanuckAmok]

62. Listen to his version of "God Only Knows" live...

...with the Brodsky Quartet. It's incredible. He has a truly remarkable voice.

[Cary]

8. Todd Rundgren

Saw Todd a few years ago and was pleasantly surprised by his excellent voice. He's even better in person.

Shawn Phillips--great range!

These days I like Neil Finn.

[11 Bravo]

9. Burton Cummings

n/t

[Bunny]

16. Yes! Burton!

Another vote for Mr. Cummings. Fabulous voice!

[seemslikeadream]

33. Cummings is really cute and he can sing

Too many mountains,and not enough stairs to climb
Too many churches and not enough truth
Too many people and not enough eyes to see
Too many lives to lead and not enough time

[Obamarama]

10. Rock the Cradle of Love...

Billy Idol

Okay, maybe not the best of all time, but sufficiently hot

[corporatewhore]

11. Hello Jim Morrison

[Dookus]

12. well...

Elvis HAS to be #1.

I also like:

David Bowie (especially on the ballads: Heros, Wild is the Wind, etc.)
Robert Plant (what can ya say? The man can belt it!)
Michael Jackson (the 80's stuff)
Art Garfunkel

[Don Claybrook]

13. Add Keith Emerson to your list n/t

[Kazak]

14. I'd have to say Mike Patton.

He trumps 'em all.

[tigerbeat]

18. there are a couple.....

hands down the best ROCK vocalist is a tie between:

Roger Daltrey and Robert Plant.

but the voice that appeals most to me in terms of style, range and unique-ness:

Donald Fagen.

if i were a singer, i'd want his voice.

[Torrey Pines]

19. Elvis Presley and Freddie Mercury

Two of the best!

[SiobhanClancy]

21. Freddie Mercury...

I don't know who can beat him for range and power.

[DS1]

20. Tom Araya

My brother would vote for Phil Anselmo

[MrSlayer]

49. Great Choice!

Tom is THE Voice of Metal.

[CanuckAmok]

59. Your nick suggests a certain bias...

..but I tend to agree he's great. Lemmy Killmister, however, is THE voice of Metal.

[NightTrain]

22. Roy Orbison

The greatest white singer in all of rock 'n' roll history! Not even Elvis had a voice as incredible as Orbison's.

[RebelOne]

30. Definitely. I have always loved Roy Orbison.

He beats Elvis hands down.

[Nomad559]

71. Roy Orbison

Another Vote for Roy Orbison, he was (Is) the best.

[CO Liberal]

92. Even Elvis Thought Roy Was The Best Singer

And said so.

[mr_hat]

27. Lowell George. "Whte man with the woo-woos."

[grannylib]

98. Oh yeah....Lowell was awesome

[pasadenaboy]

28. Bono of course

over the course of his career, he has the most passionate inspiring voice of any rocker I know.

[laura888]

37. agreed! Bono's voice is gorgeous! n/t

[absyntheNsugar]

29. JIM MORRISON, THE LIZARD KINGGGGGGG!!!!!

Better than Elvis, more haunting than Nick Drake....

Shit...I'm straight and can't help but find him damn Sexaaaaay!

[pfitz59]

38. His southern lilt was enchanting......

Riders on the Storm. The End. Songs for our times.

[VelmaD]

66. Sexiest man EVER

That hair, those eyes, that voice, those tight leather pants...*drool*

[Mass_Liberal]

84. ya I gotta agree

Jim Morrison has an awesome voice. He's the shit.

[ScreamingMeemie]

32. Elvis without a doubt.

A truly beautiful voice.

[bowens43]

35. Definitely Morrison....

[jpgray]

36. Allan Clarke--Hollies.

Not the coolest band in the world, but damn that guy could sing!

[PAMod]

39. Meatloaf n/t

[beawr]

40. Little Richard

It does say "Rock and Roll" right?

[DivinBreuvage]

75. Make that two for Little Richard!

Who kicks the asses of BOTH Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis any day of the week.

[blockhead]

88. I have nothing against his voice but...

he is more irritating than richard simmons

[johnnie]

Dion...

What a voice. His folk stuff was just pure pleasure also.

[elperromagico]

43. McCartney in his time was one of the more versatile singers

in rock. He could jump from a 30s-style crooner tune like "Honey Pie" to a screamer like "Helter Skelter" in the blink of an eye. He may not be the best, but he's certainly among the most versatile.

[rucky]

44. Chris Cornell, Thom Yorke, Isaac Brock

n/t

[rucky]

45. Female: Hope Sandoval & PJ Harvey

[Kathy in Cambridge]

65. Chris Cornell-Yes!

awesome vice, handsome guy, big liberal.

[Whitacre D_WI]

46. Mick Collins, Little Richard, Sly Stone, Damo Suzuki,

and Sebastian Bach (I'm bloody well serious, the guy could SING).

[Bertha Venation]

47. Donald Fagan

Steely Dan

[Lindsay]

48. Paul Rodgers

Free/Bad Company

Awesome bluesy voice.

[blockhead]

87. paul rodgers

also a vote for bob seger

[Bonobo]

50. Robert Plant -people copied him for years

Runner up: Maybe Paul Rodgers

Best non-Rock: Van Morrison without a doubt.

[Nailzberg]

51. Mr. Edward Jerome Vedder n/t

[chimpymustgo]

52. Boz Scaggs, Donald Fagan, Robert Plant, Sly Stone, Jon Anderson of Yes.

I could go on...

[CanuckAmok]

61. Donald Fagan sounds like Carol Channing one octave lower...

I love Steely Dan, but Imagine Fagan singing "Hello Dolly" or Channing singing "Sure, he's a Jolly Roger, until he answers for his crime..."

They're interchangeable!

[kodi]

53. if motown counts, smokey and sam cook

but pure rock'n roll, the lead singer from frankie goes to hollywood

as to robert plant, his singing is like long fingernails scratching a blackboard

[saltpoint]

54. Best male rock voice --

-- maybe it's Daltrey and J. Morrison.

My ear likes Nick Drake's voice, but I'd put him under 'Folk' and not rock.

[lpbk2713]

55. B J Thomas, Del Shannon, Dion

n/t

[jus_the_facts]

56. 10 o'my favorites....

....in no particular order...

Mick Jagger
Robert Plant
Elvis
John Lennon
Paul McCartney
Jimi Hendrix
Jerry Lee Lewis
Jim Morrison
Roger Waters
David Gilmour

[KFC]

58. Bryan Ferry

Who else?

[RUexperienced]

77. Just listened to 'Turn You On'

Very cool voice.

[mac56]

85. Second on Bryan Ferry.

Honorable mention to Richard Thompson and...get'cher flames ready...Mark Lindsay.

[Esurientes]

60. Layne Staley, anyone? eom

eom

[Supply Side Jesus]

72. without a doubt

the voice of rock

[Karenina]

63. All of the above AND

Steve Perry.

[HuckleB]

81. Ack! Like nails on a chalkboard...

that's what Steve Perry's voice is.

[Redneck Socialist]

64. Shane McGowan...

...oh I'm sorry you said best, nevermind.

[CWebster]

67. Early Morrison

before he got bloated and bored.

[proud patriot]

68. Geoff Tate .....Oh Yeah

[jus_the_facts]

70. "....I'm smilin' next to you....in silent lucidity!"

.....that song enraptures my soul! :)

[proud patriot]

94. He's got an amazing voice

blows me away

[jimbo fett]

69. Steve Earle

[Cat Atomic]

73. I know he wasn't "rock", but I'm saying Johnny Cash because

Johnny can go anywhere he likes.

[chimpymustgo]

74. Also, Sting.

nt

[DivinBreuvage]

76. Some forgotten names that shouldn't be:

Bobby Darin
Johnny Preston
Tony Williams

[RUexperienced]

78. Geddy Lee of Rush

[tarkus]

102. Yeah, there you go. Or Peter Gabriel/ Roger Waters.

[HuckleB]

80. Old school: Roy Orbison / "New" school: Freddie Mercury

And Bowie's voice should be added to any such list.

[tainted_chimp]

82. Peter Gabriel's voice

has an indescribable quality that is just gorgeous.
A sort of powerful raspy reedy pure thing of beauty it is.
Mmmmmmm!

~Lisa

[Elidor]

83. Philistines! You're all wrong

Not one vote for James Dewar, the deceased vocalist for Robin Trower? Ye gods! His was the quintessential rock voice. Chris Cornell and Layne Staley are close contenders. Freddie Mercury was about more than just rock - he's in a class by himself. But for pure rock and roll, James Dewar was IT.

The sun don't shine
The moon don't move the tides to wash me clean...

[grannylib]

96. Ooh, good choice....I love Bridge of Sighs...

[bobthedrummer]

86. A few of the better ones would include David Bowie, Mick Jagger

Nick Cave and Jim Morrison.

[Loonman]

89. Not Robert Pollard

D'oh!

[Dees]

90. Carl Wilson (R.I.P), Johnny Maestro, Jay Black ,

Sam Cooke (R.I.P.)and Larry Lee (Ozark Mtn. Daredevils) are and were some of the best IMHO.

[mvd]

91. Elvis

Best pop voice, too. Though Bing Crosby beats him for Christmas songs and certain standards.

[indigo32]

93. I gotta go with Freddy Mercury

though there are a number of other good ones mentioned here.

[Gato Moteado]

95. how could you all forget clapton????

and, what about john hiatt?

97. some not mentioned ... Gerry Roslie and more....

(of the Sonics)
Joe Strummer
Roky Erikson
Jesse Colin Young

& I'm editing this to say Janis Joplin was great too, though not male.

[grannylib]

99. Are you suggesting Janis was not female?? *lol* Best male voice...

100. sorry, no

by the time I got to the bottom of the list, I'd forgotten it said male voice.
Shouldn't be leaving the women out anyhoo.

[voice of reason]

101. Brad Delp

. . . of Boston

[jmowreader]

103. Joey Ramone

No kidding. He was one of the few punks who could sing.