best rock voices

Oh yeah another unique one That I forgot.. Lane Stayley Alice in chains

Lennon, Springsteen, Orbison, Greg Allman, Stills, Jim Morrison...

Cornell can sing, but nothing 1000 others don't sound like

True enough, but they're imitating HIM.

AL COOPER..

Lots of great voices listed so far. But, if I could wake up tomorrow and sing like anyone I wished to, it would be the late, great, and under appreciated Chris Whitley. Man, if there ever was a more expressive and soulful anglo singer than Chris, I've never heard them. Rest in peace Chris.

Cornell can sing, but nothing 1000 others don't sound like, the most unique and have never been rivaled :

Maynard James Keenan,
Perry Farell,
Robert plant,
Bowie,
Beck,
David Gilmore,
Hendrix,
Dave mustaine

And of course
Peter Steele

Robert Pollard put out a solo recording, and toured in support of it. Haven't heard anything about the other band members.

Other great rock voices:
Kristin Hersh (Throwing Muses)
Kings X - in concert, they harmonize like Queen
Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzy)

I haven't heard of any further projects since GBV went their seperate ways. Have you seen anything of Pollard or the others? My wife and I saw Matthew Sweet in Cinti.(she is a big fan). Fun show.

To be honest I don't even remember how I first got into GBV. I may have heard them on a local college radio station, or just perused Amazon and was intrigued. In any event, after one CD I was hooked. Great band... Pollard is a special song writer - witty, edgy and prolific.

I saw Guided By Voices (with Matthew Sweet opening) a few years back. Unbelievable! Robert Pollard has a great voice, and an incredible knack for writing music that compliments it.

Dawgbyte,

Surprised that you know Guided By Voices. Always thought they were mostly local. Cinti., Dayton, Columbus OH area.
They were worshiped around Cinti.

Some girls that haven't been mentioned.

PJ Harvey - great raw energy in an alternative format. Margo Timmins (Cowboy Junkies), seductive, if a little slow paced for "rock".

Sean - The Babys - Your giving away your age. An album I still like although it has currently gone missing from my shelves (misplaced I hope).

Michael Stipe has a perfect voice for what REM does.

Ian Astbury (The Cult).

Without further ado:

Chris Cornell - Soundgarden
Robert Plant - Zeppelin
Paul Rogers - Bad Co.
Jim Morrison - The Doors
Burton Cummings - The Guess Who
Bon Scott - AC/DC
Layne Staley - Alice In Chains
Steve Perry - Journey
Bono - U2
Maynard James Keenan - Tool
Steven Tyler - Aerosmith
Ian Astbury - The Cult
Freddy Mercury - Queen
Brian Ferry - Roxy Music
Eddy Vedder - Pearl Jam
Robert Pollard - Guided By Voices (he's just cool)
Don Henley - Eagles
Greg Allman - Allman Bros.
Lou Gramm - Foreigner
Roger Hodson - Supertramp
Tom Waits
Jimi Hendrix

Mention should also include Justin Hayward, Colin Blunestone and Brian Ferry

murray head/terry reid/steve marriott/ian gillian/mr snips/mike harrison/elvis presley/roy orbison/ellen foley/gary brooker/leslie gore/john lennon

Tvad: I knew i couldn't be alone in liking John Waite. Thanks for not blasting my mispelling of his other bands name too, as it would have been easy to point out my "Bad English" : ) Sean
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Consider Jack White of White Stripes. Not your typical Rock vocal, but perfect for the type of rock music he makes. Screechy, wailing, unique, rocking!!

Last Friday while driving home from work they were playing The Doors Live at the Matrix (Circa 1968) from tapes from Marty Balin's Archives and Jim Morrisson sounded exactly the way he sounded in the studio. His voice was so silky smooth I mean he was in the moment. Having the Doors live at the Hollywood Bowl album and remembering how great he sounded on that I have to give him the nod.
A close second would go to Paul Rodgers. I saw him with Free when the Fire and Rain Album came out and recently at the Key Club in Morango when he was touring with Queen and he still can bring it.

Rock is a pretty vague term, so here goes nothin'. I'm not including several others that i think are very worthy candidates as they've already been mentioned : )

Tim Baker ( Cirith Ungol ) Killer metal screamer that needed a heavier band than what he had. Need proof? Listen to the cut "Master of the Pit" !!!

Dan McCafferty ( Nazareth ) Ya gotta love this guy's raspy voice. It sounds like he's been smoking and screaming all night, even when just getting warmed up.

John Waite ( The Babys, Band English, solo work ) What can i say? I like this guy's voice and singing style, but not necessarily all of the work that he's done.

I also have to second Lou Gramm and King Diamond. Both are great at what they do : ) Sean
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Roy Orbison
Freddy Mercury
Ian Gillan

Robert Plant,Steve Marriott,Grace and Janis.I'm shocked no one mentioned Keith Richards........

I have to cast my vote for Jim Morrison. His voice was rich and powerful. It's a wonder what cigarettes and booze can do!

Ronnie James Dio

Geoff Tate - Queensryche;
Joey Tempest - Europe;
Bobby Kimball - Toto

Many good candidates. I'll add Burton Cummings of Guess Who.

Bob Dylan

Steven Tyler

Ozzy Osbourne is my choice for rock yet unmentioned

Rob Halford.

David Coverdale and Ronnie James Dio!

Agree with others.
Chris Cornell.
Paul Rodgers.
Mark Lanegan.
also i thought Johnny guitar Watson's vocals with Zappa on One size fits all(Andy and San Ber'dino) are about as good as rock vocals get for me.

OH My God. Somehow I forgot my abolute favorite: Roger Daltry.

Chris Cornell (Soundgarden, Audioslave), Rod Stewart, Nancy Wilson (125lbs ago), Robert Plant, Rob Halford, Bono, Pat Benetar, Elton John, Scott Weidland

the obvious choices are john lennon, robert plant, rod stewart (in the small faces, jeff beck group days),john fogerty, etc

among more recent vocalists, ....and i don't know their names really...the lead singers of incubus & pearl jam

Are we including Soul as rock? If so, someone MUST mention Russell Tompkins, Jr. of the Stylistics.

Some of the best female belter outers---- Susan Tedeschi, Tift Merrit, Joan Osborne and Bonnie Raitt

Ben, do you think there is a reason not to?

all these responses and no mention of Steven Tyler ?? or did I miss it.

James Hatfield of Metallica
Ronnie James Dio
Bruce Dickinson
Rob Halford

TimF-- I agree with Jennifer Knapp. Would also agree with Gregg Allman, Freddie Mercury, and would add Van Morrison, Ronnie Hawkins, and Chrissie Hynde or "The Pretenders"

Greg Allman and Annie Lennox

Ronnie James Dio has the best voice ever to sing metal. He can actually sing! Actually he's the only metal singer I'll listen to anymore.

Has anyone here ever heard Rooze sing? WOW!

Dfrigovt that was Jim Dandy Mangrum(SP) with BOA, I saw them open for Blue Oyster Cult in 1977.

John Fogerty! But only with With Creedence!
His Solo recordings have robbed him of his dynamics. He sounds like a sissy boy on his latest effort.
Such a shame. I actually think he sounds older or mature when he was younger.

Second the Lou Gramm nomination. Ric Emmett of Triumph. And out of "loyalty" I have to say Geddy Lee of Rush.

Speaking of William Shatner- My buddy "Fujirich" gave me a copy of Shatner's CD "Has Been". Don't laugh- it's excellent. Recorded with Ben Folds, it's a great listen!

C'mon.... No Judas Priest fans here?

Rob Halford

Heads are gonna roll....

Rolf Harris

Jon Anderson (Yes), Paul McCartney, John Lennon

Edith Massey!!!. Fatparrot, yer just a sucker for a pretty face, you didn't even mention William Shatner. Hendrix, Damo Suzuki, Lee Ving, Lemmy, Roger Chapman (Family), Don Van Vliet, Lou Reed, Joey Ramone and Iggy Pop had their moments too.