You can Vote for Most Valuable Lead Vocals (Rock Groups)

Josh Kiszka MVP

Levon Helm is near the top, maybe at the top, of my yet-to-be constructed list.  

Robert Plant

Though I agree Robert Plant is great, I would like to add:
John Fogerty
Paul Rogers

ozzy

BAD COMPANY, Paul Rodgers. :-)

David Lee Roth, Don't believe me just look at Sammy Hagar or worse Gary Cherone years...

And of course there would be no Queen w/o Freddie.

Jim Morrison-The Doors
Freddie Mercury-Queen
Donald Fagen-Steely Dan

Robert Plant

What about Mick Jagger?

Let's face it, ANY Classic Rock band up to about 1979-80 was nothing without their original singer.

Let's be real.......Skynrd,AC/DC,Sam Halen....???

You only get to vote once and for one person.  That’s the rule. ✊

Also don’t forget to factor in how influential to others a particular candidate’s vocal style is/was.

Oh and debate is welcome here.  Just gotta follow forum rules.  No talking over others. 👋🏼

It's hard to choose. David Clayton Thomas

Since your the OP I must follow your rules.

Jim Morrison-The Doors

Steven Tyler - Aerosmith

Jerry Garcia...No way they become what they did without Jerry.

Not Peter Gabriel.......Phil Collins replaced him and the rest is history.

Disclaimer:   I am a BIG Peter Gabriel fan.

Talking HEads and David Byrne hit teh scene in ~ 1977 or so. Such a unique style! Think of all teh New Wave acts that followed and sounded kinda like him and Talking Heads but failed to take it any further really.   Mostly interchangeable with a few exceptions.

When the singer is also the main songwriter that ups his stock a lot I would say.   The winner probably has to wear both hats largely in their group.

Keith Lancaster - Acappella

I like the lesser known votes. Gives me something new to check into.   

Morrissey- The Smiths.

Zappa 

Brian Ferry

Need to familiarize with The Smiths.  
Why Morrissey?

Chris Cornell , Eddie Vedder, Delores ORiordan Dennis Deyoung
Rod Stewart, Eric Burdon,SRV, Just to name several greats others on this page have already been mentioned .

Every rock band whose overall sound is essentially defined by their lead vocalist.  The list is endless.

Roger Daltrey of the Who

Hi, map.
Morrissey was the lead singer of The Smiths.
The Smiths simply would not be The Smiths without Morrissey, no substitute.
No Morrissey, no Smiths.
He also wrote or co wrote their songs. 
Unique voice, unique lyrics, unique sound.

It’s true lead singers are key to a group’s success.

The MVP though plays a key role in elevating that group above others in other words the value can be measured by overall success. So a guy like Mick Jagger would qualify in that they are a very successful band. What if the singer was not Mick? Mick is not a great singer. Would the stones have been better off with a better singer? Probably not because Mick also played a major role on writing their songs. So an MVP despite not being a great technical singer. In fact I often think the Stones would be better served live with a better singer because Mick’s live performances though entertaining have often been very ragged and inconsistent vocally IMHO.

Nobody is mentioning the women.
What was Steeleye Span without Maddy Prior?
Fairport Convention without Sandy Denny?
The Pretenders without Chrissie Hynde?
Quarterflash without Rindy Ross?

This being a (de facto) male-only nerd forum, I suggest we remember how many riddles are solved by simply imagining that the hypothetical "doctor" is a woman. 

Annie Haslam made Renaissance successful. 

Ian Gillan of Deep Purple

I’m a Gillan fan and he helped get DP to their highest place but DP fared well with other singers over the years. 

The Smiths are on my list of groups I need  to listen to more. 

The Talking Heads were very quirky and  unique in their day in addition to being a great band and ultimately were very successful commercially as well.   David Byrne was the very unique X factor that made them stick out from other bands of the day and that so many other tried to emulate.  Hence my vote for him. 

Ric Ocasek The Cars.

No...Benjamin Orr of The Cars. ; )

Seriously though...singer of their best songs...and many only know of Ocasek...or even think Ocasek sings those too.

We have to give Ronnie James Dio his recognition. RIP Mr.Dio.

Ian Gillan of Deep Purple and Black Sabbath. Plus the Gillan Band! A real trooper!

Frank Zappa!

Richard Thompson, Gary Brooker (Procul Harum) and Chris Youlden (Savoy Brown).

Thomas Gabriel Warrior (Hellhammer, Celtic Frost, Triptykon). Swiss black metal!

Steve Perry.

James Hetfield of Metallica! 

Brian Johnson...filled big shoes
Axl Rose...
Jim Morrison...

Gene Simmons of Kiss! Stick out that tongue!