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Apr 25, 2019 · The 20 best rock singers of all time have become iconic figures in popular music, timeless legends who will never fade from memory.
- Folk Rock
Background Info on Folk-Rock . Folk Rock was born in the...
- Glam Rock
Glam rock, in its very first, classic incarnation in the UK...
- Bruce Springsteen
Among his many impressive distinctions, singer-songwriter...
- Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley - "Jailhouse Rock". Courtesy RCA "Jailhouse...
- Bon Jovi
Jon Bon Jovi’s savvy grasp of a broad arena rock aesthetic...
- Pop
The best pop songs contain all of these elements and more....
- Heavy Metal
AC/DC lead singer Bon Scott dies and is replaced by Brian...
- Top 10 LGBT Singers of All Time
Elton John has sold more than 300 million records worldwide....
- Folk Rock
- Rosalía. When Rosalía sings, it feels as if she’s pulling out decades of history from her throat and resurrecting them into thin air. Her vocal tone, the intuitive melismas and rhythmic accents of which were built from training in flamenco for more than a decade, possesses a crystalline nature that in turn awakens emotions deep in the hearts of listeners.
- Glenn Danzig. While his hardcore-punk contemporaries were ranting about alienation and social ills, the Misfits frontman was crooning about Astro Zombies, infanticide, and teenagers from Mars in a rich, defiantly melodic voice that harked back to his heroes Elvis Presley, Jim Morrison, and Roy Orbison (one of the legends he would later write for, along with Johnny Cash).
- Billie Eilish. Opting for subtlety instead of force or volume, Billie Eilish’s restraint makes the big emotions in her writing all the more intense. After revealing her soul-inflected tone at 14 with “Ocean Eyes,” she’s since mastered the technical elements that now comprise her signature style: controlled slides, delicate vibrato, and breathy texture that has inspired a new generation of pop singers to emulate.
- Burna Boy. A Nigerian cultural giant, Burna Boy is the ambassador of Afrobeats as a global movement that can feel equally at home climbing the European charts and maintaining a subtle emotional connection with past African genres like highlife.
- Zack de la Rocha (Rage Against the Machine) Early in Rage Against the Machine’s 2022 COVID-delayed reunion tour, Zack de la Rocha sustained an injury – later revealed as a torn Achilles – but soldiered on, telling the audience, “If I have to crawl across this stage, we’re gonna play for y’all tonight.
- Rubén Albarrán (Café Tacvba) Rubén Albarrán, the mercurial frontman of Mexican rock troupe Café Tacvba, stands as a luminous beacon of musical brilliance.
- Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters) You know you’re a successful frontman when your own name is just as globally recognized as your band’s — without having ever stepped out on your own.
- Paul Westerberg (The Replacements) A mess on the ladder of success, the ‘Mats manifested, at great peril, the idea that rock ‘n’ roll was meant to be rebellious.
- Freddie Mercury. 46,087 votes. With an unparalleled four-octave vocal range, this legendary frontman's powerful voice and flamboyant stage presence captivated audiences worldwide.
- Robert Plant. 30,738 votes. As the golden-haired god of rock, his distinctive high-pitched wails and soulful growls set him apart from other vocalists in the genre.
- Chris Cornell. 22,485 votes. Possessing a staggering four-octave range, this versatile vocalist was able to deliver both guttural screams and delicate falsettos with equal intensity.
- Steve Perry. 23,401 votes. His soaring vocals were instrumental in defining the sound of arena rock during the '70s and '80s. With a rich tone and incredible range, he could effortlessly belt out power ballads or rock anthems with equal passion.
- Mark E Smith
- Jeff Buckley
- Jack Bruce
- Captain Beefheart
- Levon Helm
- Billy Idol
- Bob Seger
- Morrissey
- Peter Frampton
- Geddy Lee
Arguably the most contentious of inclusions in this list of the best male rock singers of all time, The Fall’s late frontman will no doubt polarize opinion here as his band did in life. However, while Smith’s heavy Mancunian accent, cryptic lyrics and idiosyncratic, sing-slurred vocal delivery were anything but textbook, he was a unique individual,...
Jeff Buckley’s accidental death, at the age of 30, curtailed what should have been a brilliant career. On the only album released during his lifetime, 1994’s spellbinding Grace, he made full use of his four-octave vocal range both on magnificent self-penned original songs (“Dream Brother,” “Last Goodbye”) and haunting covers of James Shelton’s “Lil...
As one-third of rock’s first supergroup, Cream, Jack Bruce is predominantly recalled for his virtuosic bass playing and his dextrous songwriting skills. However, he was also an extremely accomplished singer, in possession of a forceful, but melodic timbre that was perfect for Cream’s driving blues songs and rich psychedelic rock. Check out:White Ro...
Don Van Vliet (aka Captain Beefheart) possessed a remarkable, five-octave vocal range that was so powerful that he reputedly shattered a studio mic while recording “Electricity’ for the Magic Band’s debut album, Safe As Milk. He was renowned for his growling, Delta blues-influenced delivery, and his band’s initial albums reflected their leader’s lo...
Drummer and co-founder of The Band, Levon Helm shared lead singer duties with pianist Richard Manuel and bassist Rick Danko. All three had distinctive voices, but Helm’s higher-pitched, reedy burr always added grace and gravitas to the songs he put his inimitable stamp on, such as “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” “Up On Cripple Creek,” and th...
The distinctive baritone of Generation X frontman turned 80s solo star Billy Idol owed a debt of gratitude to both Jim Morrison and David Bowie. However, he employed it to devastating effect on a series of dramatic radio hits such as “White Wedding,” “Rebel Yell,” and “Eyes Without A Face,” all of which became MTV staples and yielded multi-platinum...
Like his heartland rock rival Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger wrote impassioned, blue-collar anthems with an across-the-board appeal which he delivered with a raspy voice and a gutsy urgency. With help from evergreen classics such as “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man,” “Night Moves,” and “Turn The Page,” the Detroit-born rock singer-songwriter has moved over 75 ...
Renowned – and equally reviled – for the mournful dourness of his voice, Morrissey has nonetheless excelled as both lead singer with The Smiths and as a solo star. Deeply influenced by feminism and Mancunian writer/dramatist Shelagh Delaney, as well as glam rock and punk, he had no formal vocal training, but his high baritone has graced show-stoppi...
Formerly associated with Humble Pie and The Herd, Peter Frampton rose to superstar status in the mid-70s when his classic live album Frampton Comes Alive! moved over eight million copies. A commanding singer in his own right, Frampton is perhaps most associated with one of his signature sounds, the talk-box effect (which allows a musician to contro...
Though few rock fans would argue Rush frontman Geddy Lee is one of rock’s greatest – and most versatile – bassists, his vocal abilities tend to polarise opinion. He sang in a high pitch on the band’s landmark 70s releases such as Caress Of Steel and A Farewell To Kings, but discovered a deeper register that he used to charismatic effect on Rush’s s...
- Tim Peacock
May 27, 2024 · Taking the crown as the Greatest Rock Singer ever is, perhaps unsurprisingly, Queen frontman Freddie Mercury.
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Aug 20, 2024 · In 1991, John Mellencamp called Rodgers "the best rock singer ever". Freddie Mercury, the original Queen vocalist, in particular liked Rodgers and his aggressive style. Also ranks # 7 on Every Member of Queen, Ranked Best to Worst
