The greatest rock and roll singer

[denquixote]

I just saw Ronnie Spector last night and she was absolutely fantastic, better than I might ever have anticipated. Who is the best rock and roll singer you have ever seen in person? By Rock and Roll I am hoping to limit the range to those who might have started their careers prior to 1970 or have been obviously and strongly influenced by those who have. If there is a better way to describe R & R, other than I know it when I hear it, please describe.

[drastic_quench]

Never saw in person, but the answer is Freddie Mercury. Everyone else is competing for the #2 spot.

[denquixote]

I had a feeling this would not work. First of all, the idea is to identify someone you saw, not see who has the best reputation. Second I disagree that Freddie mercury sang R & R. but I guess that is where the debates would begin.

[drastic_quench]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zO6D_BAuYCI

Pretty rock n roll. It's not like I don't regret buying tickets.

[Mewl Dear]

Ian Gillan is by far the best R&R singer I ever saw and I've seen many.

[MPB in Salt Lake]

Do you want examples of performers who are only vocalists in their respective bands (e.g. Roger Daltry-The Who, Mick Jagger-Rolling Stones, Robert Plant-Led Zeppelin) or would someone who plays an instrument in addition to singing also be eligible for the title?

Either way, Van Morrison has both a voice and a unique vocal style that are legendary, with both his fans and his musical peers alike....

[WordMan]

Originally Posted by denquixote

I just saw Ronnie Spector last night and she was absolutely fantastic, better than I might ever have anticipated. Who is the best rock and roll singer you have ever seen in person? By Rock and Roll I am hoping to limit the range to those who might have started their careers prior to 1970 or have been obviously and strongly influenced by those who have. If there is a better way to describe R & R, other than I know it when I hear it, please describe.

:: pulls up chair, grabs popcorn::

This may be interesting.

[denquixote]

Originally Posted by drastic_quench

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zO6D_BAuYCI

Pretty rock n roll. It's not like I don't regret buying tickets.

Again, I am having trouble. Yes it's a good song. Yes. I would call that particular song R & R. I don't think of Freddy as a R & R singer and that one example has not forced me to change my mind. Also, "it's not like I don't regret buying tickets" is a little hard to decipher. I assume you are voting for Freddy.

[Jamicat]

Depends on Genra of Rock n Roll you mean...

To name a few...

Before 70's:
(never seen)

Rodger Daltry
Robert Plant

Afterwards:
(seen)

Rob Halford
Dio
Sammy Hagar
Dee Snyder
Blackie Lawless
Pat Benetar
Steve Perry

[denquixote]

I, apparently am the only person who distinguishes among Rock, Classic Rock and Rock & Roll. However I am more than willing to concede that Rod Stewart, Paul McCartney, Van Morrison, Mick Jagger et al are Rock & Roll singers. Freddy Mercury and Ian Gillian are (IMHO) not.

[WordMan]

Originally Posted by denquixote

I, apparently am the only person who distinguishes among Rock, Classic Rock and Rock & Roll. However I am more than willing to concede that Rod Stewart, Paul McCartney, Van Morrison, Mick Jagger et al are Rock & Roll singers. Freddy Mercury and Ian Gillian are (IMHO) not.

So far, not interesting - just someone setting their own rules about what is "rock" and expecting others to blindly accept them. Have fun.

[Nunzio Tavulari]

Ronnie Spector is terrific, but I favor Darlene Love above her. For best though, I pick Elvis Presley. I didn't like his music as much as I appreciated his voice. He was he was fat, stoned and not paying attention when I saw him. But when he was cooking on all burners, he had a great voice that could cover many different styles.

Meatloaf can kick ass on a good night too.

[Nunzio Tavulari]

Originally Posted by WordMan

So far, not interesting - just someone setting their own rules about what is "rock" and expecting others to blindly accept them. Have fun.

He didn't ask for "rock" singers. He asked for Rock & Roll. The difference is as large as between grunge and britpop or dixieland and bop. As I've said in previous posts, the dividing line falls somewhere around 1966.

That said, the OP has some restrictions that are difficult to meet and distinctions haven't been clearly spelled out. I feel that this will be a contentious and short thread.

[WordMan]

Originally Posted by Nunzio Tavulari

He didn't ask for "rock" singers. He asked for Rock & Roll. The difference is as large as between grunge and britpop or dixieland and bop. As I've said in previous posts, the dividing line falls somewhere around 1966.

That said, the OP has some restrictions that are difficult to meet and distinctions haven't been clearly spelled out. I feel that this will be a contentious and short thread.

We're good on the fact that there's a diff b/t rock 'n roll and rock - in this case, the latter part of your post is my basic point here...

[Chefguy]

Roy Orbison [end thread].

[Jonathan Chance]

Gotta admit. It terms of technical ability (and those I've seen) Roy Orbison would be right up there. He really had some pipes.

Though Chuck Berry is a hilariously entertaining rock and roll singer and should be up there. Technically he's nothing special at all...but he brings joy to it.

[MPB in Salt Lake]

Originally Posted by Jonathan Chance

Though Chuck Berry is a hilariously entertaining rock and roll singer and should be up there. Technically he's nothing special at all...but he brings joy to it.

If you think he lights up when playing onstage, you should see his face when he gets a hold of a new batch of photos featuring 12 & 13 year-old girls pissing and shitting on the toilet!!!

[TreacherousCretin]

Howard Kaylan. Saw him with the Turtles in '68, and with the Flo And Eddie band (after the Zappa years) in '72.

[LVBoPeep]

Originally Posted by drastic_quench

Never saw in person, but the answer is Freddie Mercury. Everyone else is competing for the #2 spot.

That was exactly what I came up with. I love Queen but it's no where near my favorite band but there's no question in my mind that Freddie Mercury was THE rock god.

[foolsguinea]

Wait, so do Paul Rodgers and Robert Plant count, or are they "classic rock" or blues or something?

[denquixote]

Originally Posted by WordMan

So far, not interesting - just someone setting their own rules about what is "rock" and expecting others to blindly accept them. Have fun.

Actually, about what is R & R. But as I said I am willing to listen to arguments for other definitions.

[denquixote]

I am inclined to count both Paul Rodgers and Robert Plant as R & R. Hey I am not making any great distinctions here. The question I asked is about the greatest R & R singer you have ever seen. Realizing this distinction might be hard to make in a lot of cases I gave everyone plenty of room. I gave a cutoff date of 1970 unless the work done after that is clearly derivative of those performers who preceded that date. I realize all of the Chess performers such as Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, Howling Wolf etc. are strictly speaking blues based, but I would include them and any of their followers. I would include the Stray Cats and other derivatives of Rockabilly, or derivatives of Swamp Rock or DooWop or whatever. Too broad? Too narrow? Too uninteresting? Let it die. I was just curious who might have seen whom and who they thought was average, good, great or transcendent.

[Ají de Gallina]

Originally Posted by LVBoPeep

That was exactly what I came up with. I love Queen but it's no where near my favorite band but there's no question in my mind that Freddie Mercury was THE rock god.

Count me in for Freddy. The motherf-ing range and power are unmatched.

[Mixolydian]

Van Morrison tops my list too, but here's some more that I've had the pleasure of seeing live not mentioned yet:

Jerry Lee Lewis
Peter Wolf
Southside Johnny
Ray Davies
Chrissie Hynde
Gregg Allman

[Fear Itself]

Grace Slick.

[KarlGauss]

I'm kinda partial to Ray Davies (The Kinks) and Eric Burdon (The Animals).

Ray.

Eric.

[E-Sabbath]

That I saw live. Hm. Three chords, two fingers, one asshole.
Ladies and gentlemen, Joey Ramone was that asshole.

Now, you may quibble, as he played punk, but the punk he played was rock and roll.

[SprungFromCages]

I'm going with Bruce Springsteen. Best live show in R&R history, and still going strong.

[Who_me?]

Originally Posted by drastic_quench

Never saw in person, but the answer is Freddie Mercury. Everyone else is competing for the #2 spot.

Did see in person, and agree wholeheartedly.

[astorian]

The best rock and roll singer I ever saw live?

Roy Orbison, at the Austin Aqua Festival, a few months before he died. He looked ridiculous, but hit EVERY high note, and sounded absolutely magnificent.

[panache45]

Another vote for Freddie Mercury.

[koeeoaddi]

Stevie Winwood

[Typo Negative]

Robin Zander of Cheap Trick has always been my favorite.

[JohnT]

There used to be a time when I would join this thread with great enthusiasm.

... Now I'm reading it and thinking "there's a difference between 'rock' and 'rock and roll'?"

My answer: Bono. Because he doesn't fit anything that the OP wants.

[TreacherousCretin]

I should have known "the greatest" wouldn't be restricted to one choice.
The other two "the greatest rock and roll singer" I saw and heard in person:

John Lennon (with The Beatles, August 1965)
Linda Ronstadt (Stone Poneys, 1967)

[Fear Itself]

Yeah, Linda Ronstadt is up there. I guess I prefer female voices.

[Fiddle Peghead]

Bob Dylan.

[oreally]

Originally Posted by denquixote

I, apparently am the only person who distinguishes among Rock, Classic Rock and Rock & Roll. However I am more than willing to concede that Rod Stewart, Paul McCartney, Van Morrison, Mick Jagger et al are Rock & Roll singers. Freddy Mercury and Ian Gillian are (IMHO) not.

Wow it's refreshing as hell (even shocking) to bump into someone else who gets that "rock" and "rock n roll" are not interchangeable terms.

That said, Van Morrison rock n roll? I think not. And and pretty poor singer overall, actually. That said, I like a lot of his stuff.

Elvis is your winner, closely followed by McCartney, with Bob Seger a respectable third, tied with Rondstadt (who easily wins for female singer).

Really focusing on just "rock n roll singers" narrows it down a lot. Frankly many mentioned don't qualify.

Originally Posted by Nunzio Tavulari

He didn't ask for "rock" singers. He asked for Rock & Roll. The difference is as large as between grunge and britpop or dixieland and bop. As I've said in previous posts, the dividing line falls somewhere around 1966.

? Rock n roll is a subset of the broader "rock," which also includes hard rock/metal, soft rock, southern rock, etc etc. Rock n roll didn't "end" in the 60s. Seger in fact is a great example of that.

Originally Posted by denquixote

I am inclined to count both Paul Rodgers and Robert Plant as R & R.

I can't imagine why. Neither were. Also both quite overrated singers IMO. Rodgers can't improvise or carry a note to save his life and Robert "I sing like I took way too much speed" Plant.....puh-leez. Fingernails on a chalkboard.

At least nobody said Neil Young

[Magiver]

Roy Orbison is probably the most gifted but Freddy Mercury had so much..... I can't easily put it into words.

Billy Squier has the same qualities as Mercury and reminds me of him in way's I again can't put into words. That would be one hell of a concert.

[Fiddle Peghead]

Maybe Neil Young can top Dylan, now that I think of it.

[Hilarity N. Suze]

There are too many. Just off the top of my head: Michael Hutchence, Freddie Mercury, Paul McCartney (well not lately, but he could rock with the best of 'em), Suzi Quatro (often overlooked!), Janis Joplin. Boy do I wish more people on my list were still alive. But: when they rocked, they ruled.

[Fiddle Peghead]

Originally Posted by oreally

Rock n roll is a subset of the broader "rock," which also includes hard rock/metal, soft rock, southern rock, etc etc.

But since a subset is a thing that is part of a bigger group, and since rock n roll contains both rock and roll, doesn't this necessarily mean that rock is a subset of rock n roll, instead of the other way around?

[denquixote]

#42 Yesterday, 05:36 PM
Fiddle Peghead
Guest Join Date: Mar 2001

Quote:
Originally Posted by oreally
Rock n roll is a subset of the broader "rock," which also includes hard rock/metal, soft rock, southern rock, etc etc. "

But since a subset is a thing that is part of a bigger group, and since rock n roll contains both rock and roll, doesn't this necessarily mean that rock is a subset of rock n roll, instead of the other way around?



Actually "Rock" and "Rock & Roll" are both terms of art describing different genres of music. While "R & R" oviously preceded Rock and influenced it in many ways I would argue that neither is a subset of the other. IMHO neither Paul Rodgers, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Robert Plant or Stevie Winwood are R & R singers, but they all come within the limits I described originally.

[Becky2844]

Little Richard.

[Boyo Jim]

Originally Posted by Hilarity N. Suze

There are too many. Just off the top of my head: Michael Hutchence, Freddie Mercury, Paul McCartney (well not lately, but he could rock with the best of 'em), Suzi Quatro (often overlooked!), Janis Joplin. Boy do I wish more people on my list were still alive. But: when they rocked, they ruled.

Thank you for mentioning Janis (not that I've ever seen her in person). She needs to be on the list.

I'm gonna throw in Robert Palmer and Warren Zevon because I think at least some of their music can be squeezed into the R&R category.

[oreally]

Originally Posted by Fiddle Peghead

Maybe Neil Young can top Dylan, now that I think of it.

A (sick) cat in heat can top Dylan. Or Young, for that matter.

[Fiddle Peghead]

Originally Posted by denquixote

Actually "Rock" and "Rock & Roll" are both terms of art describing different genres of music. While "R & R" oviously preceded Rock and influenced it in many ways I would argue that neither is a subset of the other. IMHO neither Paul Rodgers, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Robert Plant or Stevie Winwood are R & R singers, but they all come within the limits I described originally.

Truth be told, I really don't think "rock" and "rock-n-roll" have been defined adequately enough here for the discussion to amount to much, so far as the distinction is important in the first place. Yeah, I guess Roger Daltrey sang rock and Chuck Berry sang rock-n-roll, but exactly what is used to classify each in the first place? Good thread, though. It's nice to be reminded of some artists I haven't listened to in a while.

In any case, this discussion reminds me of a funny story. If you remember, back in 1986 Billy Joel was one of the first American rock artists to tour Soviet Russia. On his "Live! Alone in America" LP, Graham Parker at one point says, "I Love America. I wake up every day and say 'Thank God for America.' Imagine being, like a Russian or something, you know, get all that misinformation. They don't give the people the truth at all. I mean, those Russians think that Billy Joel is a rock-n-roll singer."

[Fiddle Peghead]

Originally Posted by oreally

A (sick) cat in heat can top Dylan. Or Young, for that matter.

Perhaps. A Rolling Stone magazine critic, it could have been Dave Marsh or Charles M. Young, I really can't remember, pretty much summed it up for me. He wrote, "Bod Dylan doesn't have a great voice. He has a great rock-n-roll voice." Not to get all indignant, but it really baffles the hell out of me that some who profess to love rock, or rock-n-roll, or whatever you want to call it, just cannot see the distinction and why it matters. But that's just me.

[phreesh]

In the school of Robert Plant, Chris Cornell (Soundgarden, Audioslave, Solo) has an amazing voice.

[Bridget Burke]

Originally Posted by SprungFromCages

I'm going with Bruce Springsteen. Best live show in R&R history, and still going strong.

Yup. But I also heard Grace Slick in her prime. And Young Roky Erickson.....