# 1980s Metal - Anyone have better range than Randy Jackson? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 29, 2013, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1980s-metal-anyone-have-better-range-than-randy-jackson/659628 "2013-05-29T15:09:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2013, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1980s-metal-anyone-have-better-range-than-randy-jackson/659628/21 "2013-06-01T20:19:40Z")
Before he turned into a screaming growler [Phil Anselmo had some hella range](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyczwqRD2NI) circa 1990, which pedantically still is part of the 1980s. ---
**Author:** ![bytheway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df705f/32.png) [@bytheway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bytheway)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2013, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1980s-metal-anyone-have-better-range-than-randy-jackson/659628/22 "2013-06-02T08:19:02Z")
> [@Flander](#): > > Steelheart! > > Sorry, I can’t add a link because I’m at work. [I’ll Never Let You Go](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-nyeiKk35M), at the 3:22 mark. ---
**Author:** ![Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/les_espaces_du_sommeil/32/308_2.png) [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Les_Espaces_Du_Sommeil)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2013, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1980s-metal-anyone-have-better-range-than-randy-jackson/659628/23 "2013-06-03T12:15:23Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > [This opera singer might differ with you](http://www.invisibleoranges.com/2010/07/ask-a-real-musician-5-classic-male-metal-singers/). > > Note that Halford is her favorite, tho. Excellent read, thanks ;). ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1980s-metal-anyone-have-better-range-than-randy-jackson/659628/24 "2013-06-04T00:42:24Z")
> [@bytheway](#): > > [I’ll Never Let You Go](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-nyeiKk35M), at the 3:22 mark. Thank you. Also, there is an acoustic version of “She’s Gone” with just him and a piano player. I’ll post the link when I get home if no one beats me to it. ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1980s-metal-anyone-have-better-range-than-randy-jackson/659628/25 "2013-06-04T01:15:24Z")
> [@Flander](#): > > Thank you. Also, there is an acoustic version of “She’s Gone” with just him and a piano player. I’ll post the link when I get home if no one beats me to it. [She’s Gone](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSybHR50LpM). Sang while chewing gum. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1980s-metal-anyone-have-better-range-than-randy-jackson/659628/26 "2013-06-04T01:30:17Z")
Messiah Marcolin, weirdo extraordinaire [Bewitched](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3uvf0cn0jo) by Candlemass [Mirror Mirror](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRHEnREuJZQ) by Candlemass ---
**Author:** ![chargerrich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chargerrich/32/5399_2.png) [@chargerrich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chargerrich)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1980s-metal-anyone-have-better-range-than-randy-jackson/659628/27 "2013-06-04T13:19:04Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Just watched that Zebra video and I don’t think his range is really all that impressive. he gets pretty scratchy at the higher end of his range and I didn’t really hear him hit any particularly high notes…not in the same realm as early Halford (like the Ripper) or Geoff Tate do/did. Really? I am no vocal range expert but he gets to a level I do not hear often and sounds painful 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2013, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1980s-metal-anyone-have-better-range-than-randy-jackson/659628/28 "2013-06-04T18:09:00Z")
I always liked Tom Keifer of Cinderella. ---
**Author:** ![azraiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@azraiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/azraiel)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2013, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1980s-metal-anyone-have-better-range-than-randy-jackson/659628/29 "2013-06-06T02:42:59Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > [This opera singer might differ with you](http://www.invisibleoranges.com/2010/07/ask-a-real-musician-5-classic-male-metal-singers/). > > Note that Halford is her favorite, tho. Hmm. I don’t read it the same way. I read it that she thought Dickinson and Dio were the best–“impeccable”, to use her term. She says that she would love to get her hands on Halford because she could help him. He has “mad skills, but they aren’t well-integrated.” So I interpret her ranking as: T1 Dickinson T1 Dio 3 Halford 4 King Diamond 5 Ozzy Dickinson and Dio need no help, while she has nothing to offer Diamond and Ozzy. But Dickinson has the right combination of innate talent and lack of training that she feels she could really help him with his technique. ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2013, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1980s-metal-anyone-have-better-range-than-randy-jackson/659628/30 "2013-06-06T04:29:00Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > This will quickly become a list thread for high metal vocalists. > > **Rob Halford** of Judas Priest and **Geoff Tate** of Queensryche are always at the top of list. Both had/have amazing range and technique… I really wanted to Like Geoff Tate, but he was a pompous douche when I met him at a pre-show meet and greet. There is a cool part later on in this story, skip to the end if you want. My friends GF was doing a promo for a radio station and got a few of us passes to meet the band, sign autographs etc, and see the show. We met what was left of Queensryche, I think only the drummer and Geoff were the only original members at that point (late 90’s). Geoff wasn’t a true dick, but his eyes were literally scanning for anything above eye level of everyone there. He was not happy, and treated the most casual of us as if it was a burden to have to talk to people. Whatevs. I wanted to ask the drummer about recording in a cathedral! When I asked him (Scott Rockenfeld?) oh Rockenfield.. Cool Name huh? He said he had no memory of doing such a thing, but it might have happened. At least he didn’t say he was too high or drunk to remember. We were each given current posters to have the band members sign, which we did just for the sake of it I guess. The new guys, bass, guitar, maybe another guitarist were almost overly friendly. We had no idea who they were but damn if they weren’t some of the nicest most engaging musicians I’ve ever met, and I’ve “met” many. After the meet and greet, we had to actually go through the ticket taking booth and give our names to be formally admitted to the show. I, with signed poster in hand, went to the booth and was behind a group of three guys. These guys had apparently traveled at least two hours, maybe three to see the show, and did not have the foresight to buy tickets in advance. At least two of them had visible Queensryche tattoos. The show was sold out. I only had my name on the guest list, so I couldn’t get them all in. I offered them my signed poster, and they were awed by it. I was more than happy to donate it, and I hoped that it made their night a bit better. In retrospect the story was cooler at the time than on re-telling. James La Brie from Dream Theater was a douche as well. > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Seriously? It took 6 posts before anyone mentioned Bruce Dickinson? I too find that surprising. I am not surprised that Geddy Lee hasn’t been mantioned though, people (read: non-Rush fans) really hate his singing style. > [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > I always liked Tom Keifer of Cinderella. He has/had a very unique vocal style. He also ties with Mick Mars as being one of the ugliest rock stars ever, at least he has much more money than I do to make up for that. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2013, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1980s-metal-anyone-have-better-range-than-randy-jackson/659628/31 "2013-06-06T04:55:52Z")
> [@azraiel](#): > > Hmm. I don’t read it the same way. I read it that she thought Dickinson and Dio were the best–“impeccable”, to use her term. She says that she would love to get her hands on Halford because she could help him. He has “mad skills, but they aren’t well-integrated.” > > So I interpret her ranking as: > > T1 Dickinson > T1 Dio > 3 Halford > 4 King Diamond > 5 Ozzy > > Dickinson and Dio need no help, while she has nothing to offer Diamond and Ozzy. But Dickinson has the right combination of innate talent and lack of training that she feels she could really help him with his technique. That’s how I read it, as well. ---
**Author:** ![azraiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@azraiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/azraiel)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2013, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1980s-metal-anyone-have-better-range-than-randy-jackson/659628/32 "2013-06-06T05:43:06Z")
> [@azraiel](#): > > Dickinson and Dio need no help, while she has nothing to offer Diamond and Ozzy. But **Halford** has the right combination of innate talent and lack of training that she feels she could really help him with his technique. is what I meant to say… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1980s-metal-anyone-have-better-range-than-randy-jackson/659628.md?page=1)