# Bands With Multiple Lead Vocalists **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 27, 2013, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-multiple-lead-vocalists/672386 "2013-10-27T18:22:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2013, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-multiple-lead-vocalists/672386/1 "2013-10-27T18:22:28Z")
What are some bands where any one concert, or album, is likely to feature two or more people sharing lead-vocalist duties? Two examples that come to mind: **Styx** (at least, in their heyday; can’t say what’s going on with them now) would oft feature Tommy Shaw doing lead vocals on some songs (_Blue Collar Man, Foolin’ Yourself_); James Young on one or two others A(_Miss America, Snowblind_); and Dennis DeYoung handling the lion’s share. **The Eagles** seem to divvy up the lead vocal duties fairly evenly. A cursory sampling of some of their top hits has Glenn Frey singing _Take It Easy_, Don Henley singing _Hotel California_; undoubtedly Joe Walsh has taken the lead a time or two as well, though I don’t feel like researching The Eagles’ entire catalogue right now to be certain. Who else? ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2013, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-multiple-lead-vocalists/672386/2 "2013-10-27T18:23:47Z")
ABBA had the blond Agnetha and the redhead Frida. And Bjorn sang lead on “Does Your Mother Know”? And the Beatles used all four members as lead vocalists. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2013, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-multiple-lead-vocalists/672386/3 "2013-10-27T18:24:36Z")
The one mentioned in the title: the Band. Rick Danko, Richard Manuel, and Levon Helm switched off on vocals. There’s also a group called “the Beatles.” All of its members did lead vocals at one time or another. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2013, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-multiple-lead-vocalists/672386/4 "2013-10-27T18:35:00Z")
The Clash is one of the first that comes to my mind. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2013, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-multiple-lead-vocalists/672386/5 "2013-10-27T18:49:56Z")
The Cars used Ben Orr frequently. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2013, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-multiple-lead-vocalists/672386/6 "2013-10-27T18:54:30Z")
The Grateful Dead. Originally Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir and Pigpen, with Phil Lesh on backing vocals. Later, Donna Godchaux, then Brent Mydland, Vince Welnick and Bruce Hornsby all sung whilst playing keyboards. Also damn, being a keyboardist for the Dead was about as good a recipe for long life as being a drummer for Spinal Tap… ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2013, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-multiple-lead-vocalists/672386/7 "2013-10-27T19:01:48Z")
The Beatles? ETA: **RealityChuck** beat me to them. ---
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2013, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-multiple-lead-vocalists/672386/8 "2013-10-27T19:06:19Z")
**They Might Be Giants** : John Linnell and John Flensburg split up the lead singing about 50/50. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2013, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-multiple-lead-vocalists/672386/9 "2013-10-27T19:15:11Z")
Pink Floyd The Byrds Fleetwood Mac (in every incarnation) XTC The Go-Betweens Uncle Tupelo The Jayhawks I could go on with a little more effort, there are many bands that fit the criteria in the OP. ETA: Of course the Beach Boys. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2013, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-multiple-lead-vocalists/672386/10 "2013-10-27T19:17:31Z")
Um…Queen? Three of the four took lead one time or another and delivered the good. Plus, some of the best harmonies in rock and roll music. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2013, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-multiple-lead-vocalists/672386/11 "2013-10-27T19:30:17Z")
Just off the top of my head: **The Beach Boys** : Brian Wilson, Mike Love, and/or Carl Wilson on many of their best known songs, but the other band members have also contributed lead vocals. **Fleetwood Mac** : Stevie Nicks, Lindsay Buckingham, and Christine McVie in their most famous lineup **The Moody Blues** : Justin Hayward, John Lodge, Ray Thomas, and on earlier records Mike Pinder **The Bangles** : All four members sang lead at least occasionally **XTC** : Andy Partridge sang (and wrote) the majority, but Colin Moulding contributed at least a couple songs to each album. **The Alan Parsons Project** : Used many different lead vocalists on each album. Eric Woolfson and Lenny Zakatek are probably the most prolific and most recognizable, but there were many others. **The Kinks** : Ray Davies was the lead singer, but brother Dave got at least one or two lead vocals on most of their albums. **Trip Shakespeare** (a personal favorite): Matt Wilson, Dan Wilson, and John Munson shared lead vocal duties And then there are the “supergroups” formed by multiple singers, such as **The Traveling Wilburys, The Highwaymen, Lost Dogs, The Thorns** , etc. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2013, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-multiple-lead-vocalists/672386/12 "2013-10-27T19:38:23Z")
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, and all the various spin-offs, as well as all the bands the members came from (The Byrds, The Hollies, Buffalo Springfield). The Dubliners had several vocalists in every lineup. The original four - Ronnie Drew, Luke Kelly, Ciaron Bourke and Barney McKenna - all sang, and later so did Bobby Lynch, Jim McCann, Sean Cannon, Paddy Reilly, and Patsy Watchorn. Same with many folk groups. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2013, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-multiple-lead-vocalists/672386/13 "2013-10-27T19:42:20Z")
> [@Jonathan Chains](#): > > Um…Queen? Three of the four took lead one time or another and delivered the good. True, although their later albums relied less on lead vocals from Brian and Roger. ---
**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2013, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-multiple-lead-vocalists/672386/14 "2013-10-27T20:01:30Z")
Country music vocal group [Little Big Town](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Big_Town) has four original members, all of whom regularly alternate as lead singers. ---
**Author:** ![GovernmentMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9c0ed/32.png) [@GovernmentMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GovernmentMan)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2013, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-multiple-lead-vocalists/672386/15 "2013-10-27T20:06:20Z")
Sleater-Kinney ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2013, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-multiple-lead-vocalists/672386/16 "2013-10-27T20:11:57Z")
Sonic Youth. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2013, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-multiple-lead-vocalists/672386/17 "2013-10-27T20:58:28Z")
**Spirit** – Jay Ferguson, Randy California, and Mark Andes all did lead vocals. **The Bonzo Dog Band** – Vivian Stanshall, Neil Innes, and (sort of) Roger Spear sang for the group. **Peter Paul and Mary** **The Who**. While Roger Daltrey usually did lead vocals, John Entwistle sang his own songs, and Pete Townsend would occasionally join in. “Quadraphrenia” also had vocals by Keith Moon. **Jefferson Airplane** – Paul Kanter, Marty Balin, and Grace Slick all sang lead at various points. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2013, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-multiple-lead-vocalists/672386/18 "2013-10-27T21:04:23Z")
> [@Jonathan Chains](#): > > Um…Queen? Three of the four took lead one time or another and delivered the good. Plus, some of the best harmonies in rock and roll music. They were going to be my nomination for the thread. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Asympotically\_fat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Asympotically\_fat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asympotically_fat)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2013, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-multiple-lead-vocalists/672386/19 "2013-10-27T21:31:30Z")
The Righteous Brothers. Billy Medley did most of the singing on _You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’_ with Bob Hatfield duetting in parts, but Bob Hatfield sang _Unchained Melody_ as a solo. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2013, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-multiple-lead-vocalists/672386/20 "2013-10-27T21:38:37Z")
Deep Purple Mark III used to split vocal duties between Glenn Hughes and David Coverdale. And the Faces had both Rod Stewart and the late, great Ronnie Lane. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-multiple-lead-vocalists/672386.md?page=2)