# Favorite Rock vocalists **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 7, 2003, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-rock-vocalists/193478 "2003-08-07T01:01:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rolandgunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cdc98d/32.png) [@rolandgunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rolandgunslinger)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2003, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-rock-vocalists/193478/1 "2003-08-07T01:01:58Z")
What do you guys think? I’m smooooth singing not screaming. Heres a few of my favorites Paul Rogers - “Bad Company” Joe Lynn Turner - everybody from “Rainbow” to “Yngwie Malmsteens Rising Force” Buck Dharma - “Blue Oyster Cult” Anyone else? ---
**Author:** ![rolandgunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cdc98d/32.png) [@rolandgunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rolandgunslinger)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2003, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-rock-vocalists/193478/2 "2003-08-07T01:04:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rolandgunslinger \* > \*\*What do you guys think? I’m smooooth singing not screaming. Heres a few of my favorites > > Paul Rogers - “Bad Company” > Joe Lynn Turner - everybody from “Rainbow” to “Yngwie Malmsteens Rising Force” > Buck Dharma - “Blue Oyster Cult” > Anyone else? \*\* I meant “I’m THINKING smooooth singing” :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Leftover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/34f0e0/32.png) [@Leftover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leftover)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2003, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-rock-vocalists/193478/3 "2003-08-07T01:33:50Z")
Mike Patton - Faith no More, Tomahawk, fantomas, Mr. Bungle…etc. Layne Stayley - ex- Alice in chains and Thom yorke - Radiohead. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2003, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-rock-vocalists/193478/4 "2003-08-07T02:17:13Z")
Welcome aboard, **Leftover**. I’m not sure if **Roland** meant to state the kind of singers he was looking for, or his own personal preference, but I’ll just give my favorites. I like singers with growl, but I’m not big on actual screaming unless it’s done perfectly and in moderation (i.e., by the two guys on this list who do it). Gregg Allman Chris Cornell Warren Haynes Layne Staley Thom Yorke ---
**Author:** ![Skwerl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Skwerl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skwerl)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2003, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-rock-vocalists/193478/5 "2003-08-07T02:19:21Z")
Maynard James Keenan, from Tool and A Perfect Circle. Man, I’d love to have his voice. ---
**Author:** ![if6was9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47c2d/32.png) [@if6was9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/if6was9)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2003, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-rock-vocalists/193478/6 "2003-08-07T02:22:30Z")
Kind of against the grain of the OP, but I like screamers! Robert Plant Janis Gregg Allman David Lee Roth REAL singers… Pat Benetar Aretha Gladys Knight Smokey Curtis Mayfield Marvin Gaye ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Righteous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Dr.Righteous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Righteous)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2003, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-rock-vocalists/193478/7 "2003-08-07T02:26:49Z")
My two favorite “smooth singers”: Dennis DeYoung Steve Perry ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2003, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-rock-vocalists/193478/8 "2003-08-07T02:27:35Z")
He may be the ugliest human being ever, but he has a great rock’n’roll voice: Ronnie James Dio. ---
**Author:** ![verbenabeast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c4cdca/32.png) [@verbenabeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/verbenabeast)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2003, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-rock-vocalists/193478/9 "2003-08-07T03:48:09Z")
the late, great Freddy Mercury Bruce Dickinson from Iron Maiden and… although I wonder how many will agree… Geddy Lee of Rush ---
**Author:** ![if6was9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47c2d/32.png) [@if6was9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/if6was9)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2003, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-rock-vocalists/193478/10 "2003-08-07T04:07:51Z")
Yeah! I’ll agree with Geddy Lee! And I didn’t think of Freddie Mercury, either! ---
**Author:** ![Dragon\_Phoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Dragon\_Phoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragon_Phoenix)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2003, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-rock-vocalists/193478/11 "2003-08-07T04:07:56Z")
David Sylvian and Peter Gabriel. ---
**Author:** ![Orange\_Skinner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3be4f8/32.png) [@Orange\_Skinner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orange_Skinner)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2003, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-rock-vocalists/193478/12 "2003-08-07T04:18:14Z")
I’d say Alan Parsons for the smooth category, but I’m a fan of screamers, myself. Grace Slick, Ann Williams, John Lennon, off the top of my head. ---
**Author:** ![MusicJunkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df788c/32.png) [@MusicJunkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MusicJunkie)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2003, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-rock-vocalists/193478/13 "2003-08-07T04:21:20Z")
Peter Gabriel and that Sandman guy (Mark?) from Morphine. ---
**Author:** ![SlickRoenick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@SlickRoenick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlickRoenick)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2003, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-rock-vocalists/193478/14 "2003-08-07T05:02:15Z")
Dave Evans of AC/DC ---
**Author:** ![Tarrsk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/97f17d/32.png) [@Tarrsk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarrsk)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2003, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-rock-vocalists/193478/15 "2003-08-07T05:12:50Z")
Thom Yorke (Radiohead) Michael Stipe (R.E.M.) Corin Tucker (Sleater-Kinney) Freddie Mercury (Queen) and some assorted indie-label singers that I’m fond of for personal/nostalgic reasons. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2003, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-rock-vocalists/193478/16 "2003-08-07T07:26:20Z")
I think **Cheap Trick** vocalist Robin Zander has the best voice. From punky stuff to hard rock to power ballads, just the best. ---
**Author:** ![Ms\_Macphisto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b487fb/32.png) [@Ms\_Macphisto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms_Macphisto)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2003, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-rock-vocalists/193478/17 "2003-08-07T07:39:55Z")
Off the top of my head: Thom Yorke Michael Stipe Bono Robert Smith ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2003, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-rock-vocalists/193478/18 "2003-08-07T11:42:11Z")
Geoff Tate (Queensryche) ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2003, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-rock-vocalists/193478/19 "2003-08-07T12:21:18Z")
IIRC, Alan Parsons is a non-performing producer. The vocals on the albums were all handled by studio muscians. ---
**Author:** ![Gail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Gail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gail)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2003, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-rock-vocalists/193478/20 "2003-08-07T12:56:21Z")
Chrissy Hyndes of the Pretenders…That’s the voice I want. Art Garfunkel Eddy Vedder Roger Daltrey Robert Plant [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-rock-vocalists/193478.md?page=2)