Every example I can think of seems like its the lead singer who overshadows the others, so I’ll ask the question here, because I know some of you will know of some examples. Even the great flamboyant guitarists I think of always had a singer with some kind of charisma, energy, or flamboyance.
Keith Relf of the Yardbirds. I’m always surprised by how few people recognize the name, especially since he lays claim to the most rock n roll death ever - electrocuted by an electric guitar.
That was sad, especially with his sister (Jane Relf, great singer) coming in to form Illusion, which I preferred over Renaissance.
I guess Greg Rollie could be one, but it must help if the band’s name (Santana) is named after the guitarist, but even more, I think someone who is confined to the keyboards who can’t move won’t get all the adulation.
Not really sure he qualifies, but I was tempted to mention Peter Wolf of the J. Geils Band for this reason.
And, then, Rolie moved to a new band, along with Santana guitarist Neil Schon: Journey. After their first few albums, they brought in Steve Perry to act as co-lead singer with Rolie, but Perry quickly became identified as the lead singer, and Rolie eventually left the band.
I really liked those first couple of albums, the fusion stuff.
I was thinking of James Dewar (Robin Trower).
Not unknown (his name is part of the band’s name) but definitely overshadowed: Greg Lake in ELP. A really underrated lead singer who was overshadowed by his bandmates’ widely acknowledged (and worshiped) virtuosity.
How about Brian Johnson of AC/DC. He suffers in comparison to Bon Scott, so some might not feel he qualifies as a “great” singer. But he was the voice of some of their biggest hits, yet will always be overshadowed by Angus Young.
Mike Smith was the lead singer in The Dave Clark Five.
Paul Jones and Mike d’Abo were both overshadowed by the keyboard player in Manfred Mann (known in the States?).
I guess another obvious example of a singer being overshadowed would be Chic. The band was Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards. I couldn’t tell you who the lead singer was - any offers? (No peeking). I guess that may take them out of the “Great” category - but they did their job: the band was pretty damn big.
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Ray Collins was the lead singer for the Mothers first few albums, but no one remembers him.
Paul Stanley is arguably overshadowed by Gene Simmons in KISS.
I always thought Pete Townshend overshadowed Roger Daltry in The Who. Pete leaped about, armwhirled his chords, smashed guitars, and ang half the songs. Roger had…a tambourine. There’s a reason that air-tambourining and tambourine-face never became rock tropes.
hamster-dupe
I don’t know about “great lead singer” but Derek St. Holmes was the lead singer of Ted Nugent’s band for the vast majority of their songs, but Ted Nugent tended to be the lead singer on a lot of their singles and hits. Surely that was always completely a coincidence…
He was great in Perry Mason.
Eddie Van Halen with Sammy Hagar?
Thats probably wrong.
I’d say that was accurate, Wesley.
Marty Balin. That’ll teach him to recruit a girl singer for his band.