Aside from the Beatles, Cream, the Clash, and maybe the Who (Pete mainly sang on solo albums) - what bands have had more than one lead singer at the same time?
Most bands have had a song or two featuring a member other then the usual lead singer on vocals (The Edge’s “Van Dieman’s Land” and “Numb” for example in U2). So by two lead singers I mean at least 2 or more songs per album by another singer.
Fleetwood Mac had three lead singers: Lindsay Buckingham, Christine McVie and of course Stevie Nicks. Talk about a 3 ring circus.
well only one I can think of off the top of my head is BNL.
The later albumns more so than the early ones. They seem to trade off between the two of them.
yes I am kinda a Bare Naked Ladies Junkie… Have been since I recived “Gordon” CD as a present.
Finally the canadians are making up for subjecting us with Celine Dion and Bryan(t?) Adams.
Hope that helps.
Blink 182, Alice in Chains, Linkin Park, 311.
Pink Floyd took good advantage of its vocalists. In the beginning, band leader Syd Barrett sang most of the parts because he handled pretty much all of the writing. Then he sort of went mad and fell out of the group. From then, keyboardist Richard Wright and new guitarist David Gilmour assumed most of the vocal duties, although bassist and lyricist Roger Waters would sing an occasional song. Gilmour clearly had the best voice, so as the band began to gain its focus and become more one band and less three separate artists, he assumed most of the singing roles. Then Roger’s head got a little big and started singing most of the parts himself until he left the band. Even drummer Nick Mason gets a rather odd vocal on One of These Days (you have to hear it, I think), so that makes all five (sort of).
I’ve always liked how each voice was unique and suited each song perfectly…Gilmour and Wright complement each other sharing the lead in Echoes, for instance, enhancing the song’s already dark and foreboding mood.
Perhaps the best example of a multi-lead singer band is the group that needed no name…The Band. Richard Manuel, Levon Helm and Rick Danko shared lead vocals on a more or less equal basis, with Robbie Robertson chiming in a few times.
Further down on the artistic totem pole is Styx, who I believe also shared lead vocal duties.
Depeche Mode - Dave Gahan sings most of the tracks, but the slower, more introspective tracks are sung by Martin Gore. Dave usually does about 90% of the duties live, with Martin stepping out for a 2 song interlude in the middle and usually one encore.
Colin
311 (already mentioned but I gotta throw them in because their one of my favorite bands and I’m going to see them AGAIN on sunday :D)
Rancid, Operation Ivy, that’s all I can think of now. A friend and I have talked about this before so I’m sure I’ll think of more later.
How about X, or even the precursor to today’s boy-groups, The Monkees (though they did learn to play their instuments and wrote their own songs before disbanding)?
My faves, Husker Du.
They’re a little obscure (although I’m hoping that they will become more well known as time does by since they’re real good) but Sleater-Kinney’s core appeal to many of their fans is the way the two vocalists play off each other in most of their songs. Some songs are either song by Carrie or Corin, but on most of them the two sing seperate parts that entertwine. Good stuff!
Dead Can Dance come to mind, since I’m listening to them right now. And Throwing Muses, although Tanya Donnelly never had nearly as many as Kristin Hersh she had a couple of the best.
-fh
The Band.
Do The Traveling Wilburys count, or are all-star groups off limits?
CSNY?
These days most “bands” with two lead “singers” are of the rap-rock or rapcore variety. Linkin Park, 311, Crazytown, all have one “singer” and one “rapper.” Sorry to 311 fans to group them in with those other guys.
I’m looking at a CD by a Norwegian death metal band called Paradigma, which features three lead vocalists, one female and two male (one clean, one growly.)
But maybe that’s too obscure for this thread.
The Doobie Brothers would switch lead vocals between Michael McDonald and…err, that other guy.
During Deep Purple Mk.III, David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes shared lead vox on nearly every song.
Mike + the Mechanics had two lead singers, Paul Carrack and Paul Young (who died recently…no not THAT Paul Young…)
Triumph, Night Ranger, Kiss, Damn Yankees (or is that an all-star band?), Journey at one point (Greg Rolie & Steve Perry).
CSNY
Yes
ABBA.
The Eagles?
I don’t really know, since I don’t listen to them much.
Sly and the Family Stone!!
No one has mentioned my favorite of the bunch, Veruca Salt. Nina Gordon has since left (but shares lead on the American Thighs and Eight Arms to Hold cds) to do a solo thing, but as far as I know the band is still making cds with just Louisa Post as a vocalist. Alas, all good things come to an end…