# Start a rock band with an established lead singer **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 1, 2009, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/start-a-rock-band-with-an-established-lead-singer/515924 "2009-11-01T08:05:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/start-a-rock-band-with-an-established-lead-singer/515924/1 "2009-11-01T08:05:45Z")
Suggestions in no particular order: Freddie Mercury Bono James Hetfield Sim Wilson (maybe one person will know this one) Roger Daltrey Elton John Annie Lennox David Lee Roth You may choose any epoch for your singer. You may choose DLR at the 1984 record specifically. Game on!! ---
**Author:** ![Stringer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Stringer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringer)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/start-a-rock-band-with-an-established-lead-singer/515924/2 "2009-11-01T09:38:21Z")
Robert Plant or Freddie Mercury, probably. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/start-a-rock-band-with-an-established-lead-singer/515924/3 "2009-11-01T12:46:47Z")
I call dibs on Steve Perry. Holy crap, that man can belt out a tune. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/start-a-rock-band-with-an-established-lead-singer/515924/4 "2009-11-01T18:11:55Z")
Assuming we’re talking about vocals and performing only, and not songwriting, Geoff Tate of Queensrÿche. I’ll fill out the band with [Mike Portnoy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Portnoy) (Dream Theater) on drums, [Steve Harris](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Harris_(musician)) (Iron Maiden) on bass, [Pete Townshend](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Townshend) (The Who) on lead guitar, [Jerry Cantrell](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Cantrell) (Alice In Chains) on guitar and backing vocals, and [Roddy Bottum](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roddy_Bottum) (Faith No More) on keyboards. Yeah, it’d be a pretty heavy band. ---
**Author:** ![AppallingGael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9bd4f/32.png) [@AppallingGael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AppallingGael)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/start-a-rock-band-with-an-established-lead-singer/515924/5 "2009-11-01T20:20:11Z")
I’m in favor of merging the surviving Beatles with the surviving Who. I guess they could be “The Whotles”. They mesh so perfectly I’m surprised they haven’t done it already. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/start-a-rock-band-with-an-established-lead-singer/515924/6 "2009-11-01T20:40:59Z")
Yeah, can you imagine that lineup topping the bill at Glastonbury? They’d have to get a pro video crew in there too, and sell the DVDs. You couldn’t let that go by. The only problem I think is getting Ringo to play like Keith. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/start-a-rock-band-with-an-established-lead-singer/515924/7 "2009-11-02T21:50:27Z")
The Who already has a Starkey manning the drums, and he’s doing a damn good job. Maybe Ringo could play tambourine or something.