# Worst Vocals in All of Rock 'n' Roll? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 13, 2002, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531 "2002-12-13T16:43:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/21 "2002-12-13T18:37:46Z")
The lead vocalist for **The Cars** , ummm…Ric Ocasek? He always sounded to me as if he’d been recorded at one speed and played back at 80%. Almost weepy. _Let thuhh good taimezz wrollle…_ ---
**Author:** ![japatlgt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df705f/32.png) [@japatlgt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/japatlgt)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/22 "2002-12-13T18:39:50Z")
I know it’s only classifiable as rock but not really rock but let’s nominate that guy from Crash Test Dummies. I hope he never had to survive off of that voice.ya kiddin’ me, right? ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/23 "2002-12-13T18:40:23Z")
Robert Smith. He’s so anguished he sounds like he’s having a fuckin’ breakdown. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/24 "2002-12-13T18:40:28Z")
I think you made a typo in your post, **Beelzebubba**. AC/DC is the _greatest_ band in history. (Yeah, I know all their songs sound the same, but if you happen to like the sound of that song…) I also love Axl. As far as the OP, it sounds like he dislikes those with unconventional voices. I like 'em. Love Janis! I even like Neil Young, most of the time. Personally, I think the worst voice in rock’n’roll history (though it’s kind of a stretch to call it rock) is Britney Spears. She sounds like she’s pinching a loaf. ---
**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:** [December 13, 2002, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/25 "2002-12-13T18:43:01Z")
Keith Richards on ‘Happy’. I once saw this described as ‘vocal Alfalfaisms’. And it’s true. ---
**Author:** ![nitroglycerine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c5a1d2/32.png) [@nitroglycerine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nitroglycerine)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/26 "2002-12-13T18:43:38Z")
The guy that sings for that stupid metal band Jackyl. Also… all of the bubblegum punk boy-band singers who sound like fifth grade whiney little fucks. They all need to be locked in a room for an hour with the re-animated corpse of G G Allin. Good Charlotte would be renamed Brutally Sodomized Charlotte and Sum 41 would mean the amount of anal stitches they got after GG got done with 'em. 🙂 Jon ---
**Author:** ![mallen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9c0ed/32.png) [@mallen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mallen)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/27 "2002-12-13T18:45:04Z")
Geddy Lee Bob Dylan…even though the man is a genius lyrically, his voice grates on me To those that said Axl, Neil :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Bomzaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@Bomzaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bomzaway)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/28 "2002-12-13T18:52:56Z")
Oh come on, **Neil Young** is BY FAR the worst as far as vocals are concerned. However, it is his voice that makes some of his music good. Isn’t there a French term to describe something that is beautiful yet ugly at the same time? ---
**Author:** ![NYR407](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@NYR407](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NYR407)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/29 "2002-12-13T19:04:25Z")
Wow we actually got this far without Joe Walsh. The Eagles just came on the radio so I he came to mind. mallen, Dylan’s voice grates on you but Axl’s dosen’t? It actually sounds like Axl’s throat was scrubbed with a cheese grater. I believe the OP was about the voice not the music or lyrics. Dylan, Young and Bruce are all great lyricists but don’t have gifted voices. I wouldn’t be surprised if they agreed as well. I would much rather hear someone sing a song that they wrote than the cut and paste, industry manufactured crap out there today. At least the are singing their own words out of key. ---
**Author:** ![Siemsi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b19c9b/32.png) [@Siemsi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siemsi)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/30 "2002-12-13T19:05:23Z")
Ah, yes. The singer from Canned Heat makes me want to scoop my eyes out with razor blades. Dylan…ugh! Springsteen…ugh! Everyone else I can tolerate…so far… ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/31 "2002-12-13T19:28:55Z")
Janis Joplin Bob Dylan Bruce Springsteen (if someone would just slip him an Ex-Lax, his singing would improve 1000%) ---
**Author:** ![Odieman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a87d85/32.png) [@Odieman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odieman)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/32 "2002-12-13T19:30:19Z")
_:makes sure Clogboy isn’t around:_ Geddy Lee ---
**Author:** ![mallen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9c0ed/32.png) [@mallen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mallen)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/33 "2002-12-13T19:38:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NYR407 \* > \*\* > mallen, Dylan’s voice grates on you but Axl’s dosen’t? It actually sounds like Axl’s throat was scrubbed with a cheese grater. > > I believe the OP was about the voice not the music or lyrics. Dylan, Young and Bruce are all great lyricists but don’t have gifted voices. I wouldn’t be surprised if they agreed as well. I would much rather hear someone sing a song that they wrote than the cut and paste, industry manufactured crap out there today. At least the are singing their own words out of key. \*\* Nah, I love Axl’s voice, I’m probably one of the few that believes Axl is g-n-r. As for hearing an artist sing his own material, I totally agree with you, especially the ones mentioned above. BTW…Deserves a mention, Eddie Vedder. ---
**Author:** ![sulamith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@sulamith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sulamith)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/34 "2002-12-13T19:41:58Z")
Just checkin’ in to make sure my girl Stevie isn’t taking a beating…good, she’s not. ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/35 "2002-12-13T19:49:43Z")
I don’t really have an opinion on the OP, but I am seriously considering changing my username to **The Ghastly Renimated Corpse of G. G. Allin** No, I take that back. I’ll go ahead and nominate the sainted G. G. for worst vocalist in rock and roll history. I know it was hard to concentrate on the vocals, what with all of the shit throwing and beatings going on, but really, he sucked. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/36 "2002-12-13T20:04:15Z")
Any pop metal band lead vocalist (Aerosmith, Cinderella, et al) when they sing love ballads. Instant radio flipper. Congress should make them illegal. _You’re my AAAAIIIIIAAAAAIIIIAAAIIIIANJAILLLLLLLL_ ---
**Author:** ![unclviny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e274bd/32.png) [@unclviny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unclviny)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/37 "2002-12-13T20:05:36Z")
Mr. anus (actually he got a PHD., so I guess it’s Dr. anus) and Mr. HCI (horribly charred infant) from “the happy flowers”. unclviny ---
**Author:** ![NYR407](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@NYR407](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NYR407)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/38 "2002-12-13T20:17:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mallen \* > \*\*Nah, I love Axl’s voice, I’m probably one of the few that believes Axl is g-n-r. > As for hearing an artist sing his own material, I totally agree with you, especially the ones mentioned above. > > BTW…Deserves a mention, Eddie Vedder. \*\* I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree on Axl. I am one to talk since I like Bruce’s voices. ---
**Author:** ![NYR407](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@NYR407](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NYR407)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/39 "2002-12-13T20:18:19Z")
“voice” as a singular that should be. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/40 "2002-12-13T21:12:19Z")
Natalie Merchant, hands down. Not only is her voice flat, atonal and grating, but to top it off she warbles in the cheesiest fake accent ever. She’s from fucking Jamestown, New York! Nat, If you’re gonna do the fake-Brit accent thing, get a voice coach! She makes Madonna’s fake-brit accent sound plausible. Worse, I saw her performing on a rerun of SNL a while back, she couldn’t even hit the notes on songs she had written herself! Runner up, Jewel. Honey, you ain’t Joni Mitchell and you never will be. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531.md?page=3)