# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/41 "2002-12-13T21:28:25Z")
Not exactly “Rock and Roll,” but Rod Stewart’s voice is murder. I used to live in a house with a woman who did aerobics to the same damned Rod Stewart tape day-in and day-out. If _I_ had a broken arrow, I’d have punctured both my eardrums. ---
**Author:** ![MissTake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misstake/32/3189_2.png) [@MissTake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissTake)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/42 "2002-12-13T21:41:30Z")
Any “pop” female that does that noxious yodelling thing (Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston come to mind). ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/43 "2002-12-13T21:45:35Z")
also not exactly rock n roll, but i’m surprised no one has nominated the guy singer from the Sugarcubes…maybe him and the guy from the B-52s could get together. then again ya know, i’ve never seen em in the same place together… ---
**Author:** ![mcms\_cricket](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@mcms\_cricket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mcms_cricket)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/44 "2002-12-13T22:02:11Z")
The worst vocals in all of Rock ‘n’ Roll? OK, this doesn’t exactly count (but then, neither do some of the others that have been proposed) Yoko Ono Say no More. Cricket ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/45 "2002-12-13T22:12:10Z")
Joe “Pop a vein in your forehead” Cocker. ---
**Author:** ![fatmac98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3ec8ea/32.png) [@fatmac98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fatmac98)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/46 "2002-12-13T22:47:22Z")
[cringing]Anything by Heart. . .[/cringing] ---
**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, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/47 "2002-12-13T22:49:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MissTake \* > \*\*Any “pop” female that does that noxious yodelling thing (Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston come to mind). \*\* I feel your pain. Everynight before bed I pray and ask God to deliver us from that shit. On another note, I must also nominate the fellas from Depeche Mode, Dave & Martin. Must have studied with Yoko and Bjork. If that’s singing then I’m Tony Bennett. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/48 "2002-12-13T23:08:51Z")
well, i have to grudgingly go along with neil young. he is great and extremely gifted, but the gift is not a singing voice. dylan second. ---
**Author:** ![typhoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ed8c4c/32.png) [@typhoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typhoon)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/49 "2002-12-13T23:18:39Z")
Tom Waits. ---
**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/50 "2002-12-13T23:27:38Z")
That guy from Motorhead. And that guy from AC/DC. And that other guy from The White Stripes. And Whitney Houston. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/51 "2002-12-13T23:31:55Z")
Bob freaking Dylan. ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/52 "2002-12-13T23:32:18Z")
Amateurs. You are all amateurs. Try giving a listen to some obscure 80’s thrash metal, and you’ll realize that just about everyone else mentioned in this thread (Dylan, Waits, etc.) sing like angels by comparison. The worst offenders: - **Wrath** (1st 2 albums) – not sure what animal crawled down his throat and died, but it’s sheer hell to listen to. - **Exodus** (1st album) – Paul Baloff may be more respected now that he’s dead, but after their first album, the band was quick to find a new singer who wouldn’t cause their listeners to poke out their eardrums with a toothpick. - **Agent Steel** – sort of the standard for undistinguished half-rate thrash metal, with a voice similar to that of fingernails against a chalkboard. Ok, maybe not THAT bad, but pretty bad nonetheless. ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/53 "2002-12-13T23:32:21Z")
J. Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. is pretty bad in a Neil Young sort of way. I know it’s opinion, but I’m really surprised that Tom Waits and Janis Joplin are mentioned here. Waits voice fits his songs wonderfully, and I always though Janis was an amazingly powerful singer with lots of nuance and style. ---
**Author:** ![KillerFig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/51bf81/32.png) [@KillerFig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KillerFig)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/54 "2002-12-14T00:17:32Z")
I think **KGS** is on the right track by bringing some thrash into the discussion, but (s)he’s missed out on the most terrible metal vocalist of them all: Seth Putnam, of the grindcore band [AC](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=SEARCH&sql=Bhxkzikljbb79)–a band whose only discernable talent is a knack for extremely misogynistic song titles. Truly terrible, horrible, no good, very bad vocals. I’ve tried to imitate the vocals when describing the band to friends, and they always think I’m joking until they actually hear a recording. Then they think I’m being too charitable with my descriptions. ---
**Author:** ![roadrunner70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19b73/32.png) [@roadrunner70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roadrunner70)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/55 "2002-12-14T00:23:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by typhoon \* > \*\*Tom Waits. \*\* Ahhh…my favorite saying…Tom Waits for no man. btw, I can do a perfect Neil Young impression when I have a massive cold. ---
**Author:** ![bluecanary](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bluecanary/32/3614_2.png) [@bluecanary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bluecanary)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/56 "2002-12-14T01:08:25Z")
Dylan and Cocker are obvious, but I also can’t stand Bono or Heather Small from M-People. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/57 "2002-12-14T01:44:33Z")
Kurt Cobain Eddie Vedder and all his clones (especially whatisface from Creed) ---
**Author:** ![nitroglycerine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c5a1d2/32.png) [@nitroglycerine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nitroglycerine)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/58 "2002-12-14T01:44:46Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by KGS \* \*\*Amateurs. You are all amateurs. Try giving a listen to some obscure 80’s thrash metal, and you’ll realize that just about everyone else mentioned in this thread (Dylan, Waits, etc.) sing like angels by comparison. The worst offenders: - **Exodus** (1st album) – Paul Baloff may be more respected now that he’s dead, but after their first album, the band was quick to find a new singer who wouldn’t cause their listeners to poke out their eardrums with a toothpick. Yeah, but for all that, Bonded By Blood was one of the greatest metal Lps of all time. Exodus never matched that album. Just like Iron Maiden’s original singer, Paul Baloff \ He wasn’t as good as Bruce Dickinson but maiden just didn’t have that edge after he left. The worst thrash singer though would have to be the Bathory guy. Chronos from venom was pretty bad, but in a cool way, kinda like evil popeye. James Hetfield is horrible as well. His teenage wailing on kill 'em all wasn’t too bad, but it just went downhill from there. Hahaha…there’s all sorts of old metal with bad singers in my head now…Grim Reaper, Cirith Ungol, King Diamond…the list goes on and on. Whoever said Lemmy from Motorhead needs to go into the closet with GG too. Jon ---
**Author:** ![MrsMagoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/58956e/32.png) [@MrsMagoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrsMagoo)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/59 "2002-12-14T01:50:12Z")
**Roadwalker** , I’ll see your Bobby Vinton and raise you a Tiny Tim. ---
**Author:** ![nitroglycerine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c5a1d2/32.png) [@nitroglycerine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nitroglycerine)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/60 "2002-12-14T01:58:43Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by KGS \* \*\*Amateurs. You are all amateurs. Try giving a listen to some obscure 80’s thrash metal, and you’ll realize that just about everyone else mentioned in this thread (Dylan, Waits, etc.) sing like angels by comparison. The worst offenders: - **Exodus** (1st album) – Paul Baloff may be more respected now that he’s dead, but after their first album, the band was quick to find a new singer who wouldn’t cause their listeners to poke out their eardrums with a toothpick. Yeah, but for all that, Bonded By Blood was one of the greatest metal Lps of all time. Exodus never matched that album. Just like Iron Maiden’s original singer, Paul Baloff \ He wasn’t as good as Bruce Dickinson but maiden just didn’t have that edge after he left. The worst thrash singer though would have to be the Bathory guy. Chronos from venom was pretty bad, but in a cool way, kinda like evil popeye. James Hetfield is horrible as well. His teenage wailing on kill 'em all wasn’t too bad, but it just went downhill from there. Hahaha…there’s all sorts of old metal with bad singers in my head now…Grim Reaper, Cirith Ungol, King Diamond…the list goes on and on. Whoever said Lemmy from Motorhead needs to go into the closet with GG too. Jon [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531.md?page=4)