# 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:** 15\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![NYR407](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@NYR407](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NYR407)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/61 "2002-12-14T02:03:44Z")
Nitro, you meant Paul Diano (original singer for Iron Maiden) ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/62 "2002-12-14T02:31:56Z")
I can’t believe people are saying that Joe Cocker and Rod Stewart have bad voices. They’re two of the best singers in Rock. Unless, of course, we’re grading on the heavy metal how-loud-and-high-can-you-scream scale… But you guys have missed someone who is, without a doubt, the worst singer to ever try to carry a note: **Kris Kristofferson**. Seriously. The man simply cannot hold a note. He can’t even approach one. He does not even have a passing familiarity with the concept of holding a note. No note-holder, he. ---
**Author:** ![Cholo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@Cholo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cholo)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/63 "2002-12-14T04:59:20Z")
Have any of you ever heard **Keith Moon** sing? He released an album in the mid 70’s called “The Other Side of the Moon”. (shudder) here’s some others… **Blue Cheer** singer **Wendy O. Williams** **Charles Manson** …I’m serious! He’s a terrible singer. Somehow I heard a CD of his and eck! ---
**Author:** ![Tanaqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Tanaqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanaqui)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/64 "2002-12-14T06:19:07Z")
There are many punk & metal singers who have absolutely no singing skills, but I don’t find it annoying at all in their music. It’s the whole point. To me, the lack of professional vocals is the best part. The voices that do drive me insane are the whining ones. That guy from the **Violent Femmes** - the single that got wide airplay makes me want to slit my throat. The guy from the flavor-of-the-week band a while back - **Wheatus, I think**? That was the _I’m just a teenage dirtbag, baby_ guy. The guy from **REM.** Man, I hated that elephant song. I don’t like Dave Matthews much, either. And what the hell is up with his bands name? That annoys me. Why would you name your band after yourself? Ugh. I like James Hetfield & Kurt Cobain, and like I said, I don’t dislike the vocals (read: straight out screaming) from hardcore type metal because that’s the point. I don’t think you need to sound so damn whiny for any genre though. ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Cool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@Joe\_Cool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Cool)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/65 "2002-12-14T07:30:20Z")
While I give mad props to whoever mentioned Yoko Ono, my vote has to go to El Duce, the vocalist for The Mentors. The Mentors, as you remember, are known for such timeless melodies as “Sandwich Of Love”, “Golden Shower”, and “Service Me Or Be Smacked”. Classic. 😃 But a horrible singer. ---
**Author:** ![Gerome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85e7bf/32.png) [@Gerome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gerome)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/66 "2002-12-14T11:18:25Z")
I’m gonna say the guy from the Smashing Pumpkins. God, how I hate his whiny whiny voice. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/67 "2002-12-14T12:12:25Z")
At least most every one named in this thread sings generally in key. Joe WhatsHisAss (Elliot?) from Def Leppard. Chee-rist. Dude couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket. ---
**Author:** ![hardygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@hardygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hardygrrl)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/68 "2002-12-14T17:11:31Z")
Mariah Carey _iiiiiiiiiiii cayyyyyyyyyyyyyyynnnnn mayyyyyyyyyyke it throuuuuuuuuuuuuuugh the raaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyynnnnnnnnn…_ Good thing your handlers make sure you don’t stare into said rain and drown. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![unclviny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e274bd/32.png) [@unclviny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unclviny)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/69 "2002-12-14T17:22:00Z")
I can’t remember who said it but my favorite Mariah comment (about that “glitter” movie) was “they don’t make shirts low cut enough”, HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. unclviny ---
**Author:** ![Intaglio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/71e660/32.png) [@Intaglio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intaglio)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/70 "2002-12-14T19:23:43Z")
Axl Rose Kurt Cobain Shaggy Kid Rock Bob Dylan Neil Young Janice Joplin Courtney Love Beyonce Knowles Kelly Osbourne Bjork Madonna How do/did these people get record deals/bands put together. ---
**Author:** ![CBCD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@CBCD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBCD)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/71 "2002-12-14T19:46:52Z")
Sheryl Crow. Her singing stinks. ---
**Author:** ![Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dread_pirate_jimbo/32/3897_2.png) [@Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dread_Pirate_Jimbo)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/72 "2002-12-14T21:06:20Z")
In their defence, the yodellers (Mariah, Whitney, Céline, etc.) have amazing singing abilities that they piss away with shitty songs and excessive vocal gymnastics–it’s not a competition to see how many notes you can cram into one syllable. The worst, IMO, are Bob Dylan and (I can not believe no one else mentioned this clown) Leonard Cohen. They should never have been permitted to come within a city block of a microphone. Being a good songwriter DOES NOT make you a good singer. ---
**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, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/73 "2002-12-14T21:28:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NYR407 \* > \*\*Nitro, you meant Paul Diano (original singer for Iron Maiden) \*\* Err…yeah… Another one in the bad-singer-but-it-works category is Exene from X…She’s one of my favorite singers, but sometimes it seems like she’s tone deaf. Someone said Wendy O…She could actually sing great, but, 'C’mon, the Plasmatics didn’t exactly call for sensitive and introspective vocal stylings. Could you imagine Liz Phair singing something Butcher Baby :eek: Jon ---
**Author:** ![raz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@raz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raz)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/74 "2002-12-14T23:39:37Z")
Macy Gray ---
**Author:** ![Arcangues181](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/cab0a1/32.png) [@Arcangues181](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arcangues181)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531/75 "2002-12-15T00:05:49Z")
That John Mayer guy. It looks like killer bees attacked his lips, and he sounds like it, too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-vocals-in-all-of-rock-n-roll/142531.md?page=3)