After not blogging for some time, I wanted to come back with something that was thought-provoking, comprehensive, and a bit controversial. I've spent the better part of the day coming up with my list of what I think are the best rock/metal vocalists of all time.I came up with a list of 100 people, which was surprisingly difficult to assemble (many were left off the list), listed in descending order from greatest to 100th greatest. I paid no mind to popularity, albums sold, length of hair, sexual orientation, etc. but instead rated them on their soulful ability to hit the notes, passion, and their ability to emote the music. Many of them have octave ranges of either 4 or 5 and can crack glass without effort. Although I can handle the second on the rare occasion I do the dishes, I can't compete with them with my paltry 0.43 octave range, even though the gene is in my blood, as quite a few gentlemen and gentlewomen from my ancestral land of Finland (you'll notice their names when you read them)--the homeland of Progressive/Symphonic Metal--make the list.
I case you haven't heard of some of the guys, look them up on Wikipedia. Check some of these guys out when you have a chance. They're all worthy of a download and listen. Feel free to disagree and/or come up with your own list, but don't knock 'em 'til you've tried 'em.
Let the discussion begin . . .
My top 100 Rock/Metal vocalists of all time.
1. Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden)
2. Tony Kakko (Sonata Arctica)
3. Chris Cornell (Soundgarden, Audioslave)
4. Steve Tyler (Aerosmith)
5. Layne Staley (Alice in Chains)
6. Geoff Tate (Queensrÿche)
7. Hansi Kürsch (Blind Guardian)
8. Axl Rose (Guns ‘N Roses)
9. James LaBrie (Dream Theater)
10. Jon Bon Jovi (Bon Jovi)
11. Ronnie James Dio (Black Sabbath)
12. Ivan Moody (Five Finger Death Punch)
13. Timo Kotipelto (Statovarius)
14. Sebastian Bach (Skid Row)
15. Matt Barlow (Iced Earth)
16. Phil Anselmo (Pantera)
17. Glenn Hughes (Black Sabbath, Deep Purple)
18. Paul Rodgers (Bad Company)
19. Tony Harnell (TNT)
20. Corey Taylor (Slipknot)
21. Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam)
22. Dave Mustaine (Megadeath)
23. Klaus Meine (The Scorpions)
24. Rob Halford (Judas Priest)
25. Miljenko Matijevic (Steelheart)
26. Glenn Danzig (Misfits, Danzig)
27. Ari Koivunen (Finnish singer)
28. Bon Scott (AC/DC)
29. Freddie Mercury (Queen)
30. David Draiman (Disturbed)
31. Jarko Ahola (Teräsbetoni)
32. James Hetfield (Metallica)
33. Maynard James Keenan (Tool, A Perfect Circle)
34. Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin)
35. David Coverdale (Deep Purple, Whitesnake)
36. Sammy Hagar (Montrose, Van Halen, Chickenfoot)
37. Ozzy Osbourne (Black Sabbath)
38. Russell Allen (Symphony X)
39. Lance King (Avian, Balance of Power, etc)
40. Philip Labonte (All That Remains)
41. Marco Hietala (Nightwish)
42. Myles Kennedy (Alter Bridge)
43. Lemmy Kilmister (Motörhead)
44. Jonathan Davis (Korn)
45. Mike Patton (Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, etc.)
46. Michael Sweet (Stryper)
47. Eric Adams (Manowar)
48. Ian Gillan (Deep Purple)
49. Andi Deris (Helloween)
50. Brian Johnson (AC/DC)
51. Geddy Lee (Rush)
52. Mark Slaughter (Slaughter)
53. David Defeis (Virgin Steele)
54. Tarja Turunen (Nightwish)
55. Amy Lee (Evanescence)
56. John 'Gio' Cavaliere (Black Majesty)
57. Serj Tankian (System of a Down)
58. Steve Perry (Journey)
59. Jeff Keith (Tesla)
60. Roy Khan (Kamelot)
61. Chad Kroeger (Nickelback)
62. Bono (U2)
63. Yama-B (Galneryus)
64. Howard Jones (Killswitch Engage)
65. Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth)
66. Robin McAuley (MSG)
67. Michael Kiske (Helloween)
68. Tim "Ripper" Owens (Beyond Fear, Yngwie Malmsteen)
69. Chuck Billy (Testament)
70. Jeff Scott Soto (Yngwie Malmsteen, Journey)
71. Joe Lynn Turner (Yngwie Malmsteen, Deep Purple)
72. Rob Zombie (Rob Zombie, White Zombie)
73. Wayne Static (Static X)
74. Pepper Keenan (Corrosion of Conformity)
75. Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins)
76. M. Shadows (Avenge Sevenfold)
77. King Diamond (King Diamond, Merciful Fate)
78. Randy Blythe (Lamb of God)
79. Anneke van Giersbergen (The Gathering)
80. Vince Neil (Mötley Crüe)
81. Chad Gray (Mudvayne, Hellyeah)
82. Blaze Bayley (Iron Maiden)
83. Dee Snider (Twisted Sister)
84. Don Dokken (Dokken)
85. Joan Jett (Joan Jett and the Blackhearts)
86. Ian Astbury (The Cult)
87. Alexi Laiho (Children of Bodom, Warmen)
88. Dennis DeYoung (Styx)
89. Anders Fridén (In Flames, Dark Tanquility)
90. Cristina Scabbia (Lacuna Coil)
91. Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society, Ozzy Osbourne)
92. Paul Di'Anno (Iron Maiden)
93. Roger Daltrey (The Who)
94. Steve Marriott (Small Faces, Humble Pie)
95. Zack de la Rocha (Rage Against the Machine)
96. Lajon Witherspoon (Sevendust)
97. Tom Araya (Slayer)
98. Ryan McCombs (Soil, Drowning Pool)
99. Shagrath (Dimmu Borgir)
100. Josh Todd (Buckcherry)
