I just happened across this piece at Spike.com about the Top 5 Worst Voices of Rock and wanted to see what you think. Sure, it is totally subjective as it is an opinion piece, but the accompanying clips are pretty great, especially the clip of Motley Crue.
“I think we all have a good idea of what it takes to be a horrible lead singer in a rock band. The most important attributes that top my list are a bad voice, crappy songs and being really unaware of how sucky you are. It makes it even worse when these singers have great bands behind them and they still seem to blow ass. But in my opinion, live shows are the biggest eye-opener for a true music listener. OK, Here’s the list people…”
Top 5 Worst Voices of Rock [link]
I also just had a conversation with our good buddy Kip from Rock Sellout [link] and here is what he had to say:
“I think there were worse than the 5 listed. Dylan and Motley Crue were mega influential, so I think good songwriting should give a get out of jail free card to both. Dylan was brilliant. Vince Neil merely Nikki Sixx’s mouthpiece.”
Good point. Debauchery is what caused the strained vocal chords of many of those singers; they either lived for drugs, sex or rock ‘n roll, so other than my total agreement about Scott Stapp and Chad Kroeger, I don’t know what to think.
Log in to comment below. Tell us your selections for top 5 worst vocalists ever.
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3 comments for “Spike.com – Top 5 Worst Voices of Rock”
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Video Hook-Up: The Lonely Island - "Boombox" (feat. Julian Casablancas)
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti Reveal First 4AD Single
If You Want Free Music, You Can Go Masterbeat
The National Debut New Song on Jimmy Fallon
Video Hook-Up: She & Him - "In The Sun"
Video Hook-Up: Lil Wayne & Eminem - "Drop the World"
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club visit Dirty Laundry TV
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Alec Ounsworth from Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. That is the worst band ever!
Ouch. Worst EVER? I do admit that they suck.
I wish James were online for this. He would nominate the guy from Art Brut, I am sure of it.
What’s with the blog hate for Clap Your Hands Say Yeah all of a sudden? I’ll admit their second album was mostly garbage, but their first deserved all the praise it got.
As for terrible voices, I think it would be hard to overlook punk rock’s contribution. Guys like Jello Biafra and Henry Rollins aren’t exactly easy on the ears, but that’s also partially intentional, and why I love them so much.
On the other end of that spectrum, worst voice ever probably belongs to the late ’70s. Yeah, pretty much the end of that decade because it produced dreck like Journey, Styxx, and REO Speedwagon, all terrible bands with horrible lead singers. Steve Perry more than anybody. God I wanna punch that dude in the throat.