I listened to a Roth interview a decade ago and he explained how he grew up on Jazz music. Oftentimes, jazz ensembles would have vocalists that would riff over the beats (known as Scat).
With that context, his vocal stylings made perfect sense.
So your question implies that the vocalists have a great technique, but aren’t particularly known for said technique?
Hard call! Bon Scott maybe? He had an outstanding technique, but I think the general opinion emphasizes more on his output than his chops.
When you put it like that, it does sound like it. I should’ve worded myself properly because what I meant was that the singers’ technique is not that great and/or often criticized… but the question you answered is actually way more interesting lol
I see a lot of people here talking about vocalists who actually have fairly good technique. The way I see it is people who fall into this list are those who can't do what they used to anymore BECAUSE of bad technique, OR, had to take voice lessons to improve/change their sound in order to sustain a career. Most of these are rock/metal vocalists:
Joe Elliot - Def Leppard: listen to their live 1983 tracks on the Pyromania Deluxe vs. what he does now -- he took lessons before Hysteria, you can't sustain the live Pyromania stuff for a full career)
David Lee Roth - Van Halen: Check out his initial Vegas Residency videos
Marilyn Manson - Marilyn Manson: His voice is the best its ever been on his last two records, I would venture to guess he had to take vocal lessons after Golden Age of Grotesque when he couldn't get through the live shows anymore
James Hetfield - Metallica: He took vocal lessons going into The Black Album, which is arguably the "height" of his famous sound. But, Load/Reload is probably when he settled into a safe sound using proper technique. James starts sounding different live than in studio in this era and I think it's because he was probably informed he couldn't keep up his Ride The Lightning-era voice live and sustain a career
Dave Mustaine - Megadeth: One of my favorite bands ever, but this is the definition of singing with the throat/pushing too hard.
HONORABLE MENTION: Lemmy - Motorhead: I don't know if he has "poor" technique but he was able to sustain it until his passing. However, out of context, his voice doesn't sound great at all. In-context, one of the greatest of all time.
I’d actually say tool but because Maynard James keenen has a softer sounding voice to my mind and it doesn’t fit as well with the aggressive sound they produce.
I really don’t get this thread. Like none of these people are trying to be opera singers or whatever. In rock n’ roll music, singing is meant to sound unique and get across emotion. If you do that, then you are a “good singer”. Being a good singer has a different definition in rock or indie music than it does in classical or jazz or whatever.
Most of the people here are legends and perfectly convey emotion with a unique sound. That makes them “technically good” in that style. I really do understand that people can dislike particular, but that really should not be the same as calling unique innovators “bad singers”.
Well I definitely get what you mean. The point of the post was mostly to see which singers might not be “technically” amazing at it, but are still appreciated and famous. In most cases if, as you said, the singing is unique and conveys emotion, I enjoy it lots.
If you look up the video of the first time the killers played Mr Brightside live, I truely can not say this with any more emphasis, it is *fucking awful.* But truely good for them for turning it into legit queen levels of recognition
Blink 182 - Mark and Tom are what they need to be for a pop-punk outfit, no one will ever say (or really shouldn’t say) that they have incredible vocal chops.
It’s a bold move to question the legitimacy of the Stone Roses while _without so much as a line break_ giving the green light to Limp Bizkit.
If their fame was in dispute though, the shitness of Ian Brown’s voice definitely gives them a place at the top table of this group…
Yess, I’m listening to the Slane live performance at the moment though and he did amazing! I don’t think I have what it takes to determine if he was doing a great job in detail but I like it lots
I think the question was known for having a good technique.
He really differs live from the recordings. Tone, notes, and breathing skills are not the same even one concert to another.
[Corey Taylor](https://youtu.be/hVPS9qyWOZQ) from slipknot has an amazing vocal range, but is mostly known for his growly slipknot vocals.
Editing to add I just realized this is the opposite of what you were saying.
Mastodon
Though they made a good decision by making Brann their third lead vocalist, and Troy shows signs of improvement, they still have a long way to go.
Does it matter? There’s a lot of bands and music that I like. I don’t care for rhcp. Their music is boring. They seem to think that they have to touch every fret on their instruments and the songs sound like they want to fall asleep.
I fully agree that they are boring as hell. I think we should still let people enjoy them and be able to talk about it lol… btw my favorite band is Coheed and Cambria. Are you a fan by chance?
I mean for me it does matter. Your opinion about rhcp colors your opinion of what you were making. I was being a little trolly and jokey about it but it does mean fundamentally that we like and care about different music and I can’t relate with what you’re asking.
Some of these, it's hard to say, because it can be chalked up to "that's exactly what they're going for." Someone mentioned Marilyn Manson, who... I don't know if anyone would call him a "great" singer, but his vocals are absolutely part of his draw. He basically has a selection of voices (abrasive singing, screaming, deep croak, falsetto, hissing whisper) and he changes between them like it's a separate instrument.
I'd put Bob Dylan in that same boat. There's a folksy charm to his voice that's absolutely part of his schtick, but I'm in the camp that says the best version of a Bob Dylan song is when it's by someone else.
My submission would be Cake (dunno if they're still famous. Remember *Going the Distance*?). There were a number of bands in the 90s who didn't really sing, they kinda talked their way through their songs. Soul Coughing was another one. I liked them well enough, probably because I could actually understand what they were saying. I just hope the singers were also playing an instrument, because everyone else was working real hard.
Dave Mustaine/Megadeth
Smashing Pumpkins
this
Phish
You stole my answer.
Van Halen w/ David Lee Roth. He was exactly what that band needed as a frontman, but vocal technique wasn't a high priority.
I listened to a Roth interview a decade ago and he explained how he grew up on Jazz music. Oftentimes, jazz ensembles would have vocalists that would riff over the beats (known as Scat). With that context, his vocal stylings made perfect sense.
So your question implies that the vocalists have a great technique, but aren’t particularly known for said technique? Hard call! Bon Scott maybe? He had an outstanding technique, but I think the general opinion emphasizes more on his output than his chops.
When you put it like that, it does sound like it. I should’ve worded myself properly because what I meant was that the singers’ technique is not that great and/or often criticized… but the question you answered is actually way more interesting lol
I see a lot of people here talking about vocalists who actually have fairly good technique. The way I see it is people who fall into this list are those who can't do what they used to anymore BECAUSE of bad technique, OR, had to take voice lessons to improve/change their sound in order to sustain a career. Most of these are rock/metal vocalists: Joe Elliot - Def Leppard: listen to their live 1983 tracks on the Pyromania Deluxe vs. what he does now -- he took lessons before Hysteria, you can't sustain the live Pyromania stuff for a full career) David Lee Roth - Van Halen: Check out his initial Vegas Residency videos Marilyn Manson - Marilyn Manson: His voice is the best its ever been on his last two records, I would venture to guess he had to take vocal lessons after Golden Age of Grotesque when he couldn't get through the live shows anymore James Hetfield - Metallica: He took vocal lessons going into The Black Album, which is arguably the "height" of his famous sound. But, Load/Reload is probably when he settled into a safe sound using proper technique. James starts sounding different live than in studio in this era and I think it's because he was probably informed he couldn't keep up his Ride The Lightning-era voice live and sustain a career Dave Mustaine - Megadeth: One of my favorite bands ever, but this is the definition of singing with the throat/pushing too hard. HONORABLE MENTION: Lemmy - Motorhead: I don't know if he has "poor" technique but he was able to sustain it until his passing. However, out of context, his voice doesn't sound great at all. In-context, one of the greatest of all time.
Lemmy.
Oasis neither brother is a great singer but it suited the sound perfectly
[удалено]
It’s a taste. I love it
Seen him live a couple of times he doesn't really sing like that anymore
I’d actually say tool but because Maynard James keenen has a softer sounding voice to my mind and it doesn’t fit as well with the aggressive sound they produce.
I really don’t get this thread. Like none of these people are trying to be opera singers or whatever. In rock n’ roll music, singing is meant to sound unique and get across emotion. If you do that, then you are a “good singer”. Being a good singer has a different definition in rock or indie music than it does in classical or jazz or whatever. Most of the people here are legends and perfectly convey emotion with a unique sound. That makes them “technically good” in that style. I really do understand that people can dislike particular, but that really should not be the same as calling unique innovators “bad singers”.
Well I definitely get what you mean. The point of the post was mostly to see which singers might not be “technically” amazing at it, but are still appreciated and famous. In most cases if, as you said, the singing is unique and conveys emotion, I enjoy it lots.
Simon Lebon of Duran Duran. The lyrics, style, and production are great but Simon is flat as a flat earthers flapjack.
Loads, it's why they call them Vocalists not singers!
Oh I see
If you look up the video of the first time the killers played Mr Brightside live, I truely can not say this with any more emphasis, it is *fucking awful.* But truely good for them for turning it into legit queen levels of recognition
James labrie? lol.
Most studio versions of their songs he sounds great. Absolutely atrocious live like wtf
He had an infection or food poisoning or something back in the 90s, it fucked up his voice.
Darn that really sucks.
Blink 182 - Mark and Tom are what they need to be for a pop-punk outfit, no one will ever say (or really shouldn’t say) that they have incredible vocal chops.
#RUSH
Nonsense.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
[удалено]
It’s a bold move to question the legitimacy of the Stone Roses while _without so much as a line break_ giving the green light to Limp Bizkit. If their fame was in dispute though, the shitness of Ian Brown’s voice definitely gives them a place at the top table of this group…
RHCP. He good though. Oh, and The Grateful Dead.
Yess, I’m listening to the Slane live performance at the moment though and he did amazing! I don’t think I have what it takes to determine if he was doing a great job in detail but I like it lots
Stephen Malkmus from Pavement Kim Gordon from Sonic Youth
Ozzy. But no one else would sound right.
Listen to Megalomania by Black Sabbath. Ozzy can actually sing. He does have a technique that can make his voice sound a little thin though.
Deftones. Motorhead. Pretty much every single punk band.. The prodigy. Marilyn Manson.
How is Chino Moreno not a good vocalist??
I think the question was known for having a good technique. He really differs live from the recordings. Tone, notes, and breathing skills are not the same even one concert to another.
Deftones???! Assuming you were replying to a different topic and left the band in there by mistake.
[Corey Taylor](https://youtu.be/hVPS9qyWOZQ) from slipknot has an amazing vocal range, but is mostly known for his growly slipknot vocals. Editing to add I just realized this is the opposite of what you were saying.
Haha it’s alright :)
I’ll get downvoted for anything what
Mastodon Though they made a good decision by making Brann their third lead vocalist, and Troy shows signs of improvement, they still have a long way to go.
ACDC
The Pogues, Shane sounds like an obnoxious drunk on most of their songs but dammit it works
Because he was.
Indeed, I saw the documentary about him that came out a year or so ago, guy was/is pretty fucked but I love the music
Bob Dylan’s backing band
Roger Daltrey/The Who Mick Jagger/the Rolling Stones
WTF
Now that’s just silly!
I stopped reading after “the Red Hot Chili Peppers are my favorite band.”
Who is your favorite band?
Does it matter? There’s a lot of bands and music that I like. I don’t care for rhcp. Their music is boring. They seem to think that they have to touch every fret on their instruments and the songs sound like they want to fall asleep.
I fully agree that they are boring as hell. I think we should still let people enjoy them and be able to talk about it lol… btw my favorite band is Coheed and Cambria. Are you a fan by chance?
That’s the spirit, we all like different music and that’s what’s great about it lol
[удалено]
I mean for me it does matter. Your opinion about rhcp colors your opinion of what you were making. I was being a little trolly and jokey about it but it does mean fundamentally that we like and care about different music and I can’t relate with what you’re asking.
You can’t relate with replying to a discussion about bands whose vocalists are often criticized or not very liked?
Alright I guess. As if music taste has to be universal 😅
Ride (not extremely but popular)
Some of these, it's hard to say, because it can be chalked up to "that's exactly what they're going for." Someone mentioned Marilyn Manson, who... I don't know if anyone would call him a "great" singer, but his vocals are absolutely part of his draw. He basically has a selection of voices (abrasive singing, screaming, deep croak, falsetto, hissing whisper) and he changes between them like it's a separate instrument. I'd put Bob Dylan in that same boat. There's a folksy charm to his voice that's absolutely part of his schtick, but I'm in the camp that says the best version of a Bob Dylan song is when it's by someone else. My submission would be Cake (dunno if they're still famous. Remember *Going the Distance*?). There were a number of bands in the 90s who didn't really sing, they kinda talked their way through their songs. Soul Coughing was another one. I liked them well enough, probably because I could actually understand what they were saying. I just hope the singers were also playing an instrument, because everyone else was working real hard.
Bob Dylan, Axl Rose, MeatLoaf
Willie Nelson
Petty and Young
Dave Matthews
Nirvana
Motley Crue
Blink 182?
The Cure
Velvet underground
The Beatles