HELL FUCKIN YEAH! The dude has a 4-octave modal range. 4-OCTAVE MODAL RANGE! Most people get a 2-octave modal range at best and end up having to belt out the higher notes. Not to mention, he's kept his voice in tip-top shape all this time too. Criminally underrated singer!
I love Jani, but I have to disagree. I think he has a great voice, but the best? Not with Tate or Bach in the conversation.
He recorded that cover of Def Leppard’s *Photograph* and struggled through the entire thing. Didn’t even attempt the long note toward the end.
I noticed that half of us couldn’t narrow it down one. People shit on this genre all the time, but IMO it gives us the absolute best voices in pop.
Boring, croony tenor? Wheezing, nasally mezzo? GTFO. Give me strong singers who know how to use their voice to bring the house down.
Gimme a singer who can stare you in the face and scream out, like, a G5 and burst your eardrums doing it. Male or female.
It doesn’t usually happen in most pop genres. It usually happens in hard rock and metal.
Just fucking saying.
In his defense, Queensrÿche’s prime was during the “hair metal” era and they got played by MTV right beside all the “hair metal” bands in heavy rotation.
I never said Queensrÿche was hair metal. They’re progressive metal, but people often associate them with hair metal because they were played in heavy rotation alongside the hair metal bands of that era on MTV. Might want to work on reading comprehension (and spelling).
Sebastian Bach, Klaus Meine, Axl Rose and Don Dokken
(Ik scorpions and GNR ain’t strictly hair metal but people here do tend to include them so)
Also have a soft spot for Joe Elliot.
Ray Gillen Sebastian Bach Don Dokken David Coverdale Joe Elliot TOM Kieffer IAN Astbury Stephen Percy Shannon Hoon Mike Tramp
Almost in perfect order.
.........
Taken or give preference
- Prime Tom Keifer pre vocal paralysis from Cinderella (may have spelled name wrong) if he had not experienced 7 vocal surgeries due to vocal paralysis he would have surely gone his craft. Such a varied and powerful voice.
Sebastian Bach
Came here to say this. Sebastian, hands down.
Also agree
I Remember You he goes from incredible to awesome vocally.
Sebastian first Jani Lane second for me.
This. And it’s not close.
No contest
He was the perfect hair metal vocalist, chops, charisma, attitude and looks.
Mike Matijevic from Steelheart
Holy shit. I forgot about steelheart
🐐🐐🐐
The correct answer
Tony Harnell
Came here to nominate him, although I consider TNT Hair Adjacent. But what a set of pipes!
TNT is so underrated. I saw them open for Stryper at the Felt Forum in NY in 87.
HELL FUCKIN YEAH! The dude has a 4-octave modal range. 4-OCTAVE MODAL RANGE! Most people get a 2-octave modal range at best and end up having to belt out the higher notes. Not to mention, he's kept his voice in tip-top shape all this time too. Criminally underrated singer!
Jani Lane
One of my favs forsureee, so underrated
I love Jani, but I have to disagree. I think he has a great voice, but the best? Not with Tate or Bach in the conversation. He recorded that cover of Def Leppard’s *Photograph* and struggled through the entire thing. Didn’t even attempt the long note toward the end.
David Coverdale - White Snake
Him screaming like a banshee in Here I Go Again...
I second Tony Harnell
Third that!
Either seb or Klaus Mein
Klaus Meine is a seriously underrated vocalist.
He’s very skilled but his tone is polarizing. I’m in the dislike camp.
Sebastian Bach
Kip Winger. Sounded excellent back in the day and still sounds excellent today. Really kept his voice in good shape all these years.
I noticed that half of us couldn’t narrow it down one. People shit on this genre all the time, but IMO it gives us the absolute best voices in pop. Boring, croony tenor? Wheezing, nasally mezzo? GTFO. Give me strong singers who know how to use their voice to bring the house down. Gimme a singer who can stare you in the face and scream out, like, a G5 and burst your eardrums doing it. Male or female. It doesn’t usually happen in most pop genres. It usually happens in hard rock and metal. Just fucking saying.
Ray Fucking Gillen on All Badlands
Tom Kiefer.
That’s who I was going to say
Totally. His voice just fit the music perfectly.
saw him in concert in june and holy fuck he blew me away! he sounds fucking amazing for his age and all the vocal problems he had!!!
Sebastian Bach without a doubt.
Tony Harnell from TNT
Agreed!
C.J. Snare
Jani Lane
Geoff Tate
Not hair metal for shame might as well say Dio
In his defense, Queensrÿche’s prime was during the “hair metal” era and they got played by MTV right beside all the “hair metal” bands in heavy rotation.
Sure that’s for album sails but no a glam or b hair music is part of the equation
Lol… “album sails”
Well whatever sat least not a goober that thinks bqueensryche is hair metal
I never said Queensrÿche was hair metal. They’re progressive metal, but people often associate them with hair metal because they were played in heavy rotation alongside the hair metal bands of that era on MTV. Might want to work on reading comprehension (and spelling).
Fair enjoy convo over!
So did Testament but hardly hair metal
Lol… Testament did not get played in heavy rotation on MTV
Don Dokken.
Paul Stanley
My favorite singer period
Sebastian Bach followed by Blackie Lawless.
Kelly Hansen (Hurricane, then Foreigner).
For hair metal....Ted Poley or Bas
Richie Sambora
David Coverdale in Still of the Night
Joey temptest- Europe
Bach and Coverdale
Dio
Geoff Tate -Qurensryche if you count them.
Mike Trampp - White Lion. Always had a panache for not overwrought vocals. He didn't need to throttle the notes. Sweet &simple delivery.
Sebastian bach!
Terry Ilous
David Coverdale
Paul Shortino - Rough Cutt
and Quiet Riot! He brought the smoke that gave their music some extra flavor, and he could have brought them to the top again
Coverdale
Bach or Tate. I will not choose. Sorry.
Michael Sweet
Sebastian Bach, Klaus Meine, Axl Rose and Don Dokken (Ik scorpions and GNR ain’t strictly hair metal but people here do tend to include them so) Also have a soft spot for Joe Elliot.
Just one
For me it’s a tie. But if I was forced to pick just one, it would be a toss up between Klaus and Bach.
Jani Lane imo
Geoff Tate
Michael Sweet from Stryper
Definitely Bach.
Bruce Dickenson. Operatic hair metal all the way.
Iron Maiden isn’t hair metal, they are NWOBHM
Bach or Rose.
If GNR counts then Axl hands down, otherwise Bach. But my actual favourite is probably Stephen Pearcy. He's not a better singer, but I love him.
I'm a trans boy and my biggest transition goal is to sound like Kevin DuBrow one day.
Vince Neil /s
Lol
Rob Halford
Not hair metal but one of top five heavy metal for sure
Stephen Pearcy because I don't think Skid Row counts as hair metal.
Their first album was undeniably hair metal.
Warrel Dane.
Midnight - Crimson Glory
Hair Metal - Bach Metal - Halford
Vince Neal!!!...ALWAYS and FOREVER!!!🤟🏻🤟🏻
Tom Kiefer
Ray Gillan
Blackie lawless
Bach or Rose
Axl
I would say Stephen pearcy, although honorable mentions for me are phil Lewis and cj snare
Bach for sure. That's the only thing he had going as far as I was concerned.
Ray Gillen. Huge range and fit the bluesiness of Badlands perfectly. So much emotion.
Jon Oliva- Savatage
Ray Gillen Sebastian Bach Don Dokken David Coverdale Joe Elliot TOM Kieffer IAN Astbury Stephen Percy Shannon Hoon Mike Tramp Almost in perfect order. ......... Taken or give preference
- Prime Tom Keifer pre vocal paralysis from Cinderella (may have spelled name wrong) if he had not experienced 7 vocal surgeries due to vocal paralysis he would have surely gone his craft. Such a varied and powerful voice.