The greatest rock singers possess, essentially, the courage of lion tamers, the sensitivity of romantic poets, not to mention pipes that would distress dogs in a nearby city. Rock singers are a special breed in themselves. And, while there have been plenty of great ones over the years, today I am looking at the very greatest rock singers.
These are the ones that have helped create masterpieces, have commanded over audiences, and have made some of us think that taking singing lessons would be enough to help us reach similar heights. These women and men just have something special about them. These are true artists. Solo, or in some of the best bands, these are the 100 greatest rock singers of all time.
The 100 Greatest Rock Singers
1. Freddie Mercury (Queen)
“Freddie Mercury is the greatest rock singer of all time!” I dare you to walk into any bar in the world screaming that. Don’t be afraid of the rowdy-looking crowds. Don’t think twice about spoiling anybody’s time. I guarantee you that you’ll be getting your next drink for free.
It’s a world where everyone has their favourite band. It’s a planet where people might wrestle you to the ground in a bid to establish that their favourite tune is the best there is. But, on this planet, few ever deny the greatness of Queen’s Freddie Mercury.
What makes him so good, then? Is it range, tone, confidence, or creative abilities? While most singers get by excelling at one of those, Mercury ticked all of the boxes. He wrote operatic prog-rock as easily as cheerful pop-rock. He commanded audiences of thousands despite having been a shy teen. And, he left behind a discography that lures more fans every day.
Freddie Mercury used rock singing to transform himself. And would anyone dare not to admit that his singing still transforms the world for the better?
Want to read more about Queen? Here’s a look at:
2. Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin)
Chest out! Hair adrift! A cheeky smile was added at the end of every naughty lyric sung before a colossal audience. Robert Plant had all the confidence in the world. And for most of Led Zeppelin‘s early career, the Birmingham-born singer seemed to be having the time of his life.
But how could someone not feel good about their chances with any audience when they possessed that wild, bluesy howl that Plant had? How could anyone resist channelling ancient Viking raids when their singing voice could double as an air raid siren?
Still, Robert Plant’s singing only got better. Yes, some of the range was gone once he began his journey through a successful solo career. But the soulfulness seemed to be increased with each passing year.
It’s no wonder that “Raising Sand” handed him a late-career mega-hit. Robert Plant is one of the greatest rock singers and a terrific archivist of great music.
Need a deeper Led Zeppelin dive? Here’s your guide to:
- Led Zeppelin Album Ranking
- Led Zeppelin’s Most Underrated 10 Songs
- A Revisited Look at “Led Zeppelin IV”
- Led Zep’s Mud Shark Story
- The Meaning of “The Hermit” in the Artwork for “Led Zeppelin IV”
3. Chris Cornell (Soundgarden, Audioslave)
It’s vocal students and scientists who keep asking themselves questions about where Chris Cornell‘s outstanding vocal grit and control originated. No one sings like him anymore, of course. But Cornell was an artist far too smart to allow himself to be boxed in by his own natural talent.
Hard-working and willing to explore new avenues, Cornell created a marvellous body of work. Walk into a rock vocal coach’s class, right, and you’re guaranteed to hear someone straining to reach the high notes of Audioslave‘s “Like a Stone” or Soundgarden‘s “Slaves & Bulldozers.”
I didn’t quite appreciate Cornell’s singing until I started attempting it. And, I recommend that others do the same. Trying to go from singing ordinary songs to Soundgarden/Audioslave songs, to me, felt like going from driving a small city car to attempting to land a jet plane. Unbelievable control!
Chris Cornell’s work deserves to be even more widely known. Here’s a guide to:
- The Top 10 Vocal Performances by Chris Cornell
- Soundgarden’s Discography Ranked
- A Revisited Look at the Album “Superunknown”
- The Meaning of the Lyrics of “Spoonman”
- The Story of “4th of July”
4. Paul Rodgers (Free, Bad Company)
Paul Rodgers was barely a teenager when his bluesy baritone made him known as a singer’s singer. But even more astonishingly, he has retained his vocal ability and the respect of other rock singers well into his 70s. That may sound like the work of some kind of divine intervention.
However, just as others on our list, the Free and Bad Company frontman has not simply relied on good genetics. While a lifelong student of the blues, Rodgers has written kinds of songs that make stadiums want to chant along. Besides, he has always ensured that he delivers them with both confidence and modesty. Paul Rodgers is one of the greats!
I’ve heard Paul Rodgers sing in recent years and was initially convinced some trickery must’ve been involved. It was not! Like Rod Stewart, Rodgers is redeeming the voucher for keeping in shape and maintaining his vocal health. Meanwhile, I also hear singers 50 years his junior are not able to sing his parts.
5. Paul McCartney (The Beatles)
Paul McCartney was the most driven of the four Beatles. Sure, all of them sang. And, eventually, all of them became great songwriters in their own right. McCartney, however, had his eyes on the prize from the first days of the band – a lifelong career in music.
He’s achieved this, not least because of the hard work involved in maintaining that success. Yet, talent was always present to give Paul a hand. The best singer in The Beatles, in terms of technical abilities, and the best musician by a country mile, McCartney well and truly deserves his place on the list of finest rock vocalists.
6. Axl Rose (Guns N’ Roses)
It started with a scream. And though these were the tools most often employed by heavy-metal singers, nearly everyone who heard the opening growl of “Welcome to the Jungle” paid attention.
A lot has been made about just how wild and unpredictable the Guns N’ Roses line-up that created the “Appetite for Destruction” was. But, frankly, stick young Axl Rose in any semi-competent rock band, and it will do well. Few singers possessed the grit, range and rage as Rose did. To avoid calling him one of the greatest rock singers should be a crime punishable by having to hear Vince Neil’s practice recordings for the rest of time.
7. Jeff Buckley
He had the voice of an angel and the desire to make audiences feel something profound each time that he gave a performance. Where his contemporaries were adding rasp and weight to their singing, Buckley ran in the opposite direction.
His singing was light, staying in the higher registers at all times, and quoted as much from Robert Plant as it did from Edith Piaf. Jeff Buckley was a true original. And while he inspires many singers today, don’t accept any copies. Buckley wouldn’t have.
8. Sting (The Police)
It took Sting a long time to become famous. But, in fairness, once he properly got started, there was little that Gordon Sumner didn’t have at his disposal. Ambition and good looks helped. But great songwriting and the ability to naturally slide into a tenor voice that made everything he sang sound like a hit were the decisive factors.
The Police was a colossal hit. Yet, perhaps, it says more of Sting that he was able to maintain much of that success through a wholly different solo discography. Sting is one of the all-time singing greats.
9. Layne Staley (Alice in Chains)
Layne Staley was the Golden Child of operatic heavy-metal singing. That makes the story of his eventual demise and short-lived career all the more sad.
Just how influential was Staley? Hardly anyone studies rock singing nowadays without dedicated months, maybe years, to capturing the techniques employed by Staley.
Many post-grunge singers imitate Staley. But don’t fall for it. The Alice in Chains singer’s voice was a combination of intense formal study and tremendous anguish. Layne Staley is one of the greatest singers of heavy rock.
10. Mike Patton (Faith No More, Mr. Bungle)
If this were the rock version of American Idol or some other glorified television karaoke contest, Mike Patton would be number one. It’s scientific! The Faith No More frontman and member of so many other wild musical experiments possesses the greatest vocal range of anyone on the list.
He can croon in an unsettling register on a song like “Evidence,” or maintain perfect control while reaching into his tenor range for songs like “King for a Day.” But Patton’s also an adventurer, a risk taker and, simply, impossible to copy. Mike Patton is one of the greatest rock singers of all time.
11. Steven Tyler (Aerosmith)
They call him the “Demon of Screaming”, alright. While early Aerosmith may have been modelled on The Rolling Stones, Steven Tyler invented a whole new way of fronting a rock band.
To get accepted to Tyler University, you needed to possess swagger, a daring fashion sense, and, above all, an absolutely outstanding range that you could summon on command. Needless to say, there were few applicants.
12. Mick Jagger (The Rolling Stones)
Range isn’t everything. When it comes to performing rock music, confidence is often the most important factor. Writing great material also helps.
No, Mick Jagger has never been asked to host singing clinics. That’s because his stage moves and his intellect are directly tied to the sounds he can produce. No other singer has performed in front of more stadium audiences. And there’s a good reason for it – The Rolling Stones‘ Mick Jagger is one of the greatest rock singers.
13. John Lennon (The Beatles)
Don’t despair! John Lennon routinely asked producer George Martin to reverb or to double his takes in a bid to hide the natural tone of his singing. Many will find it hard to believe, especially since a good portion of the people on this list were inspired, precisely, by the singing of the Beatles’ leader to pursue their own careers.
14. Steve Perry (Journey)
Steve Perry is an unnaturally gifted singer and bizarrely good-natured guy. In the world of rebellious rock n’ roll, these qualities made some suspicious of him and of Journey. But time’s been kind to the band’s work. For innocent, overly dramatic rock singing, there’s nobody who quite manages to come close to Perry.
15. Ozzy Osbourne (Black Sabbath)
Toni Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward had some apprehensions about the guy who’d come to audition for their band. Around town, he was known as a weirdo. But Ozzy Osbourne had two things going for him – he could, indeed, sing really well without ever having had a lesson, and he owned his own PA.
In the years that followed, Ozzy has continued to blend good singing with smart business practices. And while it’s unlikely he’s been doing most of his live singing for a few decades now, what would those early, great Black Sabbath albums be without his involvement?
It’s his sad passing that has made many, myself included, re-frame Ozzy Osbourne’s vocal ability. In early Black Sabbath, especially, I think that Osbourne showed that he was a naturally gifted singer. His voice did not sound evil, but had warmth. And, as Richie Blackmore often said, and I agree, few singers possessed a better “radio voice.”
16. Bon Scott (AC/DC)
If Bon Scott had just been a hard-living jokester and wild man, he and AC/DC would just be a footnote in the history of rock n’ roll. Instead, Scott’s voice possessed a natural drive and weight that turned the Aussie group into a perfect meeting point between heavy metal, punk, and early rock n’ roll.
Sadly, we lost hearing what an old Bon Scott would’ve sounded like. Fortunately, the records have kept that incredible instrument alive forever.
17. Elvis Presley
Many have tried to uncover the formula that made Elvis Presley the first global superstar. Some argue that it was circumstance, his looks and the ability to channel risque dance moves into these acts. Some think that rock n’ roll simply needed a figurehead. But everyone who really loves Elvis points to the fire in that singing voice of his.
18. Rod Stewart (Faces)
How long has Rod Stewart been aware of his greatness? Since the very time he opened his mouth. Luckily, audiences have tended to agree with the gravel-voiced singer through the years.
Stewart has maintained a few relationships in the same shape as his impeccable hairdo and singing voice. Get him to sing a Faces tune, and you get one of the great rock singers of all time, and one of the most distinctive tones.
19. Tina Turner (Ike & Tina Turner)
It sounded like a piece of dynamite going off! It felt like all of the soulfulness of gospel singing had been paired with the full intensity of early rock n’ roll. Tina Turner was a force of nature. She powered through songs like a woman possessed. And, even though she might be more famous for her pop songs, it’s in the rock arena where she had few competitors.
I think that, really, Tina Turner has the sound of “rock n’ roll” in her voice. It’s part orgasm, part hysterics, and always controlled. I am in awe of her singing and the sheer energy she brought to every single performance. I absolutely believe that her place on this list is warranted!
20. Scott Weiland (Stone Temple Pilots, Velvet Revolver)
Scott Weiland made every bad personal decision in the book, and, artistically, did every single thing right. Maybe it was because he’d been dubbed an Eddie Vedder clone early in his career, and that stung.
But by the time that Stone Temple Pilots were playing in arenas, Weiland could sing like Jim Morrison, like Iggy Pop, or like Layne Staley and switch on command. Look past the reputation, listen closely, and you’ll have to agree that Scott Weiland is one of the greatest rock singers ever.
Top 20 – 30
21. John Fogerty (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
22. Ian Gillan (Deep Purple)
23. Elton John
24. Rob Halford (Judas Priest)
25. James Brown
26. Lou Gramm (Foreigner)
27. Bob Dylan
28. Brian Johnson (AC/DC)
29. Jim Morrison (The Doors)
30. Michael Stipe (R.E.M.)
Top 30 – 40
31. Klaus Meine (Scorpions)
32. Liam Gallagher (Oasis)
33. Elvis Costello
34. Van Morrison (Them)
35. Thom Yorke (Radiohead)
36. Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac)
37. Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam)
38. Bryan Adams
39. Janis Joplin (Big Brother and The Holding Company)
40. Prince
Top 40 – 50
41. Ann Wilson (Heart)
42. Chuck Berry
43. Iggy Pop (The Stooges)
44. Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)
45. Eric Burdon (The Animals)
46. Jon Bon Jovi (Bon Jovi)
47. Gregg Allman (The Allman Brothers Band)
48. Art Garfunkel (Simon & Garfunkel)
49. Joe Cocker
50. Howlin’ Wolf
Top 50 – 60
51. Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees, Queens of the Stone Age)
52. Maynard James Keenan (TOOL, A Perfect Circle)
53. Ian Thornley (Big Wreck)
54. Sly Stone (Sly Stone and the Family Stone)
55. Ronnie James Dio (Rainbow, Black Sabbath, DIO)
56. Don/Phil Everly (Everly Brothers)
57. Don Henley (Eagles)
58. Bono (U2)
59. David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
60. John Lee Hooker
Top 60 – 70
61. Buddy Holly
62. Steve Winwood (Traffic, Blind Faith)
63. B.B. King
64. Brian and Carl Wilson (The Beach Boys)
65. Glenn Danzig (Misfits, Samhain, Danzig)
66. Ray Davies (The Kinks)
67. Tom Petty (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers)
68. Patti Smith
69. Tom Waits
70. Jonathan Davis (Korn)
Top 70 – 80
71. Roy Orbison
72. Peter Gabriel (Genesis)
73. Dolores O’Riordan (The Cranberries)
74. Siouxsie Sioux (Siouxsie and The Banshees)
75. Geddy Lee (Rush)
77. Ronnie Spector (The Ronettes)
78. Billy Idol
79. Joey Ramone (Ramones)
80. Phil Anselmo (Pantera)
Top 80 – 90
81. Chester Bennington (Linkin Park)
82. Grace Slick (Jefferson Airplane)
83. Jerry Lee Lewis
84. John Lydon (Sex Pistols, Public Image Ltd.)
85. Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden)
86. Serj Tankian (System of a Down)
87. Black Francis (Pixies)
88. Myles Kennedy (Alter Bridge, Slash, The Mayfield Four)
89. Phil Collins (Genesis)
90. Syd Barrett (Pink Floyd)
Top 90 – 100
91. Morrissey (The Smiths)
92. Peter Wolf (J. Geils Band)
93. Lenny Kravitz
94. Amy Lee (Evanescence)
95. David Lee Roth (Van Halen)
96. Corey Taylor (Slipknot, Stone Sour)
97. Neil Young (CSN&Y, Buffalo Springfield)
98. Jeff Lynne – (Electric Light Orchestra, Travelling Wilburys)
99. Sully Erna (Godsmack)
100. Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters)
Notable Mentions
101. David Coverdale (Whitesnake, Deep Purple)
102. Noddy Holder (Slade)
103. Joan Jett (The Runaways)
104. Roger Daltrey (The Who)
105. Debbie Harry (Blondie)
106. Gary Cherone
107. Sammy Hagar
108. Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders)
109. Steve Marriott (Small Faces, Humble Pie)
110. Donita Sparks (L7)
111. H.R. (Bad Brains)
112. Alice Cooper
113.Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins)
114. Marilyn Manson
115. Michale Graves (Misfits)
116. Brandon Boyd (Incubus)
117. Robert Smith (The Cure)
118. Devin Townsend (Devin Townsend Project, Strapping Young Lad)
119. Joe Elliott (Def Leppard)
120. Ronnie Van Zant – (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
121. Chris Robinson (The Black Crowes)
122. Sinead O’Connor
123. Courtney Love (Hole)
124. Chino Moreno (Deftones)
125. Paul Stanley (KISS)
126. St. Vincent
127. Suzi Quatro
128. Bobby Blitz (Overkill)
129. Nick Cave (Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Grinderman)
130. Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day)
131. Susanna Hoffs (The Bangles)
132. Tom Araya (Slayer)
133. Perry Farrell (Jane’s Addiction)
134. Karen O (Yeah Yeah Yeahs)
135. Andrew Wood (Mother Love Bone)
136. Al Jourgensen (Ministry)
137. Shirley Manson (Garbage)
138. Sebastian Bach (Skid Row)
139. King Diamond (Diamond Head)
140. Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails)
141. Nergal (Behemoth)
142. Belinda Carlisle (The Go-Go’s)
143. Peter Cetera (Chicago)
144. Randy Blythe (Lamb of God)
145. Kim Deal (The Breeders)
146. Leonard Cohen
147. Bob Marley (The Wailers)
148. Billy Idol
149. Ritchie Kotzen
150. James LaBrie (Dream Theater)
151. Eric Martin (Mr. Big)
