Favorite Vocalists

A while back I posted a topic on the Three Metal Tenors. Origionally I was going to post a topic on favorite vocalists but realized everyone would have Bruce, Halford, and Dio on their list so I did the other one before I posted this one.

One of the major aspects of metal that I love is the vocals (being a vocalist myself). So apart from the above mentioned voices, what are some of people's favorite vocalists (not a comprehensive list but maybe a top 10 minus the Three Tenors).

My all time favorite vocalist is Zach Stevens from Savatage. Also on the top of my list are these: Sir Russel Allen (one of the most versatile vocalists I've ever heard), Jone Lande, James LaBrie, Roy Kahn, Lance King, Mike Bakker (Shadow Gallery), King Diamond (his fallsetto is just sick!!!), Andi Deris, Tobbias Sammet, Michael Akerfelt (Opeth), Eric Clayton (Saviour Machine), Matt Barlow, Tim Owens, Hansi Kürsch, and the list goes on and on............

I would have to say, based off my own personal tastes of voices that
really stick with me and when ever I hear it I go "oh, YEAH!" :

Jimmy P. Brown
Guy Ritter
Roger Martinez

Those would be my top three, all-time favorites.

Brian Johnson too, never get tired of that raspy voice!

From the realm of metal and hard rock my favorite singers are:

1. Dave Meniketti from Y&T
2. James Christian from House of Lords
3. Paul Shortino from Rough Cutt/Quiet Riot
4. Mark/Marcie Free from King kobra/Unruly Child/Signal

Outside of hard rock and metal my favorites are:

1. Phil Collins
2. Sting

Well, Ronnie James Dio and Bruce Dickinson would probably be in my top 10 list, so excluding them ...


1. Geoff Tate (he's actually been my favorite vocalist for years)
2. Roy Khan (Kamelot)
3. Mille Petrozza (Kreator)
4. Tom Angelripper (Sodom)
5. John Schlitt (Petra)
6. Liv Kristine/Alexander Krull (Leaves' Eyes)
7. Les Carlson (Bloodgood)
8. David Defreis (Virgin Steele)
9. Eric Adams (Manowar)
10. Eric Clayton (Saviour Machine)


those are just metal - but for nonmetal I'd say:

1. Peter Murphy
2. Dave Gahan (Depeche Mode)
3. Robert Smith (The Cure)

Dio
Dickinson
Rob Rock
Zach Stevens(love his voice also DB)
Michael Sweet
Tobias Sammet
Michael Kiske
Ripper Owens
Jim Gillette
Warrell Dane
Zetro Sousa
Blitz

aside from Halford....

Glenn Danzig
Doro Pesch
Eric Adams
Michael Sweet
Robert Lowe

some influences and faves:

Ralf Scheepers
Don Dokken
Lizzy Borden
Marc Storace
Udo
Russ Anderson
Messiah Marcolin
James Neal
Ian Astbury
David Godfrey

Ronnie James DIO!!!!!!!!!!

Apart from Bruce Dickinson and Rob Halford....

I do love Ian Gillan, Klaus Maine, Geoff Tate, Brian Johnson and Michael Kiske. Ozzy (early works) and Dio as well.

IronAge wrote:

some influences and faves:

Ralf Scheepers
Don Dokken
Lizzy Borden
Marc Storace
Udo
Russ Anderson
Messiah Marcolin
James Neal
Ian Astbury
David Godfrey

IronAge, your list RULES!!! I'm embarrassed that I forgot Ralf Scheepers, Don Dokken, and Messiah Marcolin! 3 of my all time FAVES!!! But when you're doing a 'top 10' it's hard to cram them all in. These 3 would easily be in my top 20 though.

Great call on Ian Astbury too.

IronAge wrote:

Russ Anderson

Man,how could I forget Russ

loser....who?

In no order:

Dio

Rob Rock

D.C. Cooper

Jorne Lande

Dale Thompson

Tom S. Englund

Tobias Sammet

Hansi Kursch

"Ripper" Owens

David Readman

Nils Patrik Johansson

Elisa C. Martín

Guy Ritter

Jimmy P. Brown

Damnagoras

KING DIAMOND is one of my fave.

I didn't include non-metal vocalists on my first list so here it goes:

Billy Joel
Donnie, Johnny, and Ronnie Van Zant
Peter Cetera
Bryan Adams
Phil Collins
Steve Hogarth (Marillion)
Johnny Cash
Charlie Daniels
the chick from Heart (don't know her name)
Huey Lewis
Steve Walsh
John Elefante
Gordon Lightfoot
Terry Taylor (Daniel Amos and The Lost Dogs)
Neal Morse
Kenny Rogers

Just like with my metal vocalists the list goes on and on.....

Eric AK, Mike Howe, Layne Staley, Bobby Blitz, Chuck Billy, Ron Rinehart, Jimmy P Brown, Rob Rock, Rob Halford, Doug Pinnick, Guy Ritter, Warrel Dane, Jon Oliva, Phil Anselmo, Robert Plant, Ian Gillan, Ray Gillen, John Sykes, David Coverdale, Mike Patton, Sebastian Bach, Axl Rose, Jason McMaster, Ozzy(early) and Max Cavalera.

This is hard but heres a few of my faves.

Steve Grimmett (Grim Reaper)
David White (Heathen)
Dan Swano (Edge of Sanity)
Tom Angelripper (Sodom)
Kevin Dubrow
Bon Scott
Geoff Tate
Lord Tim (Dungeon)
Lemmy Kilmister (Motorhead)
Mille Petrozza (Kreator)
Peter Wagner (Avenger/Rage)

Zak Stevens is a great singer, good call DallasBlack. However, I can think of a handful of other spectacular singers who I like just a bit more;

Matt Barlow
Jon Oliva
Warrel Dane
Devin Townsend
Andre Matos

Mike Patton
Lemmy
Micheal Sweet
Myself
Minister Roach
Doug Pinnick
Tom Waits
Me, again
Lee Dorrian
Roy Orbison

Rob Halford
Glenn Hughes
Ski
Tony Martin
Tim Owens
John Arch
Messiah Mercolin
Rick Mythaisin

Hamer12 wrote:

Mike Patton
Lemmy
Micheal Sweet
Myself
Minister Roach
Doug Pinnick
Tom Waits
Me, again
Lee Dorrian
Roy Orbison

ROY ORBISON....GREAT ONE!

Bon Scott
Brian Johnson
Ozzy
Vince Neil
Don Dokken
King Diamond
Zack Stevens
Halford
Dio
Dickinson
Paul Di'anno
Glenn Danzig
Dave Bickler (Survivor)
Jimi Jamison (Survivor)
David Bowie
Elton John
Jim Morrison
Billy Joel
Neil Diamond
Steve Perry
Gordon Lightfoot...etc

Matt Barlow (Iced Earth)
Warrell Dane (Nevermore, Sanctuary)
Jens Karlsson (Persuader, Dark Empire)
Tony Taylor (Twisted Tower Dire)
Eric Adams (Manowar)
Michael Seifert (Black Destiny, Rebellion)
Tim Aymar (Control Denied, Pharaoh)
Charles Rytkönen (Morgana Lefay)

Quote :

Tony Martin

Very good call!

rob halford
bruce dickinson
hansi kurch
ian gillan
chuck billy
dio
phil lynott
matt barlow