Master Of Falsetto

We all know the falsetto, the high pitched wail found in power, speed, and to a lesser extent, thrash metal. As a vocalist who can't reach a true falsetto, I have emence respect for those who can and there are many who have mastered it over the years. However, in my mind, two people are the cream of the crop, Halford and King Diamond. Although the falsetto has been around for hundreds of years, Rob Halford was the man who introduced it to metal and remains the vocalist who is most famous for it. King Diamond's falsetto is truly one of the most amazing feats of any vocalist. While many add a falsetto to the end of a lyric line, King does multiple lines in nothing but falsetto. For this I have to vote for King Diamond. No knock against Haford, after all he is the father of the metal falsetto. However, King has put a lot of effort to get his voice to do that (in interivews he states that at the end of a performance he is coughing up blood due to the strain) and I must give him the nod.

King Diamond is my pick out of the 2 choices.

Warrell Dane was the king when he was in Sanctuary.

Nasty Ronnie of Nasty Savage is a master himself.

I might be nit picking here but I don't believe that Rob Halford's vocal technique is actually falsetto. I can't think of the term for it, but I remember reading an interview with him years back where someone complimented him on his falsetto and he said "I don't use falsetto, I never have, I use _______." Damn, now that's gonna bug the hell out of me.

King Diamond is the man I think of when I hear the word "falsetto" anyway.

Ski (FAITH FACTOR/DEADLY BLESSING/ALTERED STATE)!!!!!!!!!!




highest notes ever hit in metal:

"ah-ah-ah-ahahahAHHHHHHH-ah-ah-ahahahah" in "Silent Madness" by DEADLY BLESSING
"Doomsday!!!!!!!" in "Doomsday for the Deceiver" by FLOTSAM AND JETSAM

Both are a high B (19th fret on the high E string of a guitar in standard tuning)

Quote :

I might be nit picking here but I don't believe that Rob Halford's vocal technique is actually falsetto. I can't think of the term for it, but I remember reading an interview with him years back where someone complimented him on his falsetto and he said "I don't use falsetto, I never have, I use _______." Damn, now that's gonna bug the hell out of me.

King Diamond is the man I think of when I hear the word "falsetto" anyway.

"head voice" Freddy?

Most people use falsetto and "head voice" interchangeably.

The difference is the support from the diaphragm.

Falsetto is light and airy, think Art Garfunkel. Pretty much all metal singers use diaphragm support except maybe King Diamond at times.

Jim Gillette of Nitro

Temple of Blood wrote:

"head voice" Freddy?

Most people use falsetto and "head voice" interchangeably.

The difference is the support from the diaphragm.

Falsetto is light and airy, think Art Garfunkel. Pretty much all metal singer use diaphragm support except maybe King Diamond at times.

That doesn't sound familiar so I don't think that's the term he used.

Sh*t, now I guess I'm gonna have to pick thru my stack of old metal mags and hope I can find that interview with Halford again cuz that's gonna drive me up the wall.

thrasher73 wrote:

Jim Gillette of Nitro

Oh yes! How could I forget "Helium" Jim Gillette.

Well, I am forced to go with King Diamond!

Isn't Tim Owens "Ripper" a good candidate too?

Rob Halford for me! listened to british steel album earlier and it smokes

I like Halford better of the two, so I voted for him.

Freddie Mercury in my opinion is the master of falsetto! Listen to the 70s Queen albums, and you'll see what i mean.

defender_of_the_faith wrote:

Listen to the 70s Queen albums, and you'll see what i mean.

No.

You can't make me do it.

I refuse.

The reason why I picked Halford and King Diamond is because they are the most widley know to use falsetto (or what I have heard falsetto to be). I think now it would have been wise to add a "other" opiton to the poll but I posted it already and I can't change it.

Geddy Lee

lets not forget Tim Ripper Owens from Priest and Iced Earth

and Dio can apparently sing in a falsetto but chooses not too

TheGooch wrote:

lets not forget Tim Ripper Owens from Priest and Iced Earth

and Dio can apparently sing in a falsetto but chooses not too

Joacim Cans of Hammerfall is that way also according to the book, Pro Secrets Of Heavy Rock Singing.

Jimmy P. Brown can do a good falsetto as well (many thrash vocalists can: Eric A.K., Tom Araya, Bobby Blitz, Joey Belladonna, etc.), so can Bruce, Kai Hansen, Christian Rivel, Rob Rock, Ralf Sheeppers, Geoff Tate (or he used to), Lance King, Tobias Sammet, Matt Barlow, and many others.

TheGooch wrote:

lets not forget Tim Ripper Owens from Priest and Iced Earth

and Dio can apparently sing in a falsetto but chooses not too

You can hear him go there on occasion, ie; "Children of the Sea", Sign of the Southern Cross".

How about Midnight from Crimson Glory?

King Diamond

When this comes up I always mention from the rock side, Randy Jackson of Zebra and David Surkamp of Pavlov's Dog. Their voices were so high that thier bands were had to take seriously. Also Burke Shelly of Budgie.

Went with King Diamond since that is who comes to mind first when thinking falsetto.

SAHB Healer wrote:

Randy Jackson of Zebra

Excellent example!

Before Halford there was Ian Gillan!!!

Btw i vote for King Diamond outta the two choices.

candlemass wrote:

How about Midnight from Crimson Glory?

Oh yea, that man could rock a falsetto.

Three words:

"BLOODY...RED...SHAAAAAAAAAAAAAARKS!"