Who is the Worst Successful Singer?

[Paperback Rocker]

Seeing as people continue to post technically good singers that they just don't like...

DLR's live vocals may be shaky in his old age, but they were always perfect for VH recordings. His voice and added inflections were very musical. Sammy Hagar may have had better technical ability, but to me it's screechy and less organic.

I'd make the same argument with Paul Di'Anno's vocals on the first two Iron Maiden albums vs Bruce Dickinson on the rest.

And Bonn Scott vs Brian Johnson.

Sometimes the original singers were the best match.

I defy anyone to sing along with Van Halen recordings and keep up with DLR and all his yipping and yapping and those 'wows' or whatever his trademark sound . It's very difficult.

 

[TrackerDan]

What I'm looking for here is your nominations for the worst singer in a successful band. They've had number one singles and albums across the globe, but the vocalist is meh. But for some reason, they stick with him or her and the dodgy vocals have become part of the bands signature sound and maybe even charm.

Update.

A lot of you are confusing singers who's voice you don't like, with singers you just cannot sing or who sing badly. Most of the names put forward here are actually competent singers with good pitch, timing and timbre.

Here's an example of what I mean. I watched Paul McCartney live in this 2001 concert for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee here in London. He was seriously wretched. This is bad singing.



Yoko is incapable of singing. Even I am a better singer than Yoko.

Stevie Nicks

 

[heavy7]

Roger Daltrey..seen the Who live and Daltrey is a terrible vocalist...all of his studio work sounds great but in concert it's like scraping nails on a chalkboard!

 

[Tonespinner 2]

When I was a kid, at first I thought he was singing "running with a dead bolt"

What I'm looking for here is your nominations for the worst singer in a successful band. They've had number one singles and albums across the globe, but the vocalist is meh. But for some reason, they stick with him or her and the dodgy vocals have become part of the bands signature sound and maybe even charm.

Update.

A lot of you are confusing singers who's voice you don't like, with singers you just cannot sing or who sing badly. Most of the names put forward here are actually competent singers with good pitch, timing and timbre.

Here's an example of what I mean. I watched Paul McCartney live in this 2001 concert for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee here in London. He was seriously wretched. This is bad singing.



Yoko is incapable of singing. Even I am a better singer than Yoko.

"I rode across the desert"....Well, you know

 

[Tonespinner 2]

I'll second that. It's not so bad with the band, but on it's own.... Oh man:

Priceless!---Don't know which is funnier, this or "COVID 19---I blow---the wind of God"

 

[nomadh]

Springsteen

 

[Blackmore Fan]

Robert Plant

Come on man, you can't just type random names here.

 

[Blackmore Fan]

Stevie Nicks

Her name keeps coming up, yet she appeared on *lots* of backing vocal tracks for other folks hits. Again, this isn't a thread for people to just insert random names into.

 

[bassworx]

David Lee Roth, bar none. I am classically trained, and sang in rock bands for several years. His cocaine/tequila voice gives me the willys.

 

[tanta07]

Her name keeps coming up, yet she appeared on *lots* of backing vocal tracks for other folks hits. Again, this isn't a thread for people to just insert random names into.

Here here. These suggestions that "this person with a decades-long career and worldwide acclaim is actually secretly terrible at his/her job" are pretty ridiculous. "I don't fancy Stevie Nicks' voice," doesn't carry the same heft, I guess...

 

[TrackerDan]

Her name keeps coming up, yet she appeared on *lots* of backing vocal tracks for other folks hits. Again, this isn't a thread for people to just insert random names into.

Her name keeps coming up? Maybe there's a reason? I don't feel like it's my fault for entering my opinion? I hadn't seen her posted yet, so I did.

 

[Chont]

I'll second that. It's not so bad with the band, but on it's own.... Oh man:

I've heard that before but its still funny as hell

"God dammit baby you know I aint lyin' to you... im only gonna tell you one time" LOLOLOL

 

[pmoore]

Lemmy?????

 

[pmoore]

Yep, Yoko, then Bob Dylan, then maybe Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson has the voice of an angel...not anymore, but he is like 150 years old. Him in his prime is better than 90% of the greatest singers

 

[Bcorig]

Ready to be swarmed.

Jagger

But he’s got the moves.

 

[Bcorig]

Also, they were actually a backing band.

“We pulled into the city where a Martin Guitars are made, feelin’ ‘bout half past dead”

 

[pmoore]

Gotta say I liked Morrison’s voice.

I gotta say I like Springsteen's voice lol

 

[sam_in_cali]

Willie Nelson has the voice of an angel...not anymore, but he is like 150 years old. Him in his prime is better than 90% of the greatest singers

I love Willie but his voice is like Geddy Lee's....its something of an acquired taste.

 

[Stratafied]

I gotta say I like Springsteen's voice lol

Oh well!!

 

[Bcorig]

yeah..Anthony Keidis for sure..he's just a terrible singer, but still a great frontman...DLR falls into that category for me too

Randy Newman, “Just One Smile” on Blood Sweat and Tears