Most critical lead singer

[stryfe]

THE most critical lead singer of a band. Its a tough question because of how many are out there but you can only choose just one person. ONE! Who is the most critical lead singer of all time?

[Rando]

this is ill thought out.

[DRUMM3RBOY]

I don't get it :huh:

[The Chairman]

Jagger. He set the bar for all lead singers to come.

[stryfe]

No its not. Its all a matter of opinion. There is no right answer. There are some bands who carry on without there lead singers like the upcoming alice in chains minus layne. The question is in your eyes who is one lead singer that no matter what could never be replaced because they were so critical to that band.

[stryfe]

Jagger. He set the bar for all lead singers to come.

At least someone got it lol.

[DRUMM3RBOY]

No its not. Its all a matter of opinion. There is no right answer. There are some bands who carry on without there lead singers like the upcoming alice in chains minus layne. The question is in your eyes who is one lead singer that no matter what could never be replaced because they were so critical to that band.
Oh, Chris Martin could never be replaced

[stryfe]

Oh, Chris Martin could never be replaced

lol i had to google him.

[DRUMM3RBOY]

lol i had to google him.
Lol but seriously he makes Coldplay what it is

[adhokk7]

THE most critical lead singer of a band. Its a tough question because of how many are out there but you can only choose just one person. ONE! Who is the most critical lead singer of all time?

Karen Carpenter.

[JLBats]

Thom Yorke.

[stryfe]

damn. Karen carpenter?

[SpideyLad]

Lol but seriously he makes Coldplay what it is

Yes he does....

****. :up:

[adhokk7]

damn. Karen carpenter?

Absolutely. I think this is the definitive answer.

[Brick]

Freddie Mercury.

[PyroChamber]

^I was just about to say that.

[SpideyLad]

Freddie Mercury.

Oh yes! :up:

[Danalys]

i thinking someone who's band is practically a backing band in the publics eye. like it's named after the lead singer or the lead singer is the only one anyone would ever know. so i'm going for blondie.

[Badger]

David St. Hubbins

[Tigerking]

Im gonna go into a genre that isnt rock even-Ice Cube was critical as the lead man for NWA after he left they sucked.

[gap5ewl]

hmmm..

Freddie Mercury
Kurt Cobain
Janis Joplin
Mick Jagger
Robert Plant

[Silk Spectre]

critical to their bands sound or critical to music in general?

[Wolfwood]

Could you say Jon Bon Jovi?

[Rando]

Morrison...

the doors suck with out him.

[darkseid26]

Ronnie James Dio
or
Robert Plant

[the_ultimate_evil]

steve tyler

[adhokk7]

Ronnie James Dio
or
Robert Plant

For which band?

[darkseid26]

For which band?

mainly Dio, but anything his voice is on is always epic, not so much some the Black Sabbath stuff he did.

[Zephyr Alexian]

hmmm..

Freddie Mercury


:up:

[The Chairman]

Oh, and Roger Daltrey.

[ttotheusher]

Paul Weller from The Jam
Bono from U2
Bob Geldof from...err...Band Aid?

[Silk Spectre]

Paul Weller from The Jam
Bono from U2
Bob Geldof from...err...Band Aid?

Bob Geldof/Boomtown Rats

[bunk]

Axel

[Heretic]

Trent Reznor is really the only member of Nine Inch nails, so without him it woulld of course be impossible to continue. The Doors continued, and Queen is still around (though I havent bothered to hear the Paul Rogers stuff). Unlike them, Nine Inch Nails would cease to exist forever if Trent Reznor decided to quit...of course, I dont even like Nine Inch nails, so id be fine with that.

[Silk Spectre]

If were talking critical to the band, Layne Staley of Alice in Chains. They tried to replace him with some other guy, but without those harmonies it just ain't the same.

[Rando]

Trent Reznor is really the only member of Nine Inch nails, so without him it woulld of course be impossible to continue. The Doors continued, and Queen is still around (though I havent bothered to hear the Paul Rogers stuff). Unlike them, Nine Inch Nails would cease to exist forever if Trent Reznor decided to quit...of course, I dont even like Nine Inch nails, so id be fine with that.
I found it to be interesting that Reznor is NIN's only real member.

[CFE]

Freddy Mercury is the best choice on this list so far...

Other notable leads that I don't think have been mentioned yet:

Eddi Vedder (Pearl Jam)
Bon Scott (AC/DC - Brian Johnson was fine, but Bon Scott was the s**t)
Anthony Kiedis (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
Robert Smith (The Cure)
Simon Le Bon (Duran Duran)

---

CFE

[Obi-Ron]

David Lee Roth


yeah, I went there.

[Eggyman]

Bon Jelly

[Heretic]

I found it to be interesting that Reznor is NIN's only real member.

I bought the early Nine Inch nails stuff, and havent bought any of their cds in about 10 years or more, but in the early in cds it stated:

Nine Inch Nails is Trent Reznor

and then it went on to list who else played on the albums.

and according to Wikipedia:

As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and remains solely responsible for its direction

[UA-Archangel]

Gene Simmons from KISS.

[gap5ewl]

David Lee Roth


yeah, I went there.

:cmad:

[Motown Marvel]

if things were fair in the world, gerry roslie would be in the top 5.

[Drizzle]

Axel
Slash was much more critical to GNR than Axl. Case in point: their new song "Shackler's Revenge" from Chinese Democracy, without Slash, is pretty meh. I realize that we're talking only about singers, but Slash was the primary reason GNR was great.

I define a critical lead singer as a singer who is so famous that they practically become the face of the band. As in, you can't really name anyone else in the band besides the lead singer. There are only two lead singers who I can think of who fit this, and they are Freddie Mercury and Sting when he was with The Police. Bono comes close, though.

[BatSpider]

Alice Cooper obviously

[Nirvana]

It's been said but, Freddie Mercury, Queen's just not the same without him. :csad:

[CFE]

Gene Simmons from KISS.

Isn't Paul technically the lead :huh:

CFE

[OctaviousINC]

Tiny Tim

[UA-Archangel]

Isn't Paul technically the lead :huh:

CFE

Maybe, but who is the more replaceable player?

[Heretic]

Slash was much more critical to GNR than Axl. Case in point: their new song "Shackler's Revenge" from Chinese Democracy, without Slash, is pretty meh. I realize that we're talking only about singers, but Slash was the primary reason GNR was great.

I define a critical lead singer as a singer who is so famous that they practically become the face of the band. As in, you can't really name anyone else in the band besides the lead singer. There are only two lead singers who I can think of who fit this, and they are Freddie Mercury and Sting when he was with The Police. Bono comes close, though.

With all due respect, Slash hasnt done much greatness himself without Axl. Furthermore, the GUNS in Guns N Roses was Tracii Guns, who was partially responsible for the early greatness of the band, and he went on to have far more better than average songs in his career than either Axl or Slash.

[CFE]

Maybe, but who is the more replaceable player?

If anyone, I'd say Peter...but that's pushing it because KISS is different. KISS is sort of in line with the Beatles, in that each member is vital and it wouldn't be the same band if any one of them were gone.

CFE

[LastSunrise1981]

Maynard James Keenan
Robert Plant
Freddie Mercury
Eddie Vedder
Bruce Dickinson
Rob Halford
Layne Staley
Karen Carpenter
Midnight(From Crimson Glory)
Geddy Lee
Sebastian Bach
Tarja Turunen
Steve Perry

[imdaly]

Taylor Hanson

[stryfe]

Maynard James Keenan
Robert Plant
Freddie Mercury
Eddie Vedder
Bruce Dickinson
Rob Halford
Layne Staley
Karen Carpenter
Midnight(From Crimson Glory)
Geddy Lee
Sebastian Bach
Tarja Turunen
Steve Perry



The point is to pick one that exceeds the others in importance to there respective groups. Thats what makes it hard. Listing a bunch without nominating a clear winner is easy you could spend all day doing it. Picking one is a tough task.

[CFE]

^I did the same thing (listing)

Well, in that case:

Freddie Mercury

By Far...

CFE

[UA-Archangel]

However, I think the winner for the most critical singer would have to be former Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker.

He was in a plane crash last August.

[adhokk7]

However, I think the winner for the most critical singer would have to be former Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker.

He was in a plane crash last August.

See, I tried and tried to come up with an insensitive joke like that and I came up with nothing. Hat's off to you, sir. Total win. :hehe:

[Zephyr Alexian]

^I did the same thing (listing)

Well, in that case:

Freddie Mercury

By Far...

CFE

Definitely. He was Queen. His voice, showmanship, and ability to guide and develop their recording sessions.

[LastSunrise1981]

The point is to pick one that exceeds the others in importance to there respective groups. Thats what makes it hard. Listing a bunch without nominating a clear winner is easy you could spend all day doing it. Picking one is a tough task.

It is a very tough task. But if I had to pick just one? I'd definitely say Freddie Mercury.

[imdaly]

however, i think the winner for the most critical singer would have to be former blink-182 drummer travis barker.

He was in a plane crash last august.


oh snap! :d

[Mario_Galaxy]

Bowie.

[imdaly]

Michael Jackson - The Jackson 5

[The Chairman]

Bowie.

He was never a lead singer except for Tin Machine.

[stryfe]

Maynard Keenan. From stage presence to influence on all the songs to his vocals i just dont see how anyone else can be as important to a band then he is to tool.

[Heretic]

Maynard Keenan. From stage presence to influence on all the songs to his vocals i just dont see how anyone else can be as important to a band then he is to tool.

I would say that the members of King Crimson were fairly important to defining Tool's sound...or are we as a populace still under the impression that Tool is innovative and unique?

[stryfe]

I would say that the members of King Crimson were fairly important to defining Tool's sound...or are we as a populace still under the impression that Tool is innovative and unique?


Your right they are totally unoriginal hacks who have zero talent and basically got lucky every time they wrote a album :whatever:comeon now hate them if you want but jesus christ.

[Heretic]

Your right they are totally unoriginal hacks who have zero talent and basically got lucky every time they wrote a album :whatever:comeon now hate them if you want but jesus christ.

I actually like Tool...I just dont worship at the alter of Keenan. He's not nearly as innovative and musically godlike as people seem to think. Tool, once you realize that they arent as good as their hype, is still a quite good band. Theres nothing wrong with that.

[stryfe]

I actually like Tool...I just dont worship at the alter of Keenan. He's not nearly as innovative and musically godlike as people seem to think. Tool, once you realize that they arent as good as their hype, is still a quite good band. Theres nothing wrong with that.

Not to continue this argument much further as everyone is entitled to an opinion but the fact that they HAVE hype and lots of people consider him very good to put it lightly kind of disproves your theory they are only decent.

You say they are not as good as people think yet lots of people think they are great. They cant be both at the same time.

[The Dude]

Mick Jagger
Robert Plant
Freddie Mercury

and while I'm not a huge fan of the Doors Jim Morrison is irreplaceable

[JP]

I suppose Freddie, though Queen has made some incredibly amazing songs without Freddie both before and after his death.

[Raiden]

Kurt Cobain
Eddie Vadder
Chris Cornell

[CaptainClown]

Freddy Mercury.

[Edmund Blackadder]

Axl Rose

[CaptainClown]

hahha really axel?...lost to the dark side...

[Edmund Blackadder]

Atleast spell his name right douche

[CaptainClown]

meh. axl axel spelling isn't one of my greatest abilities. Since we are on spelling atleast is two words. Anyway, like I said AXL was what made GnR until he brought about its end. Real shame too oh well.

[Heretic]

Not to continue this argument much further as everyone is entitled to an opinion but the fact that they HAVE hype and lots of people consider him very good to put it lightly kind of disproves your theory they are only decent.

You say they are not as good as people think yet lots of people think they are great. They cant be both at the same time.

So public opinion is what measures greatness???

You know...there isnt a whole lot of people who are praising, I dont know, Bo Diddley these days...he must be talentless since college kids arent rocking him.

And NSYNC sold more cds than Tool...and their fans thought they were great.

Milli Vanilli even won a Grammy.

Many of the greatest, most innovative artists of all time have spent their entire careers in total obscurity...and you think that because several hundred thousand college jocks think that Tool is great is some scary-accurate barometer of talent? That's just sillyness. Its all in marketing (and a bit of luck). MOST popular bands are no better than the undiscovered gems that go unheard. Lets also keep in mind, that Johnny Cash does not have ANY album that comes within MILLIONS of outselling Shania Twain. Therefore, under your logic, Shania Twain is a better artist than Johnny Cash. Hey, millions upon millions upon millions of people preferred to buy her cds...

[stryfe]

So public opinion is what measures greatness???

You know...there isnt a whole lot of people who are praising, I dont know, Bo Diddley these days...he must be talentless since college kids arent rocking him.

And NSYNC sold more cds than Tool...and their fans thought they were great.

Milli Vanilli even won a Grammy.

Many of the greatest, most innovative artists of all time have spent their entire careers in total obscurity...and you think that because several hundred thousand college jocks think that Tool is great is some scary-accurate barometer of talent? That's just sillyness. Its all in marketing (and a bit of luck). MOST popular bands are no better than the undiscovered gems that go unheard. Lets also keep in mind, that Johnny Cash does not have ANY album that comes within MILLIONS of outselling Shania Twain. Therefore, under your logic, Shania Twain is a better artist than Johnny Cash. Hey, millions upon millions upon millions of people preferred to buy her cds...

Even though your being very sarcastic in your post, yes popularity and longevity establish greatness along with record sales. If Shania Twain outsells Johnny Cash 3-1 in sales consistantly and for years then yes she is infact better then he is. Again, simply because YOU dont agree with the majority and dont think they deserve what they get does not mean they dont.

And NSYNC sold more cds than Tool...and their fans thought they were great.


Are they better then? In my opinion no but many many many people would disagree with me. Whos right? No one. Why? Everyone likes different things. Too call one crap and another great is subjective and dependent on the listener.My main point with you is calling tool unoriginal and unique. They are not. NSYNC sucks but im not going to call them talentless asshats because its simply untrue.

[Heretic]

Even though your being very sarcastic in your post, yes popularity and longevity establish greatness along with record sales. If Shania Twain outsells Johnny Cash 3-1 in sales consistantly and for years then yes she is infact better then he is. Again, simply because YOU dont agree with the majority and dont think they deserve what they get does not mean they dont.




Are they better then? In my opinion no but many many many people would disagree with me. Whos right? No one. Why? Everyone likes different things. Too call one crap and another great is subjective and dependent on the listener.My main point with you is calling tool unoriginal and unique. They are not. NSYNC sucks but im not going to call them talentless asshats because its simply untrue.

My main point was that Tool rips off King Crimson...and when Tool got famous, who opened for them on one of their early big US tours?? King Crimson! That's right! Maynard was giving some exposure to the guys he borrowed so heavily from. So, no...Tool is not a snowflake in the wind, having never been seen before.

And public opinion changes on a dime, therefore you cant have that be your measure of greatness. Limp Bizkit went from being the "best" band in the country to being absolute jokes...and its the exact same collection of music in reference. People are fickle. Yesterdays Warrant is todays Fall Out Boy.

I will grant you that long term success does say something...though really...not much. Metallica has been successful for a long time, and I dont care how many fans of Load tell me otherwise, they were far, far better during the early years. Higher sales does NOT equal better quality. Hootie And The Blowfish sold far more albums than...well...the entire Blues movement combined (practically). So, therefore...once again...Hootie And The Blowfish is more talented than John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, BB King and Bo Diddley combined (Im guessing on sales of course). Its a stupid argument. Most major music trends are generated by morons. Nu-Metal? Britney and NSYNC? Emo? Hair Metal? Come on. These trends werent being forged by brain surgeons. Meanwhile the truly groundbreaking artists remained broke and unheard of.

[Figs]

Sorry to add more fuel to the fire but if Tool ripped off King Crimson, how come Tool went big and Crimson didn't?

If it is true that they ripped them off...they obviously did whatever it was they ripped off from them better.

[Doomed_hero]

Kurt Cobain and Jim morrison, bands wouldnt be the same without them.

Plus if you tak Paul or John away from the Beatles, it would more then likely changed music forever

[Heretic]

Sorry to add more fuel to the fire but if Tool ripped off King Crimson, how come Tool went big and Crimson didn't?

If it is true that they ripped them off...they obviously did whatever it was they ripped off from them better.

First, King Crimson WAS big, decades before Tool existed.

Secondly, as I said before, the public is TOLD what to buy. I know it sucks to realize this, but the bulk of the average persons musical choices are bands they were told to like. Bands form, creating avant garde, incredible music. The labels dont want to risk any cash on them, and radio doesnt want to risk losing listeners on a no-name band playing a new style. However, that band will influence some people, who will then form sound alike bands, and then those bands will be marketed to the public and sell millions. Thats just the way it works. I'm not saying this as opinion, I actually worked in the publcity department of a couple of major labels. The labels dont really risk anything until someone else has already laid the groundwork for them.

[Gallagher]

Kurt Cobain, Jim Morrison and Freddie are tied in my opinion each MADE the band what they were.

[CaptainClown]

Kurt Cobain, Jim Morrison and Freddie are tied in my opinion each MADE the band what they were.
so very true

[Figs]

First, King Crimson WAS big, decades before Tool existed.

Secondly, as I said before, the public is TOLD what to buy. I know it sucks to realize this, but the bulk of the average persons musical choices are bands they were told to like. Bands form, creating avant garde, incredible music. The labels dont want to risk any cash on them, and radio doesnt want to risk losing listeners on a no-name band playing a new style. However, that band will influence some people, who will then form sound alike bands, and then those bands will be marketed to the public and sell millions. Thats just the way it works. I'm not saying this as opinion, I actually worked in the publcity department of a couple of major labels. The labels dont really risk anything until someone else has already laid the groundwork for them.

I know they were from decades ago, but I just don't hear many people talk about them to this day. I just figured if they had gotten Big they would still be heard/talked about more like say...Led Zeppelin or Pink Floyd.

I understand the studios and radio try to market bands to the general public but in all fairness you make it sound like everyone is a bunch of morons who can't think for themselves. Believe me I know a lot of people out there that are sheep that only get whatever is the "In" or "cool" thing but when it comes to music I think your going to like it or hate it from listening to it as opposed to 'they played this on the radio...I have to buy this now'.

I listened to some songs from King Crimson and frankly, I don't see how in the hell anyone could say Tool ripped them off. They don't sound anything alike as far as I've heard. Maybe I just didn't hear the right songs, I don't know.

[AxlsAppetite]

to some of you out there saying Axl doesn't make good music with new Gn'R, we'll see November 25 when Chinese Democracy comes out.

[adhokk7]

to some of you out there saying Axl doesn't make good music with new Gn'R, we'll see November 25 when Chinese Democracy comes out.

Free Dr. Pepper! :grin:

[Yerzrinot]

Ronnie James Dio
or
Robert Plant

Dio ruined Black Sabbath. :down:

[AxlsAppetite]

Free Dr. Pepper! :grin:
oh yes

[[A]]

Freddie Mercury.
QFT :applaud

[TEDDY]

Freddy Mercury

[[A]]

Freddie Mercury.. come on :hehe:

[Heretic]

I'll take Ronnie James Dio over that idiot Ozzy Osbourne any day of the weel. Ozzy has always been the least talented member of any line-up he's been in.

And to Figs...its not that people are idiots...

I remember as a young kid seeing an MTV report on how millions of girls were all dressing exactly like Madonna. Each and every girl they spoke with said "this is how I express my individuality". I also recall seeing Rage Against The Machine booed off the stage while opening up for someone else. They were unknown at the time, but a few months later MTV picked them up and they became famous and then they returned to the same venue as headliners and all the people who had been booing them were there, having bought tickets just to see them...and keep in mind, they only had one cd so its not like they got any better. Most people dont go digging through new releases to find cool new bands and rely on the media to tell them about bands.

[TheFuture]

Yes he does....

****. :up:

:funny::up:

[LastSunrise1981]

Dio ruined Black Sabbath. :down:

Hahaha, that's funny. Dio didn't ruin Black Sabbath at all. If anything he made them better and made them progress their sound. While it's stupid to take anything away from Ozzy, Dio helped Sabbath improve their songwriting since he wrote music as well.

I always felt Dio fit the name Black Sabbath more than Ozzy. When I thought of Sabbath I always thought more of a mystical feel. Dio's voice is one of the best in music.

[The Chairman]

If Shania Twain outsells Johnny Cash 3-1 in sales consistantly and for years then yes she is infact better then he is. Again, simply because YOU dont agree with the majority and dont think they deserve what they get does not mean they dont.

Wow, I can't comprehend the utter stupidity of this sentence. There are no words to encapsulate my feelings towards this. Not even a facepalm does it justice.

[SpideyLad]

:funny::up:

It's so very true....

ColdPlay are a **** band...

[The Chairman]

For some reason, Coldplay always struck me as a castrated version of Radiohead. I don't know why. But yeah, they're really a terrible band. A few good songs here and there, but mostly a bohemeth of suck.

[SpideyLad]

For some reason, Coldplay always struck me as a castrated version of Radiohead. I don't know why. But yeah, they're really a terrible band. A few good songs here and there, but mostly a bohemeth of suck.

It mainly Chris Martin's voice that does it for me. It's so whiney....

Music to kill yourself to. :up:

[The Chairman]

Also, has Bruce Springsteen been mentioned at all in this thread? If not, he should be. Bruce has done a lot of projects away from The E Street Band, but at the end of the day, he's still their lead singer.

[TheFuture]

It's so very true....

ColdPlay are a **** band...

I agree. Though I do think their first album is alright, they quickly went up their own hole and they just release arty **** now.

Oh I have just come up with one, Gary Lightbody and Snow Patrol. His vocals define that band.

[Heretic]

Coldplay fell victim to the same old syndrome...believing the critics when they rave about you. I think the worst offender was Perry Farrell. Janes Addiction had some great music (everything except Ritual De La Hibitual, which is their biggest seller for some reason...) and then he believed he was the musical artist of a generation and just crapped all over the record bins with Porno For Pyros.

[redmarvel]

I can't claim to make the guess "for all time"... but in the last couple of decades I'd say

Bono of U2.

[raybia]

Donny Osmond