100 Greatest 'Male' Rock Vocalists

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I have posted lists for the top guitar players, bassists and drummers. It is now time to discuss the greatest rock vocalists of all time. The list below has links to the music for some of the artists; and the ones listed in red were recently added. The site where I found this list has other great music lists; however previous lists that I have posted on this blog comes from different sources. To see more music lists, you can visit: http://digitaldreamdoor.nutsie.com/index.html.

Let me first say that I had difficulty finding a list of great vocalists that accurately included female rock singers; though I did find some information about great female rock performances, which I will display in a future post. The order of the "100 Greatest 'Male' Rock Vocalists" is disputable; and since I sometimes receive comments about worthy artists who don't appear on a particular list, therefore I have also included 101-200 of the "Greatest 'Male' Rock Vocalists". I will voice the first complaint about the order of the list, which is that I don't agree that Sammy Hagar should be listed ahead of Steve Tyler of Aerosmith. My vote for the number 1 rock vocalist is Robert Plant. I know this is the second time I picked a member of Led Zeppelin as my favorite, but I do believe most rock fans would at least put Robert Plant in their top 5. Please comment on your top rock vocalist. Kenny Leibow

1. Freddie Mercury (Queen, Solo) 2. Jackie Wilson 3. Jeff Buckley 4. Sam Cooke 5. Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin, Solo) 6. Ian Gillan (Deep Purple, Solo) 7. Steve Perry (Journey, Solo) 8. Roy Orbison 9. Chris Cornell (Soundgarden, Temple Of The Dog, Solo) 10. Clyde McPhatter (Drifters, Dominoes, Solo) 11. Elvis Presley 12. Geoff Tate (Queensryche) 13. Marvin Gaye 14. Mike Patton (Faith No More, Mr. Bungle) 15. Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden, Solo) 16. Stevie Wonder 17. Ronnie James Dio (Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Solo) 18. Al Green 19. Tim Buckley 20. Tony Williams (Platters) 21. Rob Halford (Judas Priest) 22. Smokey Robinson 23. Curtis Mayfield 24. Roger Daltrey (The Who, Solo) 25. Roy Hamilton 26. Solomon Burke 27. Little Willie John 28. Michael Matijevic (Steelheart) 29. Little Richard 30. Paul Rodgers (Free, Bad Company, Queen) 31. Roy Khan (Kamelot) 32. Burton Cummings (The Guess Who, Solo) 33. Paul McCartney (The Beatles, Wings, Solo) 34. Sebastian Bach (Skid Row) 35. Eddie Kendricks (The Temptations, Solo) 36. Dan McCafferty (Nazareth) 37. Brad Delp (Boston) 38. Dennis DeYoung (Styx, Solo) 39. Wilson Pickett 40. Sam Moore (Sam & Dave) 41. Joe Cocker 42. Ben E. King (The Drifters, Solo) 43. Luther Vandross 44. Carl Wilson (Beach Boys) 45. Van Morrison (Them, Solo) 46. Peter Cetera (Chicago) 47. Richard Manuel (The Band) 48. Bill Medley (The Righteous Brothers, Solo) 49. Barry White 50. Levi Stubbs (Four Tops)	51. Eric Burdon (Animals, War, Solo) 52. David Ruffin (The Temptations, Solo) 53. Billy Joel 54. David Bowie 55. Axl Rose (Guns N Roses) 56. James Brown 57. Brian Wilson (Beach Boys) 58. David Byron (Uriah Heep) 59. Philip Bailey (Earth, Wind & Fire) 60. Lou Gramm (Foreigner) 61. Layne Staley (Alice In Chains, Mad Season) 62. Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple) 63. Elton John 64. Justin Hayward (Moody Blues) 65. Otis Redding 66. Frankie Valli (The Four Seasons, Solo) 67. Jimmy Beaumont (The Skyliners) 68. Prince 69. John Farnham (The Little River Band) 70. Maynard James Keenan (Tool, Perfect Circle) 71. Jim Morrison (The Doors) 72. Rod Stewart (The Jeff Beck Group, Solo) 73. Dion (Dion and The Belmonts) 74. Jimi Jamison (Survivor) 75. Greg Lake (ELP, King Crimson) 76. Del Shannon 77. Philip Anselmo (Pantera) 78. Art Garfunkel (Simon & Garfunkel, Solo) 79. Dennis Edwards (The Temptations) 80. Cedric Bixler-Zavalla (At The Drive In, The Mars Volta) 81. Jimmy Gnecco (Ours) 82. Bono (U2) 83. Neil Diamond 84. Bob Seger 85. Jack Bruce (Cream) 86. Myles Kennedy (Alter Bridge, Mayfield 4) 87. Steve Winwood (Traffic, Solo) 88. Bill Withers 89. Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam) 90. Russell Allen (Symphony X) 91. Todd Rundgren 92. Klaus Meine (Scorpions) 93. Meat Loaf 94. James Taylor 95. Steve Marriott (Humble Pie) 96. Sammy Hagar (Van Halen, Solo) 97. Robin Zander (Cheap Trick) 98. David Coverdale (Deep Purple, Whitesnake) 99. John Lennon (The Beatles, Solo) 100. John Fogerty (Creedence Clearwater Revival, Solo)
101. Steven Tyler (Aerosmith) 102. Don Henley (The Eagles) 103. Mick Jagger (Rolling Stones) 104. Bruce Springsteen 105. Lou Christie 106. Jerry Lee Lewis 107. Jon Anderson (Yes) 108. Peter Gabriel (Genesis, Solo) 109. Steve Walsh (Kansas) 110. Nick Cave 111. Gregg Allman (Allman Brothers Band) 112. Aaron Neville 113. Jon Bon Jovi (Bon Jovi) 114. David Lee Roth (Van Halen) 115. Joe Elliot (Def Leppard) 116. Don Mclean 117. Sting (The Police) 118. Kevin Cronin (REO Speedwagon) 119. Lindsay Buckingham(Fleetwood Mac) 120. David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) 121. Screamin Jay Hawkins 122. John Kay (Steppenwolf) 123. Ray Davies (The Kinks) 124. Bon Scott (AC/DC) 125. Michael Stipe (REM) 126. Cat Stevens 127. Jeff Lynne (ELO) 128. George Harrison (The Beatles) 129. Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull) 130. Brian Johnson (AC/DC) 131. Mitch Ryder (Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels) 132. Paul Simon (Simon & Garfunkel, Solo) 133. Neil Young(Buffalo Springfield, CSNY, Solo) 134. Ronnie Van Zant (Lynyrd Skynyrd) 135. Bryan Adams 136. Phil Collins (Genesis, Solo) 137. Eric Clapton (Cream, Blind Faith, Derek..., Solo) 138. David Clayton-Thomas (Blood, Sweat, & Tears) 139. Steve Miller 140. Ozzy Osbourne (Black Sabbath) 141. Roger McGuinn (The Byrds) 142. Gary Cherone (Extreme) 143. Adam Duritz (Counting Crows) 144. Roger Waters (Pink Floyd) 145. Paul Weller The Jam, The Style Council 146. John Wetton (King Crimson) 147. Anthony Kiedis (Red Hot Chili Peppers) 148. Graham Nash (Hollies, CSNY) 149. Graham Bonnet (Rainbow) 150. Chuck Negron (Three Dog Night)	151. James Hetfield (Metallica) 152. Michael Hutchence (INXS) 153. Levon Helm (The Band) 154. Scott Weiland (Stone Temple Pilots) 155. Michael McDonald (Doobie Brothers, Solo) 156. Morrissey (The Smiths) 157. Robert Smith (Cure) 158. James Labrie (Dream Theater) 159. Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees) 160. Leslie West (Mountain) 161. Doug Pinnick (King's X) 162. Denny Doherty (The Mamas & Papas) 163. Aaron Lewis (Staind) 164. Felix Cavaliere (The Young Rascals) 165. Blaze Bayley (Iron Maiden) 166. Joe Lynn Turner (Deep Purple) 167. Chris De Burgh 168. Mark Farner (Grand Funk Railroad) 169. Tommy Shaw (Styx) 170. Thom Yorke (Radiohead) 171. Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzy) 172. Matt Bellamy (Muse) 173. Edward Kowalczyk (Live) 174. John Sebastian (Lovin' Spoonful, Solo) 175. Elvis Costello 176. James Dewar (Robin Trower) 177. Peter Wolf (J Geils Band) 178. Johnny Rzeznik (Goo Goo Dolls) 179. Tony Martin (Black Sabbath) 180. Peter Frampton 181. Dave Mason (Traffic, Solo) 182. Glenn Tilbrook (Squeeze) 183. Robert Palmer 184. Warren Zevon 185. Billy Idol (Generation X, Solo) 186. John Popper (Blues Traveler) 187. Tommy James (Tommy James & the Shondells) 188. Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails) 189. Brandon Boyd (Incubus) 190. Greg Kihn 191. Billy Squier 192. Stephen Stills (Buffalo Springfield, CSNY, Solo) 193. Tom Petty 194. Dave Gahan (Depeche Mode) 195. Ian Astbury (The Cult) 196. Chris Robinson (The Black Crows) 197. Geddy Lee (Rush) 198. Corey Glover (Living Color) 199. Lou Reed (Velvet Underground) 200. Joe Strummer (The Clash)

Warrant - Heaven 1989

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Every hard rock band in the 1980's had a love ballad, which is categorized for example as (Rock Ballad, Power Ballad, and Hard Rock Ballad). Some of the most notable are Night Ranger's "Sister Christian" and White Snake's "Is This love". I would place Warrant's "Heaven" in a similar rock ballad subgenre. As I remember the first time hearing this song, it was far from a romantic setting. On a Saturday night I went to a club to see a heavy metal band in Miami Beach with some friends, which included Deniz and Leo, then afterwards we went back to someone's apartment. I can't remember whose place it was; however there was a big, tan colored, L-shaped, comfortable sofa placed around a big screen projection TV. It was early morning and some of the group had been drinking. I was dead tired trying to keep my eyes open, knowing that I had a long ride back home to Miami Springs. As we were hanging out just chilling, I remember seeing the Warrant video - Heaven on MTV... It was just a moment of complete relaxation. ~ Kenny Leibow

Below is a short biography of the group Warrant along with that infamous Sony music video featuring Warrant's song "Heaven":

With a pair of double-platinum albums and three Top Ten singles, Warrant were one of the most popular pop-metal bands of the late '80s. Formed in Los Angeles in the mid-'80s, the group featured vocalist Jani Lane, guitarist Erik Turner, guitarist Joey Allen, bassist Jerry Dixon, and drummer Steven Sweet. They released Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich in 1989; by the middle of that year, it had climbed into the Top Ten and launched the hit singles "Down Boys," "Sometimes She Cries," and "Heaven," the last of which reached number two. Released in the summer of 1990, Cherry Pie was an even bigger success, climbing into the Top Ten and featuring the Top Ten hits "I Saw Red" and "Cherry Pie." Warrant had some trouble continuing their multi-platinum success during the alternative explosion of 1992, although their third album, Dog Eat Dog, did go gold; 1995's Ultraphobic and 1996's Belly to Belly, however, failed to chart.

The band's lineup began to splinter as the '90s progressed, with the majority of Warrant's founding members leaving the group. Under the Influence arrived in 2001, comprised of several cover songs and two original tracks; it also marked Jani Lane's last recording with the band. He ultimately left in 2004, taking two of Warrant's members with him, and was replaced by former Black 'N Blue vocalist Jaime St. James. While Lane attempted a solo career, the revised version of Warrant released Born Again in 2006. Jaime St. James' tenure in the band proved to be very short, as he was ousted in 2008 in favor of Lane's return. Later that year, Lane left once again and was replaced by Lynch Mob's Rob Mason. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Warrant - Heaven 1989

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Bon Jovi - Tokyo Live 1989

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I am finally writing a post about Bon Jovi. I grew up in New Jersey; and was living there when Bon Jovi first hit the national scene. I was a fan of Bon Jovi's music and style regardless how commercial they became. I have seen them a couple of times in concert over the years; and my wife is also a fan of Bon Jovi. I remember listening to the "Slippery When Wet" cassette in the late 1980's with Deniz, my wife and other friends out by the pool in Miami Springs. My first romantic dance with my wife, Deya, was to the song "Never Say Goodbye" by Bon Jovi. As I mentioned in a previous post, and out of pure coincidence, my wife and I were married the exact same day as Jon Bon Jovi and his wife were married back in April 1989.

Now to December 31st, 1988 where Bon Jovi had their Legendary Performance from the New Jersey Tour in Tokyo, Japan on New Years Eve at the Tokyo Dome: My opinion is, that at this time when the Album "New Jersey" was originally released, Bon Jovi was at the peak of their career. I don't mean at the peak of their success because Bon Jovi is still going strong today and continues to sell millions of albums and grow their fan base crossing generations. I am referring to their live performances, which I believe they were at their best in 1989.

There are literally tens of thousands of music videos, concert videos, pics and information floating around the Internet on Bon Jovi. By being consistent with the theme of my other posts, you can see two live music videos of Bon Jovi performing on New Years Eve in 1988 in the Tokyo Dome. Fittingly the first video is "Tokyo Road" from Bon Jovi's 1985 album 7800° Fahrenheit. Richie Sambora does a great guitar solo during this performance. Since this is the "New Jersey" album tour, I choose to slow it down a little by putting the video of Bon Jovi performing "I'll Be There For You" from their new album at the time, which was also a big-hit-single. Later that year Bon Jovi joined other hard rock groups at the 1989 Moscow Peace Music Festival in Russia. You can read about it in the post from last month.

Bon Jovi came over to "Heat Beat Live '89" which was held on 12/31 and 1/1 in the year 1989 at the Tokyo Dome. They also had five more live shows in Japan in January. See the concert dates and venues in Japan listed below. For those of you who are addicted to the signature anthems of Bon Jovi, I didn't want to disappoint you, so I added a third video from the Tokyo concert, "Livin' on a Prayer". Even back then the Japanese fans knew all the words to the song. Kenny Leibow

Tour Japan 1988-1989
12/31 Tokyo (Tokyo Dome)
1/1 Tokyo (Tokyo Dome)

1/5 Osaka (Osaka Castle Hall)
1/6 Osaka (Osaka Castle Hall)
1/9 Osaka (Osaka Castle Hall)
1/10 Nagoya (Rainbow Hall)
1/11 Nagoya (Rainbow Hall)


Band Members:

Jon Bon Jovi (Lead Vocals, Guitars)
Richie Sambora (Lead & Rhythm Guitars, Backing Vocals)
David Bryan (Keyboards, Backing Vocals)
Tico Torres (Drums, Percussion)
Alec John Such (Bass, Backing Vocals)
Hugh McDonald (Bass, Backing Vocals)

Bon Jovi - Tokyo Road
(Live in Japan 1985)


Bon Jovi - I''ll Be There For You
(New Years Eve in Tokyo 1988)

Bon Jovi - Livin' On A Prayer
(Live in Tokyo 1988)