Top Ten Greatest Hard Rock Vocalists

The Top Ten
1 Axl Rose William Bruce Rose Jr., better known as 'Axl Rose', is an American singer born on February 6, 1962, in Lafayette, Indiana. He Is the founder and lead singer of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses. He is a celebrated but controversial figure in the world of rock.

Axl is fantastic. Bon Scott, Freddie Mercury, Ian Gillan should be higher on the list. And why are people voting for Hetfield? Don't get me wrong, he's a great singer and I love Metallica, but It's not hard rock - it's metal. The name of the band is METAL-lica! Anyway - Guns N' Roses rocks and Axl is one of the best singers ever. End of story.

Mr. Rose is hands down the best rock Singer/ vocalist to ever grace this planet. No one even comes close to his vocal range!

Listened to him sing sweet child o mine a few months ago on youtube. The man's voice didn't age a bit. Still in tune, still powerful. Atestament to this man's vocal prowess.

He's a very good singer, but he can't possibly be better than Freddie...or Joe Elliott

2 James Hetfield James Alan Hetfield was born on August 3, 1963. He is an American musician, singer and songwriter known for being the co-founder, lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and main songwriter for the American heavy metal band Metallica.

James hetfield is better than axl rose
Metallica is all because of his rhythm guitar work and great vocals.
Guns n roses's main man is slash
Axl rose just pissed him off to leave guns n roses

Hetgield can sing hard medium and soft both like hard in creeping death, master of puppets.. Medium in ride welcome home, enter sandman and slow in unforgiven 2, nothing else matter.. He is best live performer... Metallica is best band of the world and they are god of metal... Hetfield deserve 1st position in this list... He is best vocalist + rhythm guitarist and member of Metallica.. Name of Metallica is enough... He is really best...

St. Anger is their hard rock album and the vocals are good it just needs some solo

CAN NOT BELIEVE HE IS NOT 1ST METALLICA IS SO AWESOME

3 Freddie Mercury Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara, 5th September 1946 - 24th November 1991) was a Zanzibari-born British singer of Indian descent, songwriter and record producer, known as the lead vocalist and songwriter of the British rock band Queen. He also became known for his flamboyant stage persona and four-octave ...read more.

Beautiful voice beautiful face. Possibly one of the best singers ever to grace the earth! Pure genius, just watch Queen's set at Live Aid for proof.

Come on put him at one now his voice the best they come in in fact he has like 6 different voices so he should be one-END OF STORY

We have to vote him up for the first place! He eats Axl Rose for breakfast, they are not in the same page.

Greatest singer who ever walked on Earth. No doubt at all.

4 Robert Plant Robert Anthony Plant (born 20 August 1948) is an English musician, singer, and songwriter best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the rock band Led Zeppelin.

James Hetfield is overrated, as all of metallica. Robert Plant may not be a extremely hard rock vocalist, but he influenced it like no other.

Greatest hard rock singer that ever lived? ROBERT ANTHONY PLANT. Nobody even close.

He was the original hard rock vocalist. He created the style of singing

Awesome Man! Awesome Voice! Led Zeppelin Rocks

5 Steven Tyler Steven Tyler is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and former television music competition judge, best known as the lead singer of the Boston-based rock band Aerosmith, in which he also plays the harmonica, and occasional piano and percussion.

Should be in top 3. 6th, you've got to be kidding me. Whoever voted for Steven Tyler to be in 6th needs to pull their heads out of their asses, take in the air and reach the logical conclusion that Steven Tyler is only worthy of at least top 3, if not number 1.

Steven is one of the greatest singers in the history of the genre. He certainly deserves this spot, but Robert Plant certainly deserves second and Freddie Mercury deserves first.

Aerosmith lead singer. Enough said.

The demon of screamin he's the best

6 Steve Perry Stephen Ray "Steve" Perry is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is known as the lead singer of the rock band Journey during their most commercially successful periods from 1977 to 1987 and again from 1995 to 1998.

An awesome voice. Steve Perry is my favorite and he has to be the number 1!

I LOVE Steve Perry! Journey is my favorite band of ALL time!

James Hetfield really? A good singer, a nice voice?

7 Ian Gillan Ian Gillan is an English singer and songwriter. He originally found success as the lead singer and lyricist for Deep Purple, and the original singer on the rock opera concept album Jesus Christ Superstar by Andrew Lloyd Webber, where Gillan had the leading role (Jesus Christ).

Amazing range, rich voice, can make screams that would send other people to the hospital, just listen to the In Rock album

The best singer for me! The colour of his voice-quite unusual and charismatic. For ever only Ian Gillan!

He has such vocal quality and such an operatic style! Listen to Child in Time!

Have you ever eared "I only want to say", with Gillan at Jesus Christ Superstar?

8 Bruce Dickinson Paul Bruce Dickinson, known professionally as Bruce Dickinson, (born 7 August 1958) is an English musician, airline pilot, and broadcaster. He is most well known for being the lead singer in heavy metal band Iron Maiden and his solo career.Outside his career in music, Dickinson has pursued a number of other activities. He undertook a career as a commercial pilot for Astraeus Airlines, which led to a number of media-reported ventures such as captaining Iron Maiden's converted charter aeroplane, Ed Force One, during their world tours. Following Astraeus' closure, he created his own aircraft maintenance and pilot training company, Cardiff Aviation, in 2012. Dickinson presented his own radio show ...read more.

He is at 20 'cause he is heavy metal not hard rock

What Bruce Dickinson at 20. he should be in top 10.

I agree with both of you

Bos... Dance of the death... M/..

9 Jon Bon Jovi John Francis Bongiovi, Jr., better known by his stage name Jon Bon Jovi, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, philanthropist, and actor, best known as the founder and frontman of the hair band Bon Jovi from, which was founded by Jon and his pianist, David Bryan, in 1983. He is famous for his band's hit songs “Livin’ on a Prayer," "You Give Love a Bad Name," and "Wanted Dead or Alive" which were all released in 1986, on the album Slippery When Wet. Jon was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey on March 2, 1962.

Should be number! Have you heard Axl Rose, he sounds like a retarded cat with a nasal disorder getting dissolved in acid!

What a Voice & Charisma! Top 3 material along with Robert Plant & Freddie Mercury...

The Best vocalist of All-time along with Richie Sambora!

Why do people like Bon Jovi?

10 Brian Johnson Brian Johnson is an English singer and songwriter. Since 1980, he is the lead singer of the Australian rock band AC/DC, with whom he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003. As of April 2016, Johnson is not participating in the remainder of the Rock or Bust World Tour due to hearing problems.

Brian and axl. Who else is there

AC/DC and his voice is awesome

Should be higher. has powerful voice. in my opinion, better than Bon Scott.

Nah. Bon is much better.

The Contenders
11 Bon Scott Ronald Belford "Bon" Scott was a Scottish-born Australian rock musician, best known for being the lead singer and lyricist of Australian hard rock band AC/DC from 1974 until his death in 1980. He was born in Forfar and lived in Kirriemuir, Scotland, for 5 years before moving to Melbourne, Australia, ...read more.

Hard rock vocalist.. who the hell is better than this guy! I like Axl more..but Bon deserves to be in the top 5..

You all a crazy that is rock at its best none better

Only 18th place this is the best voice there is.

He was only 30 years do you think if 50 years... ?

12 Ronnie James Dio Ronnie James Dio (born Ronald James Padavona; July 10, 1942 – May 16, 2010) was an American heavy metal singer, songwriter and musician. He fronted and/or founded numerous groups including Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio and Heaven & Hell. He is credited with popularizing the "metal horns" hand gesture in metal culture and is known for his medieval themed lyrics. Dio possessed a powerful versatile vocal range capable of singing both hard rock and lighter ballads; according to Rainbow/Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore upon hearing him sing, "I felt shivers down my spine." Dio sold over 47 million albums throughout his career. He died from stomach cancer in 2010 at the age of 67.

Yes I agree. #1!
Not enough peeps have really listened to his
Voice like on the 1st 3 Rainbow albums.
Or when he was w Black Sabbath & sang "heaven &hell" etc.

I'm listening to rainbow in the dark at this very moment!

Dio should be far beyond 7. Like #1

13 Layne Staley Layne Thomas Staley was an American musician who served as the lead singer and co-songwriter of the rock band Alice in Chains, which he founded with guitarist Jerry Cantrell in Seattle, Washington in 1987. Alice in Chains rose to international fame as part of the grunge movement of the early 1990s. ...read more.

Alice in Chains is much better than Nirvana (In my opinion). Therefor, Layne should be ahead of Kurt by at least one position.

This list is trash. Kurt Cobain is nothing compared to Layne

This list is wrong layne staley is #1

Hands down. Sexiest and best voice

14 M. Shadows Matthew Charles Sanders, better known by his stage name M. Shadows, is an American musician, best known as the lead vocalist, songwriter and founding member of the American metalcore/alternative metal band Avenged Sevenfold.

What is there to love about M. Shadows? Oh right, EVERYTHING! His voice being at the top of the list! He deserves his beautiful family- his wife and sons! :')

He is the best of the modern age and will remain untouchable for generations to come

One of the bests... Deserves the top 5...

The worlds greatest vocalist

15 Joe Lynn Turner Joe Lynn Turner is an American singer, known for his works with hard rock/metal bands Rainbow, Yngwie Malmsteen and Deep Purple.
16 Vince Niel
17 Chester Bennington Chester Charles Bennington (March 20th, 1976 - July 20th, 2017) was an American musician, singer, songwriter and actor, best known for being the lead singer of Linkin Park. Before he was known for Linkin Park, Bennington was the lead singer of post-grunge act Grey Daze who was heavily inspired by Stone Temple Pilots they released two albums with Chester before his death. Wake Me and No Sun Today, a third album called Amends would be released in 2020 consisting of voice samples from Bennington. After Grey Daze dissolved, Bennington would join Linkin Parkin in 1999 formerly called Hybrid Theory, replacing former vocalist Mark Wakefield, who would go on to become Taproot's producer. Even with Bennington's ...read more.

Chester Bennington... Greatest singer ever! Deserves to be in at least the top 5.

The Best vocalist, and deserves a good place for sure
Every single songs tells who Chester is.

No bull! Just see his live performances and you will know.
Try to take the best of him you go away!

18 David Coverdale David Coverdale is an English rock singer most famous for his work with Whitesnake, the commercially successful hard rock band he founded in 1978. Before Whitesnake, Coverdale was the lead singer of Deep Purple from late 1973 to 15 March 1976, when he resigned from the band and established his solo career.
19 Chris Cornell Christopher John "Chris" Cornell was an American rock musician and singer-songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist, primary songwriter and rhythm guitarist for Seattle rock band Soundgarden and as former lead vocalist and songwriter for the supergroup Audioslave. His vocal range was C2 to A5, while his highest notes went up to G6. He died on May 17, 2017.

Amazing range, and great control. Plus he's actually a hard rock vocalist unlike half of these jokers.

Huge vocal range, plus helped get Eddie Vedder started, should be in the top 10

His vocals are addicting. How is he not in the top 5?

20 David Byron David Garrick, better known by his stage name David Byron, was a British singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist with the rock band Uriah Heep in the early 1970s.

Most underrated Male Rock Vocalist

21 Joe Elliott Joseph Thomas Elliott Jr. is an English singer-songwriter and musician, best known as the lead singer of the English rock band Def Leppard.

His vocal chords are Amazing to hear in the 80's my Favorite Def Leppard song's Photograph, Rocket, Rock of Ages, pour some sugar on me, Love Bites.

An incredible vocal range and could reach fairly high notes that many contemporary singers couldn't.

He should be in the top 10.

Actually the top 5.

22 Hideto Matsumoto Hideto Matsumoto, better known by his stage name Hide, was a Japanese musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. He is primarily known for his work as lead guitarist of the heavy metal band X Japan.

Take this hack off the list how

23 Paul Stanley Stanley Bert Eisen, known professionally by his stage name Paul Stanley, is an American musician, singer, songwriter and painter best known for being the rhythm guitarist and co-lead singer of the rock band Kiss.

Paul Stanley is and always will be the epitome of what a hard rock vocalist should be! Sure KISS is not the "heaviest" band, but Paul Stanley has a voice like none other! He can stun, amaze, mesmerize and paralyze you with his totally awesome voice! He can change his voice easily from any genre of rock to the next! His onstage presence and banter along with the look all make him the #1 candidate for this! Have you heard him on the album Revenge?! Carnival of Souls? Wow! Is all I have to say!

Paul Stanley's voice has stayed remarkably fresh after all these years!
He's a fantastic pure vocalist and can hit a high note with total and
complete ease. His voice strangely gets better with age!
i can't even name anyone else whose ever been close to the way this man sings!

Just the greatest rock singer, he can go from hi to low just as easy as piece of cake. He's aroud 60 but his voice get better with age. Listen "Forever" and you see what I'm talking about.

I been fan since 80. My Aunt Donna Mineer played Paul at Halloween and I played Gene. Sister Peter Chris and Brother Ace. I am 50 Yrs Old now. My favorite singing voice - EVER - is Paul Stanley Hah... Ever!

24 Corey Taylor Corey Todd Taylor was born in December 8, 1973. He is an American musician, author, and actor best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the Nu-metal band Slipknot and hard rock/alternative metal band Stone Sour.

His music with Slipknot are Pretty good and my favorite album would have to be The 5 gray Chapter.

One of the best artists I've ever come across in my life!

Blows me away especially in stone sour

What the heck he should be in top 5

25 Kurt Cobain Kurt Cobain was born February 20, 1967, in Aberdeen, Washington. In 1987, he started the grunge band Nirvana, which became one of the most successful bands ever. He was a talented yet troubled grunge performer. Kurt Cobain became a rock legend in the 1990s with his band. He committed suicide at his Seattle home in 1994.

Kurt Cobain was so unique. One of few vocalists who you could actually hear the pain and emotion in his voice. An incredible talent who lyrics you could relate to instantly.

Not only was he perfect live, his voice may not be perfect but is pure emotion. I still get chills listening to where did you sleep last night.

He doesn't sing hard rock!

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