Best Grunge Singers

Now this is actually a top ten list with merit. Staley was by far the best singer of this group. I give props to Cornell and of course Jerry Cantrell, but as far as sheer god given talent. Layne shines brighter than anyone else here. RIP Angry Angel

Layne Staley should be #1
there isn't a voice in grunge thats more powerful than Laynes
- OzzyVanHalen

Let's be honest here, this discussion should come with an asterisk stating #1 is Layne Staley, and we can argue about everyone else. No one else sings with the same raw emotion or overpowering harmonic greatness as Layne Staley.
Nirvana may have started the 90s rock movement, and Pearl Jam may have become the most consistent group to emerge from Seattle, but no one had more of an impact on future rock & metal bands than Alice In Chains. The guy was just that rare, once-in-a-generation voice that comes along where everyone who is stopped dead in their tracks when they hear it for the first time.
From the tortured screams of 'Them Bones'; the surprisingly melodic 'Man In The Box'; to the soulful channeling of 'Rooster'; or the soaring harmonies atop the thundering 'Would? ', no one did it as well as Layne Staley.

Taking a look at all vocal aspects you can see that Layne could overcome in a general view all of the other grunge singers:
-He had an almost 4 octave vocal range (similar to Chris)

-In his best days he sounded better live than at studio (love hate love, junkhead)

-He could sing slow and acoustic songs with a clean voice that expressed infinite sadness

-He could rasp those high notes with the iconic sound of grunge

-And most of all you can see that he sang with loads of passion that could express anger or sadness.

Chris is my #2, a HUGE number of famous Grunge bands would've never been heard outside of Seattle if Chris Cornell and Soundgarden didn't exist. This pioneer and his band was a driving force behind the genre. Not only does he have a unique sound with technicality and a range untouched by anyone on this list (aside from Layne), his creativity alone is enough to put him high on anyone's list of most influential artists. Not many artists can standalone and captivate an audience equally with/without their band. We lost Layne, but we still have Cornell and he is never going to stop cranking out new material. Kurt had a good sound going for him with Nirvana, but as a stand alone vocalist, he doesn't come close to Cornell or Layne and he shouldn't be in the top #3 vocalists. Nirvana deserves to be a notable band in Grunge, but if someone thinks that they created the genre or was the best out of them all, then they are just on the bandwagon. Real Grunge fanatics know Soundgarden set it in ...more - xMaGiKx

WHAT?! I loved nirvana way before I liked soundgarden and I can admit that Cornell is easily the best. The sheer power and technical ability he has is astounding! Just listen to Let Me Drown, especially just before the solo... Yikes.
#1 Cornell
#2 Layne
#3 Vedder
#4 Cobain (the great thing is that Cobain is still an amazing singer, despite being 4th..! )

His range is better than any of the others, just insane and the fact that he ventured into other territories after leaving SG and then reuniting SG proves his willingness to diversify vocally, Cornell knocks it out of the park for me. Face Pollution, say no more

Cornell is #1

I'm aware that most grunge fanatics look at eddie and PJ as the softer side of the genre, and I would have no problem what so ever in putting any of the top4 in the number one spot of this list. Chirs cornell was technically the most gifted having the widder range of them all, layne was probably the one to sing with more emotion and had a versatility that was second to none, although he only did shine the brightest when next to cantrell, kurt had the grungiest voice, as in the most imperfect yet amazing one, but the only real reason he is even is this discussion is due to romantic figure he has become, and last but definitely not least eddie vedder, for me the best voice in grunge, he might no be as edgy as others in here, but the melody in his tenor and baritone deep voice, in my opinion, gets the first place every time, not to mention that he is the only one out of the four that truly rose from his music and sheer talent alone and not because his self destructive, angry charisma ...more

Eddie vedder is the best because of his lyrics. But Chris cornell has the best voice. Love layne staley and no one else sounds like him but a lot of people forget that Cantrell wrote Alice in chains songs.

He has a very unique voice, and extra points that now, he is about the only grunge/90s alternative singer left now that Chris Cornell is dead, and he was the only singer of the grunge era not to get hooked on heroin.

The one problem with Eddie (aside from everyone after him trying to copy his vocal style) is I could rarely ever understand what the hell he was singing. - truckturner

From STP to Velvet Revolver to his solo career this guy has the most diverse range. He can sing soft with smooth balanced vocals, and he can sing loud and rock arenas.

One of the most underrated voices of that era. I list him a close 3rd, behind Cornell and Staley. Scott's voice was very Bowie-esque, with a layer of Jim Morrison (two of his biggest influences). A vocal chameleon, his voice could go from gritty and powerful; most notably with STP's "grungier" Core debut and songs like "Sex Type Thing" and "Dead and Bloated", to a little bit Country; think "Big Empty"; to open and crooning in songs like "Atlanta" and "And so I know" - which truly showcased the depth and range in his voice, and then all out rock and roll in Velvet Revolver's "Slither" and the hauntingly powerful "Fall to Pieces". - Not to mention the fact that he wrote everything. A literal aresenal of timeless hits and lesser known beauties. And if you ever saw STP live in their heyday, you couldn't deny he was one of the best frontmen ever to grace the stage. RIP

Scott has/ had (up to opinion) a very diverse, changing voice that catered to the different styles of STPS songs. Listen to their old unplugged concert and you can hear the power in his voice.

Easily the most versatile. Amazing band

Only 5 % for one of the best voice of the grunge bands? Even if he never was the leadsinger, his voice is so important! And let's not forget: he wrote and sang with his partner Layne grunge/blues, grunge/rock, grunge/Gospel, NOT ONLY metal! I think people should have to listen more to "Sap" and"Jar Of Flies"!

Not even the actual singer of AIC but still an amazing backing vocalist. Him and Layne did some of the best harmonising in music.

He was also a solo artist. I still think Layne had a greater gift, though.

Listen to his performance in Down in a Hole Unplugged and you will understand why he is one of the best

Jerry was a great singer on his solo albums. I think he is just as good as Layne and now he is the lead singer in Alice In Chains - Sabbath

His whining is just legendary. Maybe he isn't the best for the grunge movement (that's quite a surprise for me as I've known him as part of the alternative movement) but for the music he used to write his voice is the icing on the cake. So much passion and rawness combines with ultradistorted and uberoverdubbed guitars is just what makes SP stand out from the all the 90s groups. Its kust like combining the old things (Black Sabbath/Dio/Rhandy Roads/Sonic youth/the smiths/joy division) along with some 90s neopunk attitude. that's what makes Gish Siamese dream and Melon collie and infinite sadness my favourite albums of the 90s.
Peace out

The greatest voice in Post-Grunge ever

He has a better voice than kurt

He deserves number uno

The best vocal ever after Chester Bennington...he is the best..simply the best

An amazing song-writer and vocalist. Love his voice!

Amazing voice. Such great range and power. Also check out his solo covers.

I am not sure staind is grunge, but AL is amazing, listen to covers of Tool (sober), AIC Nutshell n Pearl Jam, Black or Garden n you will hear what I mean, grunge voice for sure.

Upon first hearing, Shaun Morgan's voice sounds like every other Kurt Cobain wannabe. But something will compel you to listen longer, and that's just the sheer passion behind the voice. Morgan excels with his incredible full filled and strong voice, making it perfect for heavy rock songs. However it's in the softer acoustic songs where he really shines, he has complete voice control, even in his whimpers. Unlike Cobain in Unplugged, Morgan seems at his most comfortable when he's at his purest. He really is a step above all his peers in this genre, and yes, that include Cobain.

No one has a voice like Shaun... I don't care about who started grunge. Morgan is above them all. I've never heard anyone be so raspy yet soft and tender at the same time, and neither have you. YouTube 'Seether Fake It 98 rock' and click on the first selection. Bottom line... Grunge is about emotion. And Shaun delivers more of that than anyone I've heard.

I would like to vote shaun morgan because no: 1 well he is alive! No: 2: His lyrics and vocal timing is brilliant! No 3: Out of all the recent post grunge band or whatever you call them, he definitely stands out. I would rank him number 1. If Cobain was alive, he would by number 1 for sure.

I suspect that had Shaun Morgan been born in the US or UK, and not in South Africa, then he would have received the recognition that he deserves. He voice is incredible and better than anyone else unplugged.

Now before you all say "That's not a grunge singer! " Take a listen to Purity of Essence, Quorthon's grunge album.

It's a shame! Shannon deserve a place in the top 3, along with Layne & Chris!

Chad kroeger is better

Great voice

What? Krist personally said that he NEVER SANG! - Kfox101

Let me remind everyone about a 1992 band called Puddle Of Mudd. The grungiest band there ever has been. The world is so ignorant.

Top 10 on a list that includes post-grunge.

Pure emotion and amazing voice. Truly a Top 10!

the best

Sold 50 million records...deserves a mention in the top 20 of all time.

Should be top 3 for creating grunge

Definitely better than Scott stapp and chad kroeger