Best Punk Rock Lead Singers

The Top Ten

1 Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day)

Apart from the fact that he is a great composer and has a great voice, Billie is the one singer that inspired me into being myself and do what I enjoy most, not caring about what others think of me. I definitely agree with this ranking, thank you Billie Joe for everything!

My IDOL since I heard "true music" and will be forever, no music inspired me without Billy's "Voice", His voice has a magic nothing can beat! Long Live BJ!

First of all, it's BILLIE Joe. Second, I'm glad he's first. He has changed vocally so much over the years, and continues to inspire thousands.

People only voted for him here because of 21 guns BOBD and Basket Case, but if you actually listen to GD's less popular songs then you will find the great punk singer known as Billie Joe Armstrong. Case in point. Macy's Day Parade

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2 John Lydon (Sex Pistols) John Lydon (Sex Pistols) John Joseph Lydon, also known by his former stage name Johnny Rotten, is an English singer, songwriter, and musician.

The voice of punk! With out his snarling, fantastic vocal style there wouldn't be a Billie Joe Armstrong or any list of vocal imitators.

Very talanted

Not based on the sex pistols but on PIL.great live as well.

3 Spike Slawson (Me First & the Gimme Gimmes)

And He is a darn fine Ukelele player as well!

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4 Joey Ramone (The Ramones) Joey Ramone (The Ramones) Jeffrey Ross Hyman, professionally known by Joey Ramone, was an American musician and singer-songwriter, lead vocalist of the punk-rock band The Ramones.

Not only influenced punk rock but every other genre. I think he is up there with members of The Beatles. I can't believe Green Day and Blink 182 is in here that's not even punk it's poser.

He commanded the best punk band in music history - rock2metal

Billy Joe whatever from Green Day ahead of a real punk rocker like Joey?

He stands above the rest. Joey's the best.

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5 Siouxsie Sioux Siouxsie Sioux Susan Janet Ballion, better known by her stage name Siouxsie Sioux, is an English singer, songwriter, musician and producer. She is best known as the lead singer of the alternative rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees (1976–1996) and the drums-and-voice duo the Creatures (1981–2005). ...read more.
6 Ian Curtis (Joy Division) Ian Curtis (Joy Division) Ian Kevin Curtis (15 July 1956 – 18 May 1980) was an English musician and singer-songwriter. He is best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the post-punk band Joy Division. ...read more.

New Book and film about Ian out. Such a complex talented cat.

Absolute legend.

7 Iggy Pop Iggy Pop James Newell Osterberg, Jr., known professionally as Iggy Pop, is an American singer-songwriter, musician and actor.
8 Glenn Danzig Glenn Danzig

He has an awesome voice, great vision and takes no crap from anyone.

Great all around singer period.

9 Tom Delonge Tom Delonge Thomas Matthew "Tom" DeLonge, Jr., is an American musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur, and film producer. He was born in Poway, California on December 13, 1975 . When he was in high school at age 15, he got expelled for drinking at a basketball game . He also used to play the ...read more.

Personally I don't understand how tom is second on this list. His voice honestly isn't that great but it is something I've never heard before

Love blink-182 and tom makes a great impact. He's amazing he doesn't sound like the same old bang he's awesome

Honestly his voice now days is pretty bad. But this is a best of all time list. And if you talk about 90s-early 2000s tom his voice is no doubt number 1. If you don't believe me look up the song dick lips and witness a true punk rock voice

I love tom please come back

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10 Robert Smith Robert Smith Robert James Smith is an English singer, songwriter and musician. He is the lead singer, guitarist, lyricist and principal songwriter of the rock band The Cure. He is the band's only constant member since its formation in 1976.

Legend perhaps but Punk singer...Nope.

This guy is a legend!

Not even close to punk.

Not Punk.

The Contenders

11 Kurt Cobain Kurt Cobain Kurt Cobain was born February 20, 1967, in Aberdeen, Washington. In 1988, he started the grunge band Nirvana. 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 isn't punk

Not a punk band and his vocals are pretty mundane. His songs are okay but pretty bland.

Why do people say that nirvana isn't punk? They sound pretty punk to me

People say I look like Kurt Cobain...And sing like him xP

I love Kurt, don't get me wrong, but is he really labled as punk here? I think he doesn't belong on this list. (Try the grunge list! )

So many reasons Kurt is amazing...But I'll save them for when he is put in the correct listing

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12 Mike Ness (Social Distortion)
13 Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys)
14 Gerard Way Gerard Way Gerard Arthur Way is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and comic book writer who was the lead vocalist and co-founder of the American alternative rock band My Chemical Romance from its formation in September 2001 until its split in March 2013. His debut solo album Hesitant Alien was released ...read more.

Mr Way earns my vote because of how unique his vocals are. Definitely not your typical everyday vocalist; the way you *think* the lyrics will be sung are in actuality sung completely different.

He seems to not really follow a set "rule", no guidelines for his songs...He does a lot of different things with his voice and doesn't seem to try too hard to make the vocals line up with the music (which is part of what gives it such a unique sound). His vocals can stand alone and apart from the stand alone music, but when combined with the (almost completely different tuned) insturmental, it's amazing.

I actually don't even like his singing voice all too much. I'm in love with what he does with his voice. Up or down, soft or loud, it's always unexpected and refreshing.

And also the way he gives the song exactly the right emotion, exactly what he wants you to feel while listening--a lot of vocalists cannot do that. He puts extreme emotion inyo his singing too; its all or ...more

The vocals he does are plain addicting and emotional and amazing

This is probably the best singer I've heard in my life.

He gets too much hate because people call My Chemical Romance "emo", which they aren't. He talked crap about emo. BVB is emo, My Chemical Romance is nothing like them. - mmarce445

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15 Tim McIlrath (Rise Against) Tim McIlrath (Rise Against) Timothy James "Tim" McIlrath is an American punk rock musician. He is the lead singer, rhythm guitarist, songwriter and co-founder of the American punk rock band Rise Against.

His voice is just orgasmic in all ways! Can sing quiet, loud and even scream.

One of the most insightful punk rock vocalists of all time.

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16 Stiv Bators (Dead Boys)
17 Paul Westerberg (The Replacments)
18 Dexter Holland (The Offspring) Dexter Holland (The Offspring) Bryan Keith "Dexter" Holland is an American musician and molecular biology graduate student, best known as the singer, rhythm guitarist, and primary songwriter for the punk rock band The Offspring.

His voice is so catchy that he can basically make any song enjoyable to listen too. Also, his voice is so unique that no matter what song you hear you know its him; making him one of the better singers! Timeless!

He is the coolest punk vocalist that I know

He's the most amazing musician in the world. His lyrics have a magical way to get stuck in your head and your heart. The dude has a Ph.D, a pilot license and his own hot sauce. Sure he's old, but he's in his 50's, give him a break. The Offspring have the best selling album on an independent label! They kick Green Day's America idiot ass.

The Best!

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19 Deryck Whibley (sum 41) Deryck Whibley (sum 41) Deryck Jason Whibley (Born March 21, 1980) is a Canadian musician, best known as the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, songwriter and producer of the punk rock band Sum 41.

His unique voice reminded me of Lennon on Please Please Me, Sum 41 is growing big and mature, and his lyrics and voice are a big part of this change. Long live Sum 41

I love his vice it has this rough edge thing its so awesome

The bad thing about him is that he almost died from alcohol but he is an amazing lead singer

So GOD! Simply the best punk band of all time - LegitGames12

20 Johnny Ramone (The Ramones) Johnny Ramone (The Ramones) John William Cummings, better known by his stage name Johnny Ramone, was an American guitarist and songwriter, best known for being the guitarist for the punk rock band the Ramones.

Johnny Ramone didn't even sing...

It's Joey Ramone not Johnny. Johnny is the guitarist Joey is the singer.

He is a guitarist. Not a singer. I doubt he even did backing vocals. - zxm

Haha. Johnny never sang A note.

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