Greatest Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Vocalists

Bruce has an amazing voice and his range is amazing. What is he doing at no. 2?! Get him to no. 1 dang it! Up the Irons!

James is good in studio, but quite weak live. Bruce is good in studio and awesome live! Up the Irons!

His range is far superior to other metal vocalists. Especially hetfield, whose range is extremely limited.

Technically Bruce is better than Hetfield but Hetfield's range is not that limited - 3 octaves, 3 notes; Bruce - 3 octaves, 4 notes (not a big difference, 1 note). Limited ranges and skills - Mustaine and Ozzy (less than 3 octaves). - Metal_Treasure

The absolute best in all of hard rock/metal. He has insane vocal range, he is a brilliant song writer, and a superb showman. I want to show my opinion on the top 20 so here it is:

#1. Bruce Dickinson

#2. Robert Plant

#3. Ronnie James Dio

#4. Rob Halford

#5. Layne Staley

#6. Chris Cornell

#7. James Hetfield

#8. Ozzy Osbourne

#9. Serj Tanikan

#10. Corey Taylor

(I left out Freddie Mercury only because I don't consider Queen either hard rock or metal).

Geez he should be first because of his work vocalizing in rainbow elf black sabbath and his own dio he will be a remembered singer for all time rock in peace dio R.I.P. god bless you dio

To me, Dio is transcendent. He's just at a different level in most every criteria I can think of for a great rock singer: most powerful, most melodic, most expressive, best dynamic range, best pitch, best phrasing, etc. His vocal range is not the best of all, but it's pretty damn good. He has a unique and intoxicating tone that is uncannily pure, and can subtly caress or primally scream any phrase. Plus, he may be the greatest frontman ever, and he's a hell of a songwriter. Ronnie gives me goosebumps all the time, on my arms and my soul, and I never know when it's coming.

He's always been number 2 on my 5 best singers ever list after Robert Plant of course but must admit love them both. Recently my parents' been doing a little redecoration of the house and called me to take my old cassettes because they knew how dear they used to be to me. Now I can listen to Heaven and Hell or Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow in my car, and I'm pretty excited what makes my husband a bit nervous Dio is one of a kind with his powerful voice. His treatment and his funeral made me truly sad but I liked the joke about Dio and devil who wanted to seat him at his right hand. Dio replied "Satan, Fu... K out of my throne" That one cheered me up after his death. DIO STILL RULES!

The best, no contest. This man could sing like no one else in heavy metal. The man who made metal horns. Metal will never die!

listen to Painkiller. Then try to sing for more than 10 seconds like Rob did. Impossible. - maciekreguu0142a

He is a god on singing no one can get the notes so high like hem there will never be a singer like hem

Rob Halford has the same vocal range in the studios and on stage whereas there are two Bruce Dickinson, one in the studio who sings the highest notes in one shot performances and the Bruce on stage who sings most of the time the highest notes lower in order to spare his voice or just because he can't,even in live shows in 1982 but he is still a great singer. So, to me it's 1-Rob Halford, 2-Ronnie James Dio and 3-Bruce Dickinson.

Simply THE BEST!

Metallica is the most recognizable Heavy Metal Band and James Hetfield is one of the reasons why. He sounds great in the studio, and can get people pumped live, There is a reason why he has the crown.

Great singer, great screamer, best rhytim guitarist, great songwriter, he deserves to be number 1, best singer of all time, not just metal, bruce is good to, but james kills em all

James Hetfield is truly a master vocalist his woice is incredible truly the best I have heard in a very long time. He is an inspiration to me and many other people. Long live James Hetfield the King of vocalists

God Papa Het

Are you joking?! Robert plant is the father of ROCK SINGING! All the rock vocalists have been influenced by the style of Plant's singing. And the most important thing is, he did sing hard, but there was a mixture of 'heart and lungs'... Robert Plant clearly sang to the top of his SOUL, not his lungs... Plant, planted ROCK in his soul... That's why he is so soulful even after being the lead vocalist of the GREATEST ROCK band ever. SO! It's just pure injustice! Robert Plant CAN NOT be at no.4! NEVER! HE MUST TOP THIS CHART!

I think Robert deserves the best place, the James' voice is great; but is nothing compared to the Robert's. I still can't believe Corey Taylor is before Robert Plant - rock2metal

At the birth of hard rock, there was Led Zeppelin and with that Robert Plant was made. He has a unique singing voice no one can imitate. He goes from a 'soft', girly voice to an enraged hard rock screaming. He is one of the best.

My top 10:

1. Robert Plant

2. Bruce Dickinson

3. Ronnie James Dio

4. Rob Halford

5. James Hetfield

6. Ozzy Osbourne

7. Axl Rose

8. Chris Cornell

9. Layne Staley

10. Lemmy Kilmister

(I left Freddie Mercury out only because he is not a hard rock/heavy metal singer in my opinion)

He desserves higher than 9 for sure - Ak3nator

He should be the 1st! You ROCK man! He's my favourite singer ever! One of the Greatest Singer of all time..

"Prince of Darkness"Osbourne is also known as the "Godfather of Heavy Metal
With Black Sabbath and has sold over 100 million albums worldwide Osbourne had received notice that he would be the first inductee into The Birmingham Walk of Stars. Osbourne was crowned with the prestigious Living Legend award in the Classic Rock Roll of Honor. - vishwarajvithuvivi

Should be number 1 - wriddhak

This is the best HARD ROCK and metal singers, his first few albums could be qualified as hard rock/metal. - gemcloben

Anytime FREDDIE MERCURY is Not NUMBER ONE on a 'Greatest Voice' list, whatever the voice, rock, or whatever, you Know it's a sucky, completely irrelevant, bogus list!
FREDDIE MERCURY IS THE GREATEST VOICE OF ALL TIME... NOW AND FOREVER! Period! No competition! No comparison! That would be just plain silly! Laugh out loud
FREDDIE MERCURY - THE GOD OF MUSIC!

Freddie Mercury is the best voice of all time. I think it should be removed from this list because his voice was incomparable.

The Pioneer - tobeykrueger

Should be no 1. Who could run and sing like him in the stage. People don't like him because of his personality maniac. But he is the best vocalist, like james hetfield. Without him no guns and roses

He Is the Best, His Voice Is MAGIC! There Is No Other "Guns N'Roses " Without Axl! And There Is No Other Singer With Axl's Voice!

Best vocalist, stage performer, song writer, pianist, whistler, entertainer. Most of all best vocalist!

Axl is a rock legend

"For Those About To Rock". Need I say more. That song alone is lightyears beyond anybody's vocal ability. Even Brian Johnson's. (In all seriousness, best gritty, hard rock vocalist of all time).

Brian Johnson should be #1

Brian Johnson is an original. Best heavy metal singer of all time!

Should be number 1

chester bennington rock the world I love him - KORN95

Whether he screams or not he's voice is just great... Whether he sing's it in the hard guitar or in a piano alone, he's just amazing and I can clearly undertand the words.

What? Corey is higher than Chester? Chester is more better! Chester has the ability to scream, sing, and growl in different kinds of tunes. No one could ever beat his legendary 18 seconds of SCREAM! No one, I said, NO ONE, could ever beat him! Chester deserves to be the Top 1 of the list. Linkin Park is the best! Case closed.

Given up 18 seconds. No comment

Scott is a bad ass frontman and an awesome lyricist And his raspy bark and screams are above many Not number 1, but definitely in the top 5 Hands F... N down!

Bon is absolutely perfect singer. In albums, his voice fills every song with his beautiful voice. And live, he could get that real screaming coming from his strong lungs. Bon is god. #1

If it weren't for Ronald Belford Scott you would've never heard of Brian Johnson or even AC/DC as a whole... One of the best songwriters ever. One of the best Showmen ever. It almost seems that everyone that has cast a vote on this list is still driving around with Back in Black stuck in there tape deck... No No wait a minute, I don't have time to explain that one. So go ask your mother what a tape deck is.

What are these nu-metal guys doing higher than Bon Scott?

Best vocalist on the face of the earth. His melodic vocals are amazing and he can reach incredibly high notes.

He also has the best screams in ALL of metalcore.

What the hell? Matt Shadows is at no: 9?
He should be in the top three! He is the best vocal of this time, how can he be at this position? I totally disagree with this list.
Haven't you guys heard the songs of A7X?

A7X is good but I highly doubt any of their member is top ten in their field, not even top 20. But Shadows truly deserved to be in this list, thanks to his awesome vocal. He can sing and scream equally great. A future face of the hard rock/metal world. - Pyansickness

My favorite. - say10

Why do I have to add him? He should be at least number 5. Listen to Child In Time or watch Deep Purple New York 1973 on youtube. He has an amazing range and a rich voice

Please, just please listen to Child in Time, you will see his vocal range, and then vote for him. One of the best hard rock vocalists there is, and highly underrated.

I truly believe his best vocal performance is an aria from Jesus Christ Superstar: "Gethsemane (I Only Want to Say)". It's available on YouTube and it's mindblowing. Just make sure it's his version because this song has many covers. But Gillan was the original performer of this epic piece, he was the original Jesus Christ. Gillan is the most underrated rock/metal singer of all time. - Metal_Treasure

How many heavy metal rockers are ask to sing by Andrew Lloyd Webber?

Just listen to his growls on holy wars... The punishment due or on mechanix

You
Next victim
You
Next to die
You next victim
You your turn to die!

He's not a good singer but I don't think Megadeth would be as awesome as they are if the had a good singer - NjakDjak

He's an amazing guitarist and an amazing songwriter. But singing is not his forte.

Listen to cemetery gates people, this guys range is unbelievable. From the high notes he can hold to the heaviness he can deliver on the mic, his great lyrical work, this guy should no doubt be in the top 5. - HBKevin

The dude goes from low growls to breaking glass, he has a hell of a range, he sings clean really well too, just listen to some of the stuff he's done with Down

No one can create the mass fury in the audience like Phil Anselmo. He has/had the look, the voice, but more importantly the throw caution to the wind attitude. Total badass.

Why M Shadows is above him? He's a better version of him!

Chris Cornell, Layne Staley, and Freddie Mercury should all be in the top ten. Kick out Chester Bennington, M Shadows and Corey Taylor. If we're going to talk about pure vocal power and awesomeness, then you have to go with Chris. Four octave range, screams, clean tones, and the ability to sing tons of different types of music, ranging from metal to moody rock (Like a Stone) are what makes him so great. In addition, he does this all while playing guitar. Myles Kennedy shares the same attributes and he's one of my favorites as well. Both of them should be in the top ten.

This guy can deliver powerful lows to soaring highs! His voice has to be one of the most powerful in grunge tied with Layne Stanley. The man can also scream his head off too! Just his to his performances on Jesus Christ Pose or Slaves and Bulldozers and you will know what I'm talking about.

Chris has the unique ability to whip and caress the listener at the same time, to project the whole range of emotions to the listener while playing a steady rhythm guitar at the same time. He IS music - and not confined to one style or expression only! Spawning a full four octaves is impressive, but a stupid measurement for voice quality actually... It's the amount of SOUL in the voice, and the singers ability to reach out tand touch his/hers audience that really defines the great vocalist.

Jesus Christ Pose. Chris Cornell is top 3 for me.

#30 is very high for this extremely talented singer. His ability to make you feel not just hear the music was amazing. I can only imagine the music he would have created if was still with us. Thankfully we still have a piece of him to remind us how great he truly was. RIP Layne Thomas... We will always remember you.

The man. The Genius. He could fit right in every type of compositions, such a wide range he possessed. From Blues, Hard rock/Heavy metal, Sludgy doom metal to Country laden acoustic tunes he could pull all off with ease.

There is nothing I can say that explains his vocal talents. "Imitations are pale... " Just read the name Layne Staley - says it all!

Wake up is probably my second-favorite song. - Feirceraven

The most original voice coming from the first heavy metal band. Inspirational for every single singer in this list

Amazing singer RIP Lemmy Rock on in heaven!

Not the best ever but should be wayy higher. Lemmy has carried motorhead for nearly forty years and is an icon of everything metal stands for m/

My Personal Top 10:
10. Dee Snider - Twisted Sister
9. Ronnie James Dio - Dio
8. Ozzy Osbourne - Ozzy Osbourne
7. Serj Tankian - System Of A Down
6. Alice Cooper - Alice Cooper
5. Blackie Lawless - W.A.S.P.
4. Eddie Vedder - Pearl Jam
3. Vince Neil - Motley Crue
2. King Diamond - King Diamond, Mercyful Fate
1. Lemmy Kilmister - Motörhead
Runner Ups -
Jack Black - Tenacious D
Jim Hendrix - The Jimi Hendrix Experience

Why the heck is Jonathan Davis of KoRn at 22 now?! Huh! I don't get it. KoRn is like one of the successful Nu-metal bands next to Limp Bizkit and Slipknot! But the thing is... KoRn invented Nu-Metal. :) I love KoRn and their music and effort. Head is back. David is not but I don't really care because I understand some KoRn fans say "David had more funky beats in his drums." which is pretty true but let's give Ray some credit, respect, and love. There is nothing wrong with Ray Luzier that's been in KoRn since 2007! Not only that but Jonathan said in an interview that he had a "normal hell childhood"..."Normal childhood? " No. His childhood and teen years were'nt normal at all. He got treated bad by his dad, step-mom, cheerleaders, classmates, teachers, and the principal in high school. And I also heard he got molested before high school or something like that. Yes. All of this came out of an teen KoRn fan and I've been listening to KoRn like crazy when I ...more

one of those who still put A LOT of emotions in his songs. A great inspiration for me. Bo:rni, from UNCLOUDED PERCEPTION

Haunting and raw vocal power.

LISTENING TO YOUR TWISTED TRANSISTA