Top Ten Best Rock Singers of the '90s
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 I think when it comes to vocalists, Layne wins. Cornell's highs are amazing, but the way Layne hit the power notes just felt effortless. Obviously, if we talk about impact, Kurt's voice is so iconic that it can't be beat in that regard.
Vedder's voice is so dynamic, and I love his performance on MTV Unplugged. Scott Weiland is such a good melody server that it's hard not to want him to be higher on this list.
The power that Layne gives is just untouchable. He can whisper and make chills go up your spine. He sings like he has a calm sense of his own ability. He sounds comfortable, and for that, he is number one on this list. R.I.P., dude.
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... read more It's really hard with this list because the '90s possess some of the most iconic voices and best singers in rock music. Not only did Cobain and Staley have the eeriest spine-tingling screams, and Vedder has such a beautiful voice, but we also can't skip Maynard and Anselmo, who have both redefined alt metal and metal vocals completely.
One did so with their sensible dynamic, and the other with their brute force but still a very melodic and great-sounding vocal. Chris Cornell, for me, stands as not only the best singer of the '90s but of all rock music in general.
I'm a guy who has grown up on Led Zeppelin, but even though it may seem blasphemous, I must be honest and say that Chris has the nicest vocal timbre in all of rock and roll. For me, he tops both Robert Plant and Freddie Mercury.
I hope no one holds this against me, as these are all such wonderful vocalists, and we are unbelievably lucky to be able to listen to their music. But for me, Chris Cornell is the beginning and the end, the alpha and omega, the holy grail of rock. The absolute unsurmountable top of the mountain, and no one will ever come even close to his voice.
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... read more His voice is good in every song he wrote. Best scream of the '90s and the most influential vocalist of all time.
Just listen to Where Did You Sleep Last Night. Then you'll understand.
Eddie Vedder is an American musician, singer and songwriter best known as a member of the rock band Pearl Jam, with whom he performs lead vocals and is one of three guitarists. Eddie Vedder should be number one on this list. With all due respect to Layne Staley, Thom Yorke, and Chris Cornell, all you have to do is listen to Vedder's vocals on Black, Better Man, Alive, Jeremy, and Nothingman with Pearl Jam. You can hear the raw emotion and aggression radiate from his vocals.
Or listen to his rise to superstardom on the co-lead efforts on Hunger Strike by Temple of the Dog alongside Chris Cornell.
Or his passionate solo work with the song Hard Sun. It's a crime to have this rock icon at a mere number four spot. Come on people, vote for this '90s rock treasure.
Maynard James Keenan, often referred to by his initials MJK, is an American musician, record producer, winemaker, and actor, best known as the vocalist for Grammy Award-winning progressive metal band Tool. He also is the singer of A Perfect Circle and Puscifer bands that vary in style. So awesome. No words, except those.
Jonathan Howsmon Davis (born January 18, 1971), also known as JD and JDevil, is an American singer, songwriter, and musician best known as the lead vocalist and frontman of the nu metal band Korn, which is considered a pioneering act of the nu metal genre... read more
Lars Mikael Åkerfeldt is a Swedish musician, prominently known as the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter of progressive death metal band Opeth, as well as being the former vocalist of death metal supergroup Bloodbath for three albums up until 2012... read more
Jerry Fulton Cantrell Jr. is an American musician, singer-songwriter and guitarist best known as the founder, lead guitarist, co-lead vocalist and main songwriter of the rock band Alice in Chains.
Philip Hansen "Phil" Anselmo is an American musician who is best known as the former lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Pantera. He currently is the vocalist of heavy metal bands Down and Superjoint Ritual.
William John Paul "Liam" Gallagher is an English musician, singer, and songwriter. He rose to fame as the lead singer of the rock band Oasis, and later as the singer of Beady Eye. Listen to the Oasis acoustic set at MTV in 1994. You'll see what I mean.
Scott Richard Weiland (October 27, 1967 - December 3, 2015) was an American musician, singer and songwriter. During a career spanning three decades, Weiland was best known as the lead singer of the band Stone Temple Pilots from 1989 to 2002 and 2008 to 2013. Does it all: soft ballads, hard rock, pop. He can do it all in the studio and then bring five different voices to a live show as well. Incredible vocalist who also happens to be one of the great performers!
Best frontman I've ever seen, with an amazing vocal range. From songs like Plush, Wicked Garden, Creep, and Interstate Love Song to songs like Atlanta, Wonderful, and Big Empty.
I mean to take nothing away from anyone, but from a technical standpoint, none of the vocalists on this list can stand up to Weiland. They are ahead due to popularity more than actual ability.
Dolores Mary Eileen O'Riordan (6 September 1971 - 15 January 2018) was an Irish musician, singer, and songwriter. She served as the lead vocalist and lyricist for the alternative rock band, The Cranberries, from 1990 until their break-up in 2003... read more Dolores O'Riordan is the greatest female voice of rock ever, including the classic legends Janis Joplin, Joan Jett, and Pat Benatar. Her band, The Cranberries, is the most underrated band ever. They have soundtracks of the '90s and 2000s like Dreams, Linger, Pretty, Sunday, and Ode to My Family.
Also, she is a great composer, guitarist, and pianist. In my opinion, she is one of the greatest musicians ever, only comparable to legends like Elvis, Janis, Nino Bravo, or Frank Sinatra.
Musically, The Cranberries are far superior to U2. However, due to marketing issues and Dolores' health problems, such as anorexia and alleged bipolar disorder caused by child abuse in her environment, the British mass media have carried out a campaign to discredit the band.
It is, without a doubt, the greatest injustice in the world of music. As music lovers, we owe a debt to the legacy of Dolores and The Cranberries.
Tarja Soile Susanna Turunen-Cabuli (born August 17, 1977), generally known as Tarja Turunen or simply Tarja, is a Finnish singer-songwriter. She is a soprano and has a vocal range of three octaves... read more
Jeffrey Scott "Jeff" Buckley (November 17, 1966 – May 29, 1997) raised as Scott "Scottie" Moorhead, was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist... read more How is this man only just being named now?! Best vocalist of all time. Nobody can compare to his tone. The way his voice just effortlessly floats between registers and octaves is unique and impossible to replicate.
There has never been a better vocalist and there probably never will be. R.I.P. Jeff.
Take out the opinions of the popular music zombies, and the only others in contention with Buckley for this title are Layne Staley and Chris Cornell. Picking between those three really just comes down to preference.
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.
Camillo "Chino" Wong Moreno (born June 20, 1973) is an American musician. He is best known as the lead vocalist, primary lyricist, and contributing guitarist of the metal band Deftones.
He is also a member of the side-project groups Team Sleep, Crosses, and Palms.
Michael Allan "Mike" Patton is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, film composer, producer, and actor, best known as the lead singer of the alternative metal band Faith No More. Biggest range on the list, and he can sing every style in existence effortlessly.
Mike Patton is undoubtedly the best vocalist of the entire '90s. He has the widest range of all those mentioned here.
William Patrick "Billy" Corgan Jr. is an American musician, songwriter, producer, television writer, poet, and professional wrestling promoter best known as the lead singer, guitarist, and sole permanent member of The Smashing Pumpkins. Billy Corgan can have the soft voice of an angel, then turn around and express his anger loudly. His melancholy lyrical style fits the theme of the '90s more than any other artist I know.
Thomas Edward "Thom" Yorke is an English musician best known as the singer and principal songwriter of the alternative rock band Radiohead. His voice is beautiful. Just listen to Creep and Fake Plastic Trees from Radiohead.
Billie Joe Armstrong (born February 17, 1972) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor best known as the lead vocalist, primary songwriter, and guitarist of the punk rock band Green Day, which he co-founded with Mike Dirnt... read more He's the greatest rocker of all time and should be in the place of Kurt Cobain.
Zacharias Manuel "Zack" de la Rocha (born January 12, 1970) is an American musician, poet, rapper, and activist best known as the vocalist and lyricist of rap metal band Rage Against the Machine from 1991–2000, and after the band's reunion in 2007 until their last show in 2011. He left Rage Against... read more
David Eric "Dave" Grohl is an American rock musician, multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, producer and film director. He is best known as the former drummer of the hugely popular 90s grunge band Nirvana and the vocalist/guitarist for the alternative rock band Foo Fighters. He has sat behind the... read more
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.
David Scott "Dave" Mustaine (born September 13, 1961) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, actor and author. Mustaine is best known as a pioneer in Thrash Metal, being the former lead guitarist of Metallica before his dismissal in 1983, leading to finding and becoming the front man of his own... read more
Noel Thomas David Gallagher is an English musician, singer, songwriter and guitarist. He served as the lead guitarist, co-lead vocalist and principal songwriter of the rock band Oasis.