Top 10 Best Male Rock Singers

No contest. None whatsoever! The man had incredible stage presence. Just look up their live shows on YouTube. His range was incredible, but even more so, it was his ability to have great control over that range. Any singer can hit high and low notes, but how good are they at controlling their power, their pitch, and changes from verse to verse?

Crickets. There are some who can do it, but not many. And if we're talking rock, Freddie Mercury blows everyone away. If we're talking soul, or opera, or the blues, the answer would be no. However, he could sing those genres and many others.

Since this list also includes metal singers, I would rate a Top 5 as follows: Freddie Mercury, Bruce Dickinson, Ronnie James Dio, Mikael Akerfeldt (1995-2008), and Chris Cornell (beautiful and powerful voice, rest in peace brother).

Robert Plant, in his young prime, had greater range and power than any singer in rock history. In the early Zeppelin days, the PA system went down a couple of times, and Plant sang entire concerts without electrical amplification. Such was the strength of his voice.

Along with all the rock god adulation he has received, it should never be forgotten that Robert Plant was a game-changing rock visionary. Before Plant, virtually all rock singers sounded like some variation of Elvis or Tom Jones. People were shocked when they first heard the higher registers of Plant's voice on the first few Zeppelin masterpieces. He paved the way for countless inferior imitators.

Axl has the biggest vocal range in rock music, basically even an octave or so wider than Freddie's. Despite the fact that Freddie had better control of his voice, Axl sings with such a reckless passion that makes his vocals so outstanding.

He goes from a depressing whisper to sweet and soft singing to a crazy, angry scream that cannot be copied. He might not steal Freddie's crown, especially considering that Freddie was his idol and inspiration for loving rock music, but he certainly deserves to be higher up on this list.

I agree that Freddie Mercury has an exceptional voice. Chester Bennington's screams and growls are emotional. However, for male vocalists to sing in an operatic range, especially on heavy music, is a big deal.

Linkin Park and Queen are not as heavy as Iron Maiden, though Linkin Park was at one time. Talking about M. Shadows, his voice does not match Bruce Dickinson's because he has a growl-type tone that most metal vocalists have. He cannot hit the higher notes.

Bruce Dickinson is pure class and should be higher on this list. We should not forget that he is also a pilot.

Just listen. If you are true to yourself, putting preferences aside, Ronnie James Dio surpasses all on this list. Five decades of mind-blowing vocals is why so few bands wish to cover his material.

Other vocalists don't even come close.

Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Billie Joe Armstrong, and Kurt Cobain have all had great careers, but they were far from impressive vocally. Dio was a monster when he sang. Rest in peace.

This rock and roll god deserves way better than being under the top 5. He is one of the greatest of all time. Besides his powerful voice, he was an amazing songwriter.

Steve Perry's voice has been one that has stood the test of time. One of the most downloaded songs of all time, Don't Stop Believin', was sung by this versatile singer. His voice is quite distinguishable in a world where cookie-cutter voices seem to be the common choice of the day. He could sing everything from a high tenor to a low bass, with a range that was exciting to listen to.

Songs we all grew up with include Open Arms, Separate Ways/Worlds Apart, Faithfully, Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin', and the list goes on and on. He has multi-platinum albums under his belt. His fans are still the faithful ones, much unlike most singers who, after a year or two, are quite forgotten. Journey was the soundtrack of our lives.

Chester has one of the best voices out there. His screams are amazing, something no one can replicate. Yet at the same time, he has one of the softest, most beautiful voices ever. His amazing vocals bring chills when listening to tracks on which he sings. Upon auditioning for Linkin Park, another guy just left after hearing Bennington sing. He knew he was that great.

His bandmate, Mike Shinoda, says that Chester has one of the best voices out there. This isn't just because he is in the same band with him, but he would challenge anyone else to sing the things Chester does, as well as he does. He's certain no one else could do it all. It's true. Chester Bennington has a very versatile voice and possesses amazing talent.

One of the greatest vocalists and songwriters of any generation. He seems to be largely remembered these days for his (excellent) ballads, yet McCartney's rock voice is out of this world. Just listen to I'm Down, Helter Skelter, Got to Get You into My Life, Jet, and so many more.

His voice was also superb supporting Lennon's lead vocal. Just listen to them both screaming away on Twist and Shout. Still electric fifty years on.

Have you ever really listened to the broad range of genres Paul is able to sing? From old-timey "granny" songs like "Honey Pie" to '50s rock 'n' roll like "I Saw Her Standing There" to gentle ballads like "Blackbird" to heavy bluesy songs like "Monkberry Moon Delight." He has such a vast range of songs and tone that he deserves to be in the top 5.

Okay, I see this list and see Kurt Cobain. Well, yes, he is amazing, but he should never, ever be anywhere near above Steven Tyler. Seriously, who could do that? Steven's range, melody, and pure stage presence destroy Kurt.

Now, don't get me wrong. Nirvana is my favorite band. But go on YouTube and watch Aerosmith live, and not just one or two songs. Spend an hour or two there watching them live, then come back and tell me Steven Tyler shouldn't be in the top five at least. I dare you.

How Axl Rose is rated higher than Steven Tyler is unbelievable. I can't understand Axl when he goes into high notes. It's like he is screaming.

Steven Tyler is older than him and can still perform Dream On as well if not better than in the '70s! He is absolutely one of the best frontmen in rock and roll. I don't know who makes these lists...

Who's voting here? High school kids? How on Earth is Chester Bennington voted higher than Rob Halford? Chester might be a good metal vocalist, but he's nowhere close to this Metal God.

Listen to Painkiller, Victim of Changes, Beyond the Realms of Death, Before the Dawn, etc. This man has an insane vocal range and incredible versatility. Enough said! If not the first spot, he deserves at least a third spot. Only Robert Plant and Steven Tyler could be rated higher.

Halford may not be at the top because the band was only popular among hard rockers. However, his voice was much better than many at the top of the list.

I mean, truly, if you love rock music, then this guy is a genius. The lyrics, combined with his guitar jamming and his eerie voice, sound best. Kurt Cobain was a unique man, and so was his voice. How can one even compare Chester Bennington to him? Kurt gave birth to alternative rock. Bennington and his voice have no range. Try singing Nirvana songs, and you will come to know. The passion and emotion in his voice - you can hear it.

Nowadays, all these singers are trash. They use modern electronic techniques to enhance their vocal abilities. Have you ever heard Linkin Park and all those bands singing live? Haha, laugh out loud. These guys are a laughing stock. If you're really into rock, see the bands performing live and hear vocalists like Hetfield of Metallica, Cobain, Steven Tyler, or Eddie Vedder.

He is the best rock singer/lyricist that ever drew breath. He got the part for the Jesus Christ Superstar album after Lloyd Webber and Rice heard Child in Time. He put the original scream in Gethsemane. Between 1969 and 1973, he was simply untouchable. The fact that you never hear any singer who sounds like Gillan shows just how unique this guy is.

It's not only the screams and the range but also the absolute soul in his voice and the way he interprets the lyrics. Nobody, NOBODY, can sing When a Blind Man Cries or stuff like No One Came like Ian Gillan.

Or listen to his performances on Accidentally on Purpose. This is the voice of rock with a feel for jazz, blues, and even vaudeville.

Some people do write crap! Elvis stole black music? Ask the black artists: Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, etc. They have all stated that Elvis was the greatest singer ever, and without him, they would never have made it. He opened the door for black artists. Read what all the famous entertainers say about him.

No one else is even close. Elvis could sing absolutely any style. He wrote the book on rock 'n' roll and was fan-friendly, giving extensively to charity.

Class all the way. He earned hundreds of gold records with classic songs. His only very small negative is that he didn't write songs.

Number 19? You MUST be kidding. Come on, New Jersey, support your man! Jon's voice is far superior to both Ozzy Osbourne and Kurt Cobain, neither of whom were understandable in either song or speech. I like to be able to understand the words to a song I'm trying to sing along with.

I just caught their "This House Is Not For Sale" show, and he sounded every bit as good today as when I first saw him live in 1983.

I have to give Steve Perry props for the No. 1 spot, though. "Amazing" does not begin to cover his vocal range and immense talent. Sorry, Jon, but you're still No. 1 with this longtime fan! Keep rocking!

Chester Bennington is worse than M. Shadows. His voice is rare and unique, while on the other hand, Chester has a squeaky, thin voice. I get that some of you are bigger fans of Linkin Park than the band members themselves.

Just like me - I'm a bigger fan of Linkin Park than Avenged Sevenfold, but M. Shadows has a better voice, and I believe all of us know that.

I was shocked after listening to his voice. It was so gender-specific. Of all the vocalists I've heard sing normally, all of them have a feminine voice except M. Shadows (A7X) and James Hetfield (Metallica).

However, M. Shadows' voice is a bit better than James'.

Bon Scott is the greatest rock singer, poet, and storyteller of all time. His lyrics are what set AC/DC's music above all the rest. His songs either told a story or made a statement.

Many people may not realize that he wrote the lyrics for Back in Black before he died, which may have been his best album, next to Highway to Hell. But his prior works were all strong too. After Brian Johnson found success singing Bon's songs on Back in Black, AC/DC's song quality plummeted. Just compare the lyrics of For Those About To Rock with their earlier works.

The death of Bon Scott was another tragedy for rock and roll.

Why is he so low on the list? The one and only Dave can sing anything and everything! Just listen to Darkness, Pain Redefined, and even their covers. ISHWILF does not fit their music style, no matter what your excuse is, but he still performs it very well.

Hell, his voice is the reason Disturbed is unique. The chemistry between all the band members is astounding, don't get me wrong. However, compare Dan Donegan's music in Vandal and Brawl to that in Disturbed.

There aren't many people who can go through what David has gone through and use the experiences for creative energy. He has made sacrifices time and time again to preserve his voice.

He is the most dedicated and hardworking man. His vocal range is HUGE. When David joined Disturbed, he was not used to singing that type of music. He is amazing and deserves a higher ranking on this list.

Although not quite seen as a relic or legend like those above him on the list, Cornell has the distinct timbre and passion it takes to create captivating rock vocals. In his higher range, he has the unique ability to both sustain vibrato and include the dry, agitated rasp we all should know and love.

I'm not here to persuade anyone that he is THE best rock vocalist, but placing him at number 9 on the list is just insulting. Especially when compared to some of the less dynamic vocalists above him, who are only so high on this list due to the legacy they have created over the years, or just pure name recognition because they have embodied themselves into the surface layer of rock music.

I don't have to tell you what songs you should listen to from this guy. You can honestly start from any angle of his musical collection. So, in the name of all that is Soundgarden, give him a listen. I promise you won't be disappointed.

It would be ridiculous to rate Vedder so low on these charts, especially since Pearl Jam basically became famous because of his unbelievable vocal prowess. Just listen to him on "Black" and "Jeremy," and you'd know that he easily earns a spot in the Top 10.

I think he's right up there with Plant, Bennington, and Hetfield. I respect these vocalists because, apart from having outstanding vocal range as well as those unique sound qualities to their voice, they fill the song with so much passion.

Pearl Jam was all about the music. That's why they refused to make music videos. It's also why they spent much of the past decade deliberately tearing apart their own fame. The band's focus has always been on the emotion and realness in their music. Eddie wasn't about the fame. He put his heart and soul into just the music.

Just the most awesome and self-destructive character in rock history, I love this guy. He's a legend. The best you'll ever see. He may not have the best vocals of all time, but in my opinion, he's second only to Freddie.

His influence on Black Sabbath is unmatched. Without him, Black Sabbath wouldn't be the same band. He is the essence of that amazing band. Go Ozzy!

For the sole reason that I am a major Sabbath fan, Ozzy deserves to be up there with Axl Rose, Steven Tyler, John Lennon, and Elvis. Freddie can keep his spot. However, someone needs to vote for Bon Jovi.

He has such a sweet voice. He is such a good singer. He should at least be in the top 10, no doubt about it.

At live concerts, he is so energetic and never lets the energy down. With his great voice, Mike's awesome bass, and Tre's crazy drumming skills, Green Day is the best rock band of all time.

He should be in the top 10. Try listening to songs by Green Day like Time of Your Life, Boulevard of Broken Dreams, and Warning. You'll realize that the vocals are very amazing and easy to follow.

Please, people, vote for Billie Joe. He's great!

He has an amazing voice! I've only listened to Breaking Benjamin and no one else for the past four, almost five, years, and I'll never get tired of it.

He's my inspiration to start singing, playing guitar, and making my own music. He's my idol and definitely deserves to be in the top 10.

He definitely has one of the best voices, hands down. He's good with his screams, and when he sings softer, lower notes, it's just pure melody!

He has the most unique voice I've ever heard. It can be scratchy but also soft, with incredible screams. It's like an angel and devil mixed together.

He is the most beautiful singer I have ever had the privilege of hearing. Just when he needs to, he can scream like no one else in songs like Animal I Have Become, Riot, and Bitter Taste, to name just a few.

He puts so much emotion into his songs, as seen in tracks like No More, Someone Who Cares, Never Too Late, and Anonymous. He is my single favorite singer today, with true talent in a world filled with so many who are fake.

Adam Gontier is one of my favorite singers. He should be in the top five. This isn't right. People just don't know how to actually listen to songs that aren't drilled into their head by the radio.

They don't play Three Days Grace or Saint Asonia enough on the radio, so they don't get as much publicity as they should, given their amazing talent.

Jim was one of the best-looking and sexiest men to grace the rock stage, but his voice was also the most sensual and tender, yet could get gritty and raspy like Gregg Allman. He certainly needs to be moved to a higher spot on this list.

Additionally, his genius-level IQ enabled him to craft words into poetic, imaginative songs. He is a rock legend that outshines some of these others on the list but is gone too soon.

The End, Spanish Caravan, Strange Days - just some of the songs where Jim Morrison's vocal talent shines through. Although not technically brilliant, his voice echoes through the emotional spectrum and haunts you.

His natural baritone is perfect for the music of The Doors. Additionally, his lyrics are so profound and meaningful that they resonate with you. He was a member of one of the greatest bands ever.