Chris Cornell
While we're throwing dead people in there.... Scott Weiland not too shabby either

Chris Cornell
While we're throwing dead people in there.... Scott Weiland not too shabby either

Agreed. Now I feel compelled to add Lane Staley.

Here we could open a debate on the difference between rock and rock & roll. I agree 100% Freddie Mercury is not rock & roll, but in my opinion he's absolutely rock.
Some may say that rock and rock & roll are the same thing, sorry, I disagree. Of course the origin of rock is rock & roll, but it's like saying rock & roll is the same thing as blues because it originates from it, or at that point why not soul!
So, to me rock & roll is the Elvis Presley kind, rockabilly etc. Of course some groups cross over the two, in some cases even Beatles did, though in general I consider them pop, even though they certainly made some (or even more than some) rock songs. Rolling Stones in general I consider rock. Queen certainly not rock & roll but somewhere between rock and pop. and then we have the Hard Rock and heavy metal stuff. Iron Maiden, Metallica, AC / DC, Muse, Five Finger Death Punch. So my comparison was on the rock (as conceived above, not interested in Elvis Presley and such as they would be too different in style from the 3 I quoted). But despite what I said above, I do not want to open a debate on what is rock, that could be the subject of another thread. For this thread, let's assume that my definition is valid. Given the definition above, which one is the best rock voice among the 3 quoted? No need to copy paste lists of good singers. If you want just quote some ROCK singers, that in your opinion are definetely better than those 3.
For instance I love Michael Hutchence voice (INXS), and would put him just one little step below them. I hope I have clarified the meaning of the post.

Rock & Roll is the root of the genre. It defines the style of other rock & roll sub-genres. Rock & roll is a style of swing, ragtime and boogie woogie. It roots in chants and tribal rhythms for war and celebration. Even war march rhythms and cadence beats.

Blues is the root of the genre. It defines the style of other blues sub-genres. Blues originated as vocalizations.

The Ballad is the root of the genre. It defines the style of other ballad sub-genres.

In music, genres are mixed to create new sub-genres.

Poetry is the root of songs. Storytelling is the root of ballads.
Symphony (the playing of multiple instruments as a composition) is the root of music.

If you think about it, all rhythmic 'music' originates from a mother's heartbeat. We find comfort in rhythm because we are a species which nurse and cuddle their young. We produce rhythmic sounds to mimic that comforting sound from when we were safe in the womb and nursed by our mother. Its soothing to listen to your lover's heartbeat.

Someone should do a behavioral study on rhythmic sensitivity in different species of animals. I'll bet only animals who are nursed and cuddled have an ear for rhythms.

I read artist profiles. Many heavy metal and hard rock artists get their inspiration from artists which they listened to. If you follow that 'influence tree' back to its roots, you would be surprised where the artist gained their inspiration. Since many originating artists are dead, there's no way to know who the inspiration for their music came from.

Elvis' musical influences were the pop and country music of the time, the gospel music he heard in church and at the all-night gospel sings he frequently attended, and the black R&B he absorbed on historic Beale Street as a Memphis teenager. Since no specific artist is mentioned, the historical influence trail has been broken. But many people were inspired by Elvis Presley. Many people were inspired by The Beatles. I'm certain, if that line of progression were fully known, much of the music heard today, no matter the genre would originate in far different genres than the one the artist chose. This is because each artist adds their own unique creativity to find their own expression.

No modern music is the pristine example of a genre.
When considering this, genre distinction is not as important as many make it out to be. A certain flexibility is normal.
Many of the examples you give, I consider rock & roll. Some, I consider hard rock where others I consider as heavy metal. But its all rock & roll.

Kevin Cronin

I have to add Brad Delp of Boston. Every song on their first album was a hit.