I think Springsteen has a fine voice. And he can handle 4 hours of a concert just fine without any breaks. And he's 69 years old.



Loved Tom Petty's voice. Got that southern twang goin on. He sang just fine. I miss him.



Now, Joe Cocker. I know he is a revered from the age of great music. Just never got into his sound, though.

Well that's just nitpicking now, isn't it?

OldShadeOfBlue said:

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I'll throw James Hetfield's name into the mix. Dude has always made me wonder how terrible Kirk Hammet's and Lars Ulrich's voices are if he's the one that got the job.

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hetfield has one of the greatest voices in metal! The 'yeahs' got a little over bearing in the 90s.. but it certainly sold.

Definitely the best voice of the big 4. And the best/most prolific riff creator.

LSCSN said:

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Soundgarden
Skid Row
Queen

Did I do that right?

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Wow, huge fail. LOL

Obvious troll

I am legit surprised to read Zach De La Rocha's name on here. Same with Brandon Boyd.

62strat said:

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OldShadeOfBlue said:

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I'll throw James Hetfield's name into the mix. Dude has always made me wonder how terrible Kirk Hammet's and Lars Ulrich's voices are if he's the one that got the job.

---

hetfield has one of the greatest voices in metal! The 'yeahs' got a little over bearing in the 90s.. but it certainly sold.

Definitely the best voice of the big 4. And the best/most prolific riff creator.

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Love Metallica, but no. Not even close.

Junkhead said:

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62strat said:

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OldShadeOfBlue said:

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I'll throw James Hetfield's name into the mix. Dude has always made me wonder how terrible Kirk Hammet's and Lars Ulrich's voices are if he's the one that got the job.

---

hetfield has one of the greatest voices in metal! The 'yeahs' got a little over bearing in the 90s.. but it certainly sold.

Definitely the best voice of the big 4. And the best/most prolific riff creator.

---

Love Metallica, but no. Not even close.

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Who would you say is in your top 5? modern metal (early 80s or later)

62strat said:

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Junkhead said:

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62strat said:

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OldShadeOfBlue said:

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I'll throw James Hetfield's name into the mix. Dude has always made me wonder how terrible Kirk Hammet's and Lars Ulrich's voices are if he's the one that got the job.

---

hetfield has one of the greatest voices in metal! The 'yeahs' got a little over bearing in the 90s.. but it certainly sold.

Definitely the best voice of the big 4. And the best/most prolific riff creator.

---

Love Metallica, but no. Not even close.

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Who would you say is in your top 5? modern metal (early 80s or later)

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That could start a debate over who is "metal" but Bruce Dickinson, Ronnie James Dio, and Rob Halford are far & away above Hetfield. Klaus Meine of the Scorpions is severely underrated but you might not consider them metal. Same can be said of Geoff Tate. Let me ponder the topic and I'll see if any other names jump out at me.

Wow this thread has so many garbage opinions.

Who is NOT a bad singer?

Who is the the most UNDERRATED singer in the history of rock?

Yes. All time underrated.

Robin Zander.

To answer the original question.

RHCP is a band I like. Yet Kiedis is a terrible singer. Just bad.

HOWEVER

The band would not be what they are without him!

Quandary.

Edit - anyone who defends him as a singer, and not as a frontman, of which he is great, has quite suspect opinions and should be on probation at a minimum.

Bonnie Tyler. Makes me want to drive my truck off a cliff.

We must recognize there also are mediocre singers who are outstanding performers, and songwriters.

Lucinda Williams.

Junkhead said:

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62strat said:

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Junkhead said:

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62strat said:

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OldShadeOfBlue said:

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I'll throw James Hetfield's name into the mix. Dude has always made me wonder how terrible Kirk Hammet's and Lars Ulrich's voices are if he's the one that got the job.

---

hetfield has one of the greatest voices in metal! The 'yeahs' got a little over bearing in the 90s.. but it certainly sold.

Definitely the best voice of the big 4. And the best/most prolific riff creator.

---

Love Metallica, but no. Not even close.

---

Who would you say is in your top 5? modern metal (early 80s or later)

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That could start a debate over who is "metal" but Bruce Dickinson, Ronnie James Dio, and Rob Halford are far & away above Hetfield. Klaus Meine of the Scorpions is severely underrated but you might not consider them metal. Same can be said of Geoff Tate. Let me ponder the topic and I'll see if any other names jump out at me.

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I knew I should have clarified my original comment with 'modern'. Whether those you listed are considered metal or not, I wouldn't consider any of those to be modern except Queensryche.

Yes, the 70s singers are far more talented than hetfield as far as vocal capabilities. But, as I've now admitted, I was referring to more modern metal, where singers have a more aggressive voice that most people associate with metal.. not the operatic kind (although many modern bands do have the vocal approach like DM) I was talking more of those types.

The big 4 basically started a new generation of metal and I'd consider them and everything after them to be 'modern'.

I can also admit, ok, maybe on voice alone, Hetfield is not making the top of lists. But as a metal front man; his voice, plus writing, plus guitar playing, he is easily ranking high on lists.

Oh, I don't listen to any newer metal. All sounds like crap to me. And if you're dismissing Dickinson and Halford for being from an earlier era then you have to do the same for Hetfield. I can't remember the last Maiden album but they're currently on tour and Priest put out a pretty good album last year and are also on tour. They may be older but they are absolutely still relevant just like Metallica.

Junkhead said:

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Oh, I don't listen to any newer metal. All sounds like crap to me. And if you're dismissing Dickinson and Halford for being from an earlier era then you have to do the same for Hetfield. I can't remember the last Maiden album but they're currently on tour and Priest put out a pretty good album last year and are also on tour. They may be older but they are absolutely still relevant just like Metallica.

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They may be putting out albums but metallica is still selling better than they ever have.
Anyway, I simply distinguished between the two because the 'older' group were operatic vocal. While it is metal by most definitions, most people associate metal with a more aggressive vocal, and that didn't happen until the 80s. Now you have a slew of 'singers', and I think Hetfield far and away is one of the most accessible while still being pretty metal. Again, combine with his writing and riffing, and it's no wonder why is a metal god with the ranks of ozzy and dickinson.

Dude, there is a ton of great metal from the last 30 years.

Something about Serj Tankian's voice from System of a Down annoys me on a fundamental level.

A Bald Fat Guy said:

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Something about Serj Tankian's voice from System of a Down annoys me on a fundamental level.

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A Bald Fat Guy said:

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Something about Serj Tankian's voice from System of a Down annoys me on a fundamental level.

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MW03 said:

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I am legit surprised to read Zach De La Rocha's name on here. Same with Brandon Boyd.

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If RATM had a song called "Walls on Parade" I don't think he would have made the list here.