Robert Plant vs. Freddy Mercury vs Steve Perry vs Axl Rose

Axl Rose?!?!?!?   I know Chinese Democracy will about it, but no way he belongs on that list.

Now, I originally checked Freddy, but switched to Steve Perry.  I saw the Journey-ish band last summer with the new vocalist, then I listened to a few songs with Perry on lead.  The Filipino kid is good but he is an imitation.  Perry is (was) amazing,

From Sebastian Bach (formerly of Skid Row):  ”I can remember I told Axl [Rose], I go: “Dude, sometimes I have to sing along to Journey to get my voice going up in that high-mid range, tenor”. He goes [in a spot-on Axl impersonation]: “Baz, if I had to sing to Journey records to get my voice going I’d quit the %^&*$# music business”*laughs* But I was like: “Oh well!”

Plant, Mercury, and Rose are rock legends...Steve Perry?  Steve Perry doesn't belong on this list. 

Stiff competition for Axl, but his talent is undeniable:  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPH5jA3Gg90

btw, don't take it from me...here's a solid source:

http://www.pbpulse.com/news/entertainment/movies/gardens-man-helped-cruise-rock-of-ages-stars-sing/nPRbf/

(from the article)  “Axl Rose…can outsing all rock stars.”

I guess we need to define singing. I am not an Axl hater but I don't feel his screaming comes across as singing.

That's an odd group right there. I actually realy love Journey. But because of Schone not Perry. I always thought Perry was good... but never thought of him at the top.

Mercury was in a class of one. Hard to compare him to anyone. Certainly very talented.

Axl... sorry. I mean he can sing better than me, and he sold a ton of records... but so have a ton of other vocalists and I would not call all of them great either.

Plant, come on. What a voice. Then and now. He can't do what he did before, but neither can any other vocalist... He still sounds great with what he does. Best rock vocalist ever.

Oh, I think he was a huge part...but not THE band in its entirety. Brian May was pretty integral. (In fact, one of my all-time fave Queen songs (All Dead) is NOT a Freddie Mercury song...it's written and sung by May)

I put AXL in just for one person on this board.  There are way too many great rock singers to list and have a fair comparison.

Axl used to have a great voice and if you have listened to his voice and for tone and being on pitch with a great open mind towards improvising you have a good singer in Axl.  I have heard some of his newer stuff recorded live that sounded much better than stuff 10 years ago.

Again, this was somewhat a joke, because there are many genres that people classify as Rock and pull in different vocalists.  Elvis is listed by someone, and yes he sold millions or billions of records, his voice is not what I would consider great.

Again this is all opinion and just to have something to go back and forth about.

Are you referring to "'39"?  Great tune.

Aw, you're makin' me blush!    

Everybody has their favorites, and no doubt, he's at the top of my list.  Funny thing is, Axl was one of the biggest Freddie fans out there.  There is great footage on youtube of the Freddie Mercury Tribute...GNR performs an amazing Paradise City, We Will Rock You, and Axl performs a blistering outro to Bohemian Rhapsody with Elton John (another of Axl's favs.).  

Is Axl's voice where it was 20-25 years ago?  Not consistently...but then again, there are scary moments when you ask yourself how the heck can he do that at his age?  3 hour shows, running around like a crazy man...pure, raw emotion, amazing stage presence, boundless energy, ear-piercing highs, demonic lows, and uncompromising as heck...very inspiring.

To the posts that stated he just screams...there are plenty of tunes out there that highlight other features of his voice...just be careful not to confuse singing with power over a wide vocal range with "screaming."  

Exhibit A:  I highly recommend the entire vid., but if the 1st minute of this audio seems "pedestrian" or "nothing special," you're just not being honest in your assessment of his vocals. (safe for work until an f-word at 3:20) 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lxt8-wUjsYk&feature=related?

Isn't that an Offspring album? 

Now there's a lead singer with some chops, eh?  Offspring, ha, good one.  

I was waiting for something like this!!!!!