Best Rock Vocalist Poll Provides Unexpected Outcomes

By pudman13 on Mar 20, 2009

Cleveland's Classic Rock station polled its listeners to choose the 10 top rock vocalists, and I was shocked by the results. It's not like I was expecting a list I would like from fans of this type of radio station, but nonetheless, I was amazed that Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, and Janis Joplin didn't make the list at all, and I never in a million years would have guessed #1. (When they got to #2 yesterday, and the above-mentioned four were not on the list, I assumed that Jagger would easily be #1. A coworker and I were discussing who had not shown up yet, and Freddie Mercury never once crossed either of our minds.)

Anyway, here's the list.

Would anyone else have guessed #1? Or #3 or #5, for that matter?

1. Freddie Mercury (Queen)
2. Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin & Solo)
3. Paul Rodgers (Bad Company, Free & Solo)
4. Roger Daltrey (Who)
5. Ann Wilson (Heart)
6. Bob Seger
7. Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac & Solo)
8. Jim Morrison (Doors)
9. Steve Perry (Journey)
10. Steven Tyler (Aerosmith)

Tags: queen
Comment from: 2000 Man [Member] Email
Aren't those the only ten artists they play?

Man, I get so embarassed for us sometimes.
03/20/09 @ 14:43
Comment from: mockcarr [Member] Email
I made a Hank Hill noise when I read this.
03/20/09 @ 15:00
Comment from: bobbybittman [Member] Email
Ya mean, "Gaaah!"? I had the same reaction.
03/20/09 @ 15:38
Comment from: Mr. Moderator [Member]
In a world that gets wrapped up in American Idol, I can understand the appeal of some of these singers in such a poll, but Seger? I mean, I could understand if it was a poll for rock's best men of the people, hard-working rockers, but best vocalist? Seger?
03/20/09 @ 17:57
Comment from: shawnkilroy [Member] Email
1. David Bowie
2. Nick Cave
3. Tom Waits
4. Gibb Brothers (1 vocal unit)
5. Robert Plant
6. The girl from Cowboy Junkies
7. Roger Daultry
8. Paul McCartney
9. John Lennon
10. George Harrison
03/20/09 @ 20:17
Comment from: shawnkilroy [Member] Email
11. Ronnie James Dio
12. Ricky Lee Jones
13. Stevie Nicks
14. Billy Squier
15. Randy Meisner
16. Joey Ramone
17. Rod Stewart
18. Freddie Mercury
19. Donna Summer
20. Mick Jagger
03/20/09 @ 22:20
Comment from: dbuskirk [Member] Email
Surprised the Boss didn't make the list, I thought Cleveland was his kind of town.
03/21/09 @ 03:15
Comment from: underthefloat [Member] Email
I'm with Mod. As strange as the list is Segar was the one that left me scratching me head the most. As in, I wonder what criteria in their head would list him as a great vocalist. I can't get my arms around it.


Stange how subjective "taste" is. If I was forced to listen to Journey non-stop I'm not sure how many hours I could last before the pain induced a psychological break. I'm thinking 4 or 5 hours tops.
03/21/09 @ 09:04
Comment from: rockandrollguru [Member] Email · http://rockandrollguru.com
Although certainly a tremendous list (except for Steve Perry), Freddie would be the only one who would be on my top ten list. That is if I could even limit my list to ten, which is highly unlikely.
03/21/09 @ 13:10
Comment from: mwall [Member] Email
Let's face it: in a poll like this, there's probably no distinction whatsoever between "greatest vocalists" and "singers whose voice I like." So there are no criteria as such here at all and the "greatest" terminology is entirely irrelevant.
03/21/09 @ 14:39

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