Billboard released their list of “50 Greatest Rock Lead Singers of All Time,” and it’s not sitting well with me. Nothing against Axl Rose, but there are some great singers who didn’t make the list.
I wonder if I asked Axl Rose how he felt about the list, if he feels he belongs on it. I’m sure he’s honored. I would be too. And he is a great singer. I can’t take that away from the man. But we’re talking about the top 10! Of all time! Those are huge, and there are a lot of great singers to consider.
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When Billboard let its readers vote, it gave them a decent list from which to choose. On the list were Zack de la Rocha (Rage Against the Machine), Rubén Albarrán (Café Tacvba), Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters), Paul Westerberg (The Replacements), Poly Styrene (X-Ray Spex), Corey Glover (Living Colour), Jerry Garcia (The Grateful Dead), Courtney Love (Hole), Serj Tankian (System of a Down), Liam Gallagher (Oasis), Brittany Howard (Alabama Shakes), Paul McCartney, Iggy Pop (The Stooges), Gwen Stefani, Joe Strummer (The Clash), Grace Slick (Jefferson Airplane), Chester Bennington (Linkin Park), Gustavo Cerati (Soda Stereo), Ozzy Osbourne, Laura Jane Grace (Against Me!), Steve Perry (Journey), Ann Wilson (Heart), Anthony Kiedis (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Lou Reed (The Velvet Underground), Thom Yorke (Radiohead), Janis Joplin, Rob Halford (Judas Priest), Karen O (Yeah Yeah Yeahs), Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam), Jim Morrison (The Doors), David Lee Roth (Van Halen), Kathleen Hanna (Bikini Kill), Jack White (The White Stripes), Chris Cornell (Soundgarden), Michael Stipe (R.E.M.), Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders), Steven Tyler (Aerosmith), Hayley Williams (Paramore), Roger Daltrey (The Who), Robert Smith (The Cure), Axl Rose (Guns N’ Roses), Bono (U2), George Clinton (Parliament/Funkadelic), Debbie Harry (Blondie), David Byrne (Talking Heads), Kurt Cobain (Nirvana), Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin), Freddie Mercury (Queen), Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac), and Mick Jagger (The Rolling Stones).
The fans made a better list than Billboard did. They chose Hayley Williams, Steve Perry, Stevie Nicks, Chester Bennington, Freddie Mercury, Gustavo Cerati, Robert Plant, Debbie Harry, Mick Jagger, and Paul McCartney. The fan list is missing Grace Slick, Ann Wilson, and Geddy Lee of Rush, among so many more, too many to account. But the fans weren’t even given Geddy Lee as an option. What were they thinking?
When it comes down to it, Billboard chose Mick Jagger, Stevie Nicks, Freddie Mercury, Robert Plant, Kurt Cobain, David Byrne, Debbie Harry, George Clinton, Bono, and Axl Rose. George Clinton over Geddy Lee? Axl Rose over Steve Perry?
I think they should be tested for drugs. Not to see if they are on them, but which ones. Because they are definitely high.