Best Prog Lead Vocalist
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Topic: Best Prog Lead Vocalist
Posted By: marktheshark
Subject: Best Prog Lead Vocalist
Date Posted: May 06 2005 at 18:43
| There've been many lead vocalists in prog, But these 4 guys have stood the test of time more than anybody else. Who do you think tops who? |
Replies:
Posted By: JMCecil
Date Posted: May 06 2005 at 18:44
| wtf, put about 400 more names on that list. |
Posted By: Arsillus
Date Posted: May 06 2005 at 18:51
|
Jon Anderson of those four listed... Gabriel, Lake and then Collins. |
Posted By: King of Loss
Date Posted: May 06 2005 at 18:52
|
Precisely, because I'm not going to vote with such a short list. |
JMCecil wrote:Posted By: marktheshark
Date Posted: May 06 2005 at 18:56
You're missing the whole point. As I have thought I made clear, it's a poll between the 4 most famous lead vocalists in prog that have stood the test of time. Get with the program, please, and read the question!! If you're too young to know about these guys, oh well! |
Posted By: King of Loss
Date Posted: May 06 2005 at 18:57
|
Phil Collins is just not as famous as Geddy Lee?????? |
Posted By: alchemist
Date Posted: May 06 2005 at 19:00
Their couldn't be the top '4' vocaliats list, maybe the 'top 10' at
least. A lot of great singers are missing, but since my favorite is
listed I'll vote for him.....................Peter Gabriel!!!!!!!!!
------------- no great genius has existed without a touch of madness... |
Posted By: Progger
Date Posted: May 06 2005 at 19:02
|
Depends what you mean by best 'prog' vocalist! In a concert/live setting it is Peter Gabriel due to all the theatrics. If you ever saw Genesis in concert with Gabriel you just couldn't take your eyes off him. The other four [boring] members seemed to be just a backing band. Three of them were actually sat down for the whole show! Now if we are talking about 'singing' I can't vote cos' Lake & Anderson are my all time faves. Although if I was forced to vote it would be Anderson because his voice is just as 'angelic' as ever. Whereas Lake's voice ain't what it used to be! Oh alright, I'll go & vote for Anderson |
Posted By: JMCecil
Date Posted: May 06 2005 at 19:03
|
oh lordy how I wish I was too young. I'm not sure any of them would make my top 10 though. I'll have to think on it. |
Posted By: marktheshark
Date Posted: May 06 2005 at 19:03
I've come across a lot of Rush fans (me included) and most of them always say that Rush's weakest point is Geddy's voice. Sounds like he's full of helium! He did get better later on. |
Posted By: King of Loss
Date Posted: May 06 2005 at 19:10
I would agree with you, his voice is really f**ked up, but still its good. |
Posted By: Miaugion
Date Posted: May 06 2005 at 19:26
|
Peter Gabriel.
Err ... nah, that's too obvious. I'd rather vote for anyone more obscure ... like a genius of emotional prog rock vocals: Steve Walsh.  ------------- You house proud town mouse ha ha, charade you are |
Posted By: King of Loss
Date Posted: May 06 2005 at 19:31
|
Posted By: chessman
Date Posted: May 06 2005 at 19:53
| Gabriel gets my vote, as he is my favourite, no matter how many are in the poll! Nevertheless, there should be more than 4. Anderson would come second. Could never take to Lake's voice, it was so overrated. The weakest part of ELP without a doubt. Collins is good, just a pity he uses it on the wrong type of song. |
Posted By: marktheshark
Date Posted: May 06 2005 at 20:10
| It seems that most people these days need 100 choices to make a decision on anything. Most of the time life itself only requires only 2 choices. I just simply gave a choice of the 4 most famous vocalists in prog and instead of making a choice on who their favorite is or who has the better vocal range or diversity, they have to say "Oh, I need more choices. This is just not enough for me to make up my mind!" Maybe this is my fault, I should've re-worded the poll as the best "classic" prog vocalist. EXCUUUUSE ME!! Gimmee a break! I didn't realize we some weak minded people here. |
Posted By: Reed Lover
Date Posted: May 06 2005 at 20:13
|
No you should have worded it:
Or "the best vocalist in my highly subjective list" or even better,placed the poll in the trivia section ------------- 
|
Posted By: Valarius
Date Posted: May 06 2005 at 20:28
| Jon Anderson. |
Posted By: marktheshark
Date Posted: May 06 2005 at 20:39
I appreciate what your saying Reed. And you maybe right. But the idea of narrowing these polls is help induce thought, individual thinking and the formation of an opinion. You give too many choices, and you make it too easy for people. It's called a challenge. HELLO! That's why I get sick of these polls with all these choices (10 or more)and then evrybody starts in with the "you left out this and that". All I did was keep it down to the basic 4 vocalists. Make a choice! It's not that hard. If you need 100 choices to make a decision on something, then you got issues. |
Posted By: tuxon
Date Posted: May 06 2005 at 20:46
|
Jon Anderson ------------- I'm always almost unlucky _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Id5ZcnjXSZaSMFMC Id5LM2q2jfqz3YxT |
Posted By: gleam
Date Posted: May 06 2005 at 21:07
|
I chose Jon Anderson with Peter Gabriel a very close second. Anderson simply because his voice is as they say "angelic". Peter's voice has an interesting "menace" to it, however it's really his theatrics that rate him so high on people's list...not his voice.
|
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: May 06 2005 at 21:10
| John Wetton. |
Posted By: marktheshark
Date Posted: May 06 2005 at 21:18
Ok. Good choice, but why did you pick him? Let's here it, you're among friends here. I thought about him myself. |
Posted By: Progger
Date Posted: May 06 2005 at 21:35
|
I'm a big John Wetton fan too but one of the critisms I once read was that he can't 'sustain' a note for very long without his voice 'warbling'? |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: May 06 2005 at 21:37
|
Thank you for your very kind words, I needed them |
Posted By: Progger
Date Posted: May 06 2005 at 21:37
Thinking about it, so does Peter Gabriel's |
Posted By: marktheshark
Date Posted: May 06 2005 at 21:42
Great! Thank God we actually have someone who's honest and intelligent with his opinion. And I didn't even have Wetton on the list! Thank you Lostrom! Anybody else out there who can open up with an intelligent opinion? HELLO?! |
Posted By: Progger
Date Posted: May 06 2005 at 21:47
John Wetton deserves a thread all on his own. A prog great artist without a doubt! I've had the privelidge to talk to him on a few occasions and I can tell you he is a gentlemen
|
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: May 06 2005 at 21:51
Let's start here and now, from scratch: "Only intelligente comments and humor". I had almost given up! Thanks |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: May 06 2005 at 21:52
|
WOW |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: May 06 2005 at 21:54
|
Agree *see above |
Besides, are u with us in our new "intelligent and humor-movement" ????* You seem to fit, friendPosted By: Progger
Date Posted: May 06 2005 at 21:59
|
John Wetton always plays a gig for the 'Classic Rock Society' when he tours over here in the UK & never miss a show. I remember seeing him circa 2000 & he looked a sorry state. His marriage had just broken up and he was drinking heavily. His voice was so 'slurred' that night. He had also put on a lot of weight through over eating. Depression does these kinds of things to you However, I saw him again two years later and he looked a different person and he'd got over his depression. He put on a show that will live with me forever |
Posted By: marktheshark
Date Posted: May 06 2005 at 22:10
Go to the forum topic discussions "Not related to music" and hit this thread: New Group To Be Added - No! and you'll see some humor. |
Posted By: Yanns
Date Posted: May 06 2005 at 22:11
| Greg Lake is one of my all-time favorite vocalists, so it was hard putting Jon above him, but I had to. No one can beat Jon Anderson. |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: May 06 2005 at 22:12
ok |
Posted By: threefates
Date Posted: May 06 2005 at 23:38
|
Greg Lake beats Jon Anderson... Not kidding.. Actually the first time I heard his voice, without even knowing who he was or what he looked like... just the first time hearing his voice... it was like experiencing a little bit of heaven. I made my brother run and buy me that album... best decision I ever made.. altho my brother is still regretting it... ------------- THIS IS ELP 
|
Posted By: marktheshark
Date Posted: May 07 2005 at 00:01
My personal opinion was Greg too. Reason was, Greg had a bit of a Paul McCartney versatility in him. Meaning he could sing a beautiful prog ballad and then just turn around and belt out a good loud rock 'n roller. Something Jon and Peter couldn't do. Phil could come close later but still not as diverse as Greg. |
Posted By: dropForge
Date Posted: May 07 2005 at 00:07
|
Sorry, dude. That's BS. In prog circles, John Wetton, Ian Anderson, Geddy Lee, Steve Walsh and even Michael Sadler are highly-regarded as top singers. Your list is just too limited. I would never vote for Peter Gabriel. Phil's a far better singer than he: better range; better pitch/tone, everything. I like the version of Genesis sans Gabriel before Hackett left the best! Hell, I think JOE Walsh (let along Steve Walsh) has much better pipes than PG! Geddy's voice is awesome. Yes, he liked to peel off the high end of the spectrum in the '70s, but in the '80s his voice was practically unbeatable. For the '70s, it would come down to Ian Anderson, Steve Walsh and John Wetton for me. The first two were amazing before their pipes rusted down; Wetton still sounds pretty darned good!
|
Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: May 07 2005 at 00:09
|
Ivaaaaaaaaan!!!! Here come the cavalry.... ------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
WTF is the Great God Gabriel doing so low in the running? 
Posted By: marktheshark
Date Posted: May 07 2005 at 00:37
|
Believe me John Wetton was a serious contender, but I have to say he was too much of a Greg Lake sound-a-like to compete here. Greg could go from prog to blues so easily as he have over the last 35 years. Especially with Ringo's All Stars. As for Geddy, I'm sorry, but I have to go with a lot of people and say while he still has range, his voice is still annoying.
Sorry to have limited list on this poll. But these are the most famous of prog singers as we know them today. I'm just giving some food for thought. |
Posted By: dropForge
Date Posted: May 07 2005 at 00:43
|
Wetton a Greg Lake soundalike? Or is Lake a Wetton soundalike? Neither, though it's easy to see why Lake was called upon to fill in for John in Asia (even if his voice sounded a little too "gruff" even then), and why I've always been for an Emerson-Wetton-Palmer collaboration if Keith & Carl couldn't (can't) get it going with Greg one more time. |
Posted By: dropForge
Date Posted: May 07 2005 at 00:45
|
Are you still referring to 2112 or around then? Check out Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures, Signals, Grace Under Pressure, Power Windows...I wish I could sing like that. Or sing, period, for that matter! |
Posted By: Geee
Date Posted: May 07 2005 at 01:11
|
I voted for Peter Gabriel - for me the best prog lead singer. Good selection chosen as well except for Phil Collins - great voice but IMO he is a Pop singer not prog Cheers ------------- "Just as a bell that has been rung cannot be "unrung", the annoying problem with the Truth is that, once you learn it, you can not "unlearn" it." |
Posted By: marktheshark
Date Posted: May 07 2005 at 01:20
Funny you mentioned that. I didn't really know who Rush was 'til about '79. I'm now 48 and that this time in the 70s I was listening to fusion. Hard rock was pasee' for me then. Then one night me and a fellow drummer buddy of mine were listening to a prog station (WHFS in Wash DC) and they were playing an un-Godly instrumental that just blew our socks off. It turned out it was La Villa Strangiato from Hemespheres. We just went WHOA! This is Rush?! I had heard a little bit about them, but not much. Eventually I checked out some of their earliiar works, and Geddy's voice just annoyed the hell out of me. Finally I bought Permanent Waves (which to this day I consider their best album) and have been more or less hooked on them. But I'm sorry, Geddy's voice just doesn't stop scratching my butthole! Good range, but just not enough richness. But his voice became more tolerable later. I've always found that Geddy's voice became less a factor in their musicianship over the years since the late 70s. |
Posted By: dropForge
Date Posted: May 07 2005 at 01:33
|
Definitely true in the '90s. He didn't sound as uninspired. That's not the case with Vapor Trails, but I won't recommend it because it's the hardest-sounding thing they've done in ages. Are you more of a guitar fusion dude, or keyboard fusion? I lean towards keys, myself, but I let my ears be the judge(s). |
Posted By: marktheshark
Date Posted: May 07 2005 at 02:05
Well, not to sound like a grodgy old man. But you learn to appreciate all the musicians in any band. Whether it be guitarist, keyboards, bassist or drummer. They all have their work to do. Some stand out more than others. In the case of Rush, I just can't help but love these 3 guys for their endurance. Especially after what Neil has gone through. That man has really shone what a heart can do under the most toughest pressure. They may not be the most original artist in rock all around (in fact, I've sometime considered them as copycats) but they sure don't stop. |
Posted By: dropForge
Date Posted: May 07 2005 at 03:00
|
Yes, "each has done his part," to paraphrase a well-known song. But in the case of non-prog rock bands a player or players may not stand out the way s/he would in a fusion band. Of course, in some rock groups, the singer and [lead] guitarist get all the glory. But this all falls under "given" (remember high school geometry?). And then there are your exceptions to these "rules" which aren't really rules or norms, they only seem that way. When I meant keyboard fusion, guitar fusion, bass fusion, etc., I meant if you were more a fan of guys like McLaughlin, Coryell, DiMeola, Holdsworth, Verheyen, Wright, et al., or Hammer, Corea, Zawinul, Duke, ad infinitum. I figured you lean towards guitarists. I lean towards keyboard-oriented music, as keyboards (particularly analog synths, the Mellotron, and the Hohner Clavinet, before organ & piano) and bass are my favorite instruments to listen to. Naturally, if I like something when I hear it, I simply like it. The instruments employed aren't necessarily a factor. Al Di Meola is one of my favorite guitarists. But my fave period of his is the 'classic era' from 1975-82, and Jan Hammer (one of my all-time fave keyboarders) played with Al during that time. But again, while I have my fave keyboardists, bassists, guitarists, drummers, etc., I'm not afraid to betray a healthy bias, but my formative years were spent listening to tons of electronic music (not the sissy dance/new romantic kind). Every artist/band is influenced by somebody/something. Rush began life as a Led Zeppelin near-clone. Aside from that, I'm not sure who they were flagrantly copying if you say you sometimes consider them "copycats." Now Starcastle, I could understand! |
Posted By: Man Erg
Date Posted: May 07 2005 at 04:15
|
My vote goes to Peter... HAMMILL ------------- 
Do 'The Stanley' otherwise I'll thrash you with some rhubarb. |
Posted By: TBWART
Date Posted: May 07 2005 at 04:28
|
I like Wetton a lot, certainly on UK. I also like Ian Anderson's voice, its warm and playful. And Ashley Holt's incredible power, provided he doesn't sing out of tune. Listen to Jon Anderson scream on the gates live from yesshows FANTASTIC!! But Im think Collins is the greatest. just listen to suppers ready on second's out. ------------- ''progression is trying to eliminate boundries'' |
Posted By: philippe
Date Posted: May 07 2005 at 04:31
|
Definitely ARTHUR BROWN!!!!! the man and his thousand voices!!! ------------- 
|
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: May 07 2005 at 04:37
|
Greg Lake had the most suitable voice for prog.He could sing baritone (like Battlefied) or higher pitched as on The Sage.Emerson 'threw' a lot of stuff at him but he coped well.Of the other nominees I would say Jon Anderson is totally one dimensional (but still great before I get Yes fans on my back Collins is technically a very good singer,not to be dismissed lightly but not as good as the other three IMO. |
Posted By: Jared
Date Posted: May 07 2005 at 05:18
|
I voted for Jon Anderson in this poll, although I think that Greg Lake and Peter Gabriel were also great vocalists. Might I however throw the name of Steve Perry in the ring? Are any of you old enough to have owned 'Infinity' and 'Evolution' by Journey? I apprecaite they weren't really prog albums (although I have more latterly seen them thrown into our camp) but the harmonies sent chills down my spine... or am I getting soft in my old age? No doubt, tin cans will now be hurled in my general direction!!! |
Posted By: Rhayader
Date Posted: May 07 2005 at 06:27
|
I'll vote for Jon on this list, but if Geddy Lee and Peter Hamill were on here, I would have to think about it.
------------- "Sadder still to watch you die than never to have known it..." Rush - Losing It |
Posted By: MorgothSunshine
Date Posted: May 07 2005 at 06:42
|
I vote for Peter Gabriel in this poll but Peter Hamill and the superb STEVE WALSH (Kansas) are better!!! ------------- For every truth even the contrary is true... 
|
Posted By: marktheshark
Date Posted: May 07 2005 at 09:21
Well, the opening segment of Xanadu sounds a lot like Yes's Close to the Edge or something off Topographic Oceans. Alex's solo on Strangiato sounds like it's right off of Jeff Beck's 'Cause We Ended as Lovers or Goodbye Pork Pie Hat. These and among others. Their copycatting I think went on during the late 70s. Early 80s they found their nitche. Of course even then they seemed to be misappropiating The Police at times.IMO. As far as what kind of fan I am, pretty hard to pin down. I played drums for many years but I like guitarists a lot (Jeff Beck during his fusion period and McLaughlin in particular). I guess I lean towards them. To me a guitar is a little more challenging. It's easy change the sound of a keyboard, you just push a button. But a guitar is a bit different. Hell, sometimes Beck can sound like a synth at times. |
Posted By: Yurkspb
Date Posted: May 11 2005 at 07:01
|
Hey man, why is JAN Anderson not here? |
Posted By: Infinity
Date Posted: May 11 2005 at 07:24
|
Tough one but I went for Jon Anderson for his sheer harmony work and timings... Peter Gabriel's vocal character is so creative though and Greg Lake has that awesome gutsy/alto voice... Phil's voice is consistent but he never really 'rinses' it. Suits the songs he did for Genesis though and sounds really good for the atmospheric qualities on Brand X. Don't forget Geddy Lee, Annie Haslam, John Wetton (especially on RED and UK) and of course and undoubtedly Ian Anderson - I think he should have been in the poll for sure the guy is a genius...he properly takes you to another world with his vocals and lyrics. Also please note Cedric from The Mars Volta, incredible range, character and he's proved it live ------------- I can't remember what I said I lost my head. __________________________ |
Posted By: Gloryscene
Date Posted: May 11 2005 at 07:35
|
It has to be Jon Anderson for me as the first time i heard Yes it was his melodies and awesome harmonies which took me off into a really magical place! Albiet Gabriel has a voice with real character and theatre. Collins' voice is far more straighter and rock/pop orientated but still defo like the stuff he did on early Genesis and Brand X. Have to agree with Infinity on Cedric and Geddy Lee as well both of them pull it off extremely well live ------------- "The Beautiful Ally Of Your Own Gravediggers" www.gloryscene.co.uk |
Posted By: PROGMAN
Date Posted: May 11 2005 at 09:36
|
Ill go with Greg Lake then! ------------- CYMRU AM BYTH 
|
Posted By: Carakhallo
Date Posted: May 12 2005 at 11:56
| C'mon!! Shouldn´t be Peter Hammill in that list??? And right on the top of it. My vote for both Peters (Hammill and Gabriel) |
Posted By: ProgressiveRock
Date Posted: May 12 2005 at 15:19
|
My favourit is Fish especially in Misplaced Childhood or Script for a jester´s tear. ------------- This world is totally fugazi. |
Posted By: greenback
Date Posted: May 13 2005 at 00:01
|
ANNIE HASLAM ------------- [HEADPINS - LINE OF FIRE: THE RECORD HAVING THE MOST POWERFUL GUITAR SOUND IN THE WHOLE HISTORY OF MUSIC!> |
Posted By: spectral
Date Posted: May 13 2005 at 09:13
|
I voted Jon Anderson, but my vote would always go to Cedric Bixler-Zavala of The Mars Volta. ------------- "...misty halos made visible by the spectral illumination of moonshine." |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: May 13 2005 at 16:09
|
What are you talking about? Phil Collins was nothing more than a pop singer, Gabriel was great. And Lake and Anderson were known for thier compositional skills, not vocal. Daniel Gildenlow is the best prog vocalist in my opinion, and the best rock vocalist in general. |
Posted By: The Prognaut
Date Posted: May 13 2005 at 17:33
|
I voted chamaleonic Peter Gabriel on this one, but I think Fish, Roger Waters and Andy Latimer are missing here
------------- break the circle reset my head wake the sleepwalker and i'll wake the dead |
Posted By: The Prognaut
Date Posted: May 13 2005 at 17:36
|
"What are you talking about? Phil Collins was nothing more than a pop singer, Gabriel was great" You betcha Riph! But I do recognize that what he did on "A Trick of the Tail" and "Seconds Out" was simply outstanding.
------------- break the circle reset my head wake the sleepwalker and i'll wake the dead |
Posted By: Tristan Mulders
Date Posted: May 24 2005 at 11:59
|
Peter Gabriel! I just can't stand Jon Anderson ------------- Interested in my reviews? You can find them http://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=784 - HERE "...He will search until He's found a Way to take the Days..." |
Posted By: vaportrail
Date Posted: May 24 2005 at 13:02
|
Jon Anderson, though i think it is mainly because he is backed up by Chris Squire.
------------- I can feel no sense of measure |
Posted By: The Miracle
Date Posted: May 30 2005 at 18:15
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Gabriel...... then Anderson ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/ocellatedgod" rel="nofollow - last.fm |
Posted By: BaldJean
Date Posted: May 30 2005 at 18:26
|
Any such vote without including Peter Hammill is ridiculous. And the argument about "standing test of time" that Mark gives definitely fails for Peter Hammill. He stood the test of time for over 35 years. My vote definitely belongs to PH. -------------  A shot of me as High Priestess of Gaia during our fall festival. Ceterum censeo principiis obsta |
Posted By: marktheshark
Date Posted: May 30 2005 at 18:31
Oh shut-up! 
|
Posted By: TheProgtologist
Date Posted: May 30 2005 at 20:47
|
Jon Anderson
-------------  |
Posted By: comicbookguy
Date Posted: May 31 2005 at 07:06
| The 2 Peters , Gabriel and Hammill have always been at the top for me although Cedric from The Mars Volta is catching up. |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 19:55
| Gabriel hid his naff vocals behind his theatrics...never could stand him or Collins....Anderson was way to light...so Lake wins it for me...cos he is sooooo much better than the other prats. |
Posted By: Drew
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 22:46
| 6GEDDY LEE!!!! LOVE HIM |
Posted By: GoldenSpiral
Date Posted: July 08 2005 at 23:41
|
I actually went with Collins! technically, he is a better
VOCALIST than gabriel, but I'd sure as hell rather gave gabriel in my
band, because he's a more interesting frontman.
------------- http://www.myspace.com/altaic" rel="nofollow - http://www.myspace.com/altaic ALTAIC "Oceans Down You'll Lie" coming soon |
Posted By: Cygnus
Date Posted: July 13 2005 at 04:23
|
OK 70´S GAVE MANY BETTER VOICES ALTHOGH NOT ON PROG GROOPS. }}}}} DAVID BYRON FREDY MERCURY IAN GILLAN ROBERT PLANT DIO (FANTASTIC WITH RAINBOW) DAVID GILMOUR |
Posted By: Hammill
Date Posted: July 13 2005 at 07:09
|
my favourite singer is Peter hammill, from the list i choose peter gabriel
------------- 
|
Posted By: Cygnus X-1
Date Posted: July 13 2005 at 16:13
| geddy lee? He's got one of the most distinctive voices in prog, in fact Wakeman said that in a guitar magazine. |