12 traditional rock bands that featured greater than two lead singers

I don’t learn about you, however when I’m on the lookout for cutting-edge, rock & roll evaluation, I am going to trusted sources. Like Forbes Journal. That’s why when Forbes came out with their “30 Biggest Rock & Roll Bands of All Time” earlier this yr, I used to be throughout that pet.

Because it seems, the listing is simply nice. Fairly standard entries for probably the most half. One or two oddball selections. One other one or two inexplicable omissions. However principally typical. For some motive, the factor that jumped out at me most whereas perusing the Forbes listing was the make-up of the picks. By that, I imply the roles of every band member – not the precise make-up worn by mentioned band members (although Kiss is on the listing.)

By my rely, nearly 80 p.c of the bands had a conventional entrance man. (Or, in a single case – and just one case – a entrance lady.) They’d a typical problem, high-powered vocalist who dealt with the overwhelming majority of the lead singing. In some – perhaps many – of the bands, one other member would take the occasional lead. However there was nonetheless one dominant lead singer. From Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin was  No. 1 on the listing) to Steven Tyler (Aerosmith was No. 30), there was a voice and sometimes a glance that introduced the band’s presence.

Even in bands that shared vocals, there was sometimes a tough sample that emerged. So Mick Jones may sing a couple of Conflict songs, however Joe Strummer nonetheless took the lead on most of them. The identical utilized to classic-era Pink Floyd, with Roger Waters assuming increasingly more of a lead vocalist posture regardless of David Gilmour’s occasional vocals. Eric Clapton sang a couple of Cream songs, however Jack Bruce sang most of them.

The Conflict, Pink Floyd, and Cream additionally turned the mic over to different members for a one-off occasionally, however none of these bands boasted three or extra vocalists who repeatedly sang lead.

However there have been a couple of bands that did. That’s what we’re at the moment. Basic rock bands that had at the least three singers provided a big variety of leads.

What defines “vital quantity?” Effectively, me, ‘trigger I’m the one penning this. However right here’s a for example or two to provide you some perception into how I made my selections. Roger Taylor and Brian Could each sang some leads for Queen. They could have even contributed a “vital” variety of songs. However Queen isn’t right here. Freddie Mercury’s voice and presence are so overwhelmingly related to Queen that I take into account them a band with one lead vocalist, and a few different guys who often sang.

Bands just like the Moody Blues and Jefferson Airplane didn’t make my listing for a unique motive. They every had loads of members who may – and did – sing leads. Justin Hayward sang many of the Moody Blues’ best-known songs, however Ray Thomas, Mike Pinder, and John Lodge all sang leads for the band throughout their golden years.

Grace Slick and Marty Balin had been the first vocalists for Jefferson Airplane, however Paul Kantner and Jorma Kaukonen took the lead on a couple of songs. However in each these bands, if one of many major leads wasn’t singing, the band tended towards concord. So Paul Kantner sang on a regular basis, however hardly ever fully by himself. I take into account bands like that to have quite a lot of good harmonizing singers, versus three or extra lead singers.

And I’m not speaking right here about bands who merely obtained a brand new singer when one man left. So there’s no Deep Purple. No Black Flag. No bands with any colours of their title. (although we do have a number of animals, although not the band The Animals.)

OK – that’s who’s not on the listing. Right here’s who’s. A dozen traditional rock bands which featured three (or extra) lead singers: