who is the worst vocalist to have "made it"

[irocfan]

we've had quite a few of the best of - this is slightly different. Who is the worst vocalist to have hit the big time? For context, I'm not sure you can count Johnny Rotten (for example) as his snarling frustration suited the song to a 'T'.

Two examples stick out for me:

Bob Dylan - may have written some great songs but really hopeless as a singer
Joe Elliot/Def Leppard - the irony is though, that JE was the driving force behind Leppard. IMO a definite case of "they made it despite his vocals rather than because of"

[Muzzer79]

Brian Johnson

Liam Gallagher

[descentia]

+1 for liam Gallagher

Janet Jackson

[drmike37]

Bob Dylan.
I appreciate that he’s one of the best song writers ever, but he really should have let someone else sing them.

[anonymous-user]

Posh spice?

[TuonoPants]

All of the BeeGees - I can't stand those dreadful screeching noises they made

[franki68]

Ian brown

[Bacon Is Proof]

Every live performance by Anthony Kiedis (Red Hot Chili Peppers) has been awful, but then Dylan sounds bad post production so I think Bob wins it.

[AJB88]

franki68 said:

Ian brown

As a Stone Roses and Ian Brown fan... I agree haha

Liam Gallagher in Oasis yes, hes solo stuff is a lot "cleaner" vocal wise.

[Pothole]

Dido

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Dana. The bloody woman can hardly talk, let alone sing. She just whispers. Pathetically weak voice.

[cologne2792]

drmike37 said:

Bob Dylan.
I appreciate that he’s one of the best song writers ever, but he really should have let someone else sing them.

Yes, exactly.

Every Traveling Wilburys song - please don't let Bob sing...except on Where Were You Last Night?

[toasty]

Muzzer79 said:

Brian Johnson

Liam Gallagher

As per Johnny Rotten/Lydon, not great singers but near perfect in their band placement.

[anonymous-user]

Neil Young quite often sounds like a cat trapped in a refuse truck.

[AdamIndy]

Chris Martin.

I’ve seen Coldplay live and as a show, it was mind blowing but as an actual singer, he’s a bit pony.

Same can be said for whoever is the lead singer of snow patrol. That was bad.

[pequod]

Richard Harris.

His rendition of MacArthur Park was painful and he murdered Jimmy Webb's song.

Another Irishman who can't sing either is Geldof and he is a gobste to boot!

[toasty]

Florence Welch

[ryanbay001]

Morrissey

[So]

Florence Welch.

She either can't sing, or she sings in such a clever way that it's beyond my understanding. I think it's the former.

[Big-Bo-Beep]

Bit of an obscure one, and only hippies that didn't smoke too much weed will remember them,
but it would be remarkable for all four singers in a band to be tone deaf but
The Incredible String Band managed it.

I was never sure if Thin Lizzy's Phil Lynott actually sang or just talked his way through a song,
as did Johnny Cash.