The One Rock Singer I Can’t Stand! 

Rod singing Maggie May and the A Nod Is As Good As A Wink album has me liking Rod in spite of his choreography era. Robert Plant started out with that great bluesy voice, able to push out notes that most humans could only hope to reach. Strong voiced, he then sang his voice until it was merely a memory of what it had been. After years of still creating music after Zep he found his own range and style again and has been creating music which takes all of his prior influences and puts them into his current efforts, most of which are critical successes. He sings duets with women artists. He sings what is essentially rockabilly at times. He has grown into his current version of himself naturally and his ability to blend different types of music together and create his own distinct music, which does not contain his old voice at all, produces music which is entertaining, sometimes heartbreaking and always mesmerizing, at least it is to me. Robert Plant is nothing like he was in the 60's and 70's and that is the way it should be. He can still sing like he used to, but why would he want to? His new music, from the 80's until current era, is always growing and expanding his horizons. Axl Rose? Got bathroom tissue handy? You will need it to feel clean again after listening to the bathroom sounds that leak from his vocal orifice.

Axl Rose is like the horn in a smooth jazz combo. Everyone's jammin', havin a good time, sounding good, no, sounding GREAT, and then Axl(or horn player) takes a deep breath and EEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeEEEEEEEEE WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE SCREEEEEEEEECH and everyone's dead.

I believe if Vincent Van Gogh heard Axl Rose he would’ve cut his other ear.

Hearing Axl sing "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" makes me fly into a pitiless rage.

I totally agree, Michael. I’ll never understand how Appetite for Destruction sold 18M+ copies with Axl Rose’s banshee vocals. And the fact that it passed Boston’s eponymous album for best selling debut really pisses me off.

I couldn't stand Mariah Carey. She had a great voice and incredible range but she would often times misuse that range and ruin a perfectly good song with all the unnecessary screeching. I mean just because you can, doesn't mean you should!

I was hoping he'd say Axl the whole time and when he did I was so happy to hear someone else felt my pain

Thank you for this video!! I felt the exact same way about Axl Rose, but I always felt like I was missing something.

On the flip side, my favorite rock singer has to be Steve Perry, so soothing to my ears. Love it

After watching a Chili Peppers video and then an interview with Anthony Keidis where he said " I never set out to be a singer", my Mom (80yrs.old) quipped "Who said you were?" 😅

Guns n roses are probably the only band in the world who have pulled out a 35+ year career on the strength of one album and one hit in the second.

Hey Michael, I can appreciate what you are conveying in this video. And I think you landed right on top of one of the undenyable aspects of having a successful rock band- and that is the importance of how well someone can sing, like hitting all the correct notes and all, can almost be forgotten by many fans as long as they make up for it in unique delivery, having their personality really shine through, and other things that make a bands front-man appealing. Alot of people used to say David Lee Roth was not a very good singer, but nobody ever said he was not top notch entertainer. -Cheers.

Thank you sir. I thought I was the only one. Axl Rose has one of the worst singing voices I've ever heard. He has a terrific vocal range but can't sing to save his life. He sounds like two cats mating.

One singer that always annoyed me to no end is Dave Mathew’s. Especially that Ants marching song. When I hear that “ He wakes up in the morning” opening line i can’t move fast enough to change the station.

“Is that guy singing, or being tortured?” One of my favorite quips

Thanks, fellow Axl-hater. His cover of "Live and Let Die" and, really the whole band's cover of "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" are crimes against humanity.

Dude just found your channel. Oh what a breath of fresh air you are. You say it like it is and the truth can sting but at the same time enlighten ...

I went to see Alice Cooper in 1987 and the warm up band was Guns and Roses. I hated it and sat down on my seat while everybody was standing on theirs and going crazy. Like you said, I cannot even evaluate the band's performance because of that individual who can't sing.

The world owes me an enormous debt of gratitude for never becoming a professional vocalist. I am bloody terrible.

From the first time I saw Axle, I thought he was Boy George on acid. Unlike George, Rose's voice drove me up ,down and sideways off the wall. Like a cat scratching a blackboard.

This is really good content! I just discovered you yesterday and have already watched about 4 of your videos.

I watched this video expecting to disagree with at least part of it, but after you named the singer, I agree 100%.

You summed up my disdain for Axle...and after I've heard his character flaws, I have a hard time understanding his fame.

Plant’s vocals on Led Zep 2 are the best recorded performance I have heard,even the production,using delay and reverb,the outro to Whole Lotta Love made them alot more than a standard rock band.Bonham wrote the book on rock drumming,Jones killer groove that fit like fish and chips,Page,need we say more,beautiful tone and Plant,incredible bluesy singer and the perfect front man with those long golden locks and stage presence.

This is totally off the subject, but...I'm enjoying the background music on your video! Where did you get it?

When my son was very little I told him that if he ever listens to Guns N’ Roses I can no longer be his father. He’s 28 now and still remembers when I said that!

I've felt the same way and have said it from the first time I heard him. His voice IS nails on a chalkboard to me.

Hilarious!! I’ve always thought that about Axl!! Great impersonation by the way!!!!

I also discovered Rod with the Jeff Beck Group, his voice was perfect for what they were doing. My brother bought "Truth" in '69 and hated it, he gave it to me and I still have it. There was a time that my absolute favorite record was my 45 of "Itchygoo Park"/"Tin Soldier", played it until it was one big scratch. The only GnR song I really like all that much is "Sweet Child" and not because of the vocals.

I thought I was the only one that felt this way. You nailed it on this one!!! Just say no to Axl Rose.

Thanks for the appreciation for Queen drummer Roger Taylor , he was great in his prime , he is still touring and sounding great !

Axl was the first name that popped into my mind when I saw this video. I could never get into their music. When Velvet Revolver formed in the mid-00's (basically Guns 'n Roses but with Scott Weiland as the singer) I found I really dug them. Sadly they didn't stick around for too long, their first album is great though.

Saw a Guns and Roses tribute band before the band we’d gone to see came on, some years ago here in Wales. The lead singer got so frenzied when imitating Axl Rose ( very well actually ) that he fell over backwards, slowly… whilst still screeching. He was fine and bounced back up but it was a great moment that I think gave us all hope that he might stop singing. No such luck. Other voices I can’t bear to listen to - from rock bands ? I can’t think of any others.

If you want to torture me, play Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You." It also drives me up the wall to hear singers of the national anthem who put extra syllables in one-syllable words. I mean, honestly, "brave" is a one-syllable word, not a five, six, seven, ten, twelve syllable word.

I literally turn the radio station when G n R comes on. Just because of Axl's voice.

Michael, you and I have something in common here... and I laughed as soon as the name left your mouth 🤣🤣. I was trying to guess who you were talking about when you were describing him eihout mentioning anything about him. I went like: "My pick would be Axl Rose." And just when you mentioned Axl aswell, I lost it 🤣🤣🤣. That's just way too funny.

lovely to see such honesty and taste in music , i agree with you wife on Rod , not a fan , but my top two that i hate are the Smiths and Oasis , loving this channel thank you

When I listen to Bonnie Tyler...I think she may be Rod Stewarts sister...

for me it is Maria Carey, some of those high notes that fans love literally hurt my ears. which is odd because an instrument hitting them doesn't (unless it's feedback, Ouch!!!) but when anyone does it vocally my ears literally ring and it causes sharp pain.

You are so right about Neil, I had to get used to his voice, now he's one of my top 5 artists.

A pleasure to have stumbled across you Squire

Just because Axl has an incredible range doesn't mean his voice is good.

My least favorite vocalist of all time would have to be The Smashing Pumpkins Billy Corgan. Ugh! His whiney temper tantrum style is simply grating to my ears. Yoko is down near the bottom of the barrel, whether one would even consider her a vocalist or nihilist performance artist is up for debate. There is absolutely nothing wrong with Rod's vocals. He's amazing on Beck's debut Truth. He's a super cool cat, to boot. He crashed a wedding once where he sang for the newlyweds just because he wanted to.

I was initially sure you must be talking about Robert Plant, and you wished you could enjoy Jimmy Page’s playing more often 😂

We need a 6 hour vid of Noland talking about Axl!

Axl taught the world a new way to say door in Knockin' on Heaven's Dohawah.

When you feel that a Bob Dylan vocal performance has been ruined by a remake…. ‘nuff said.

Dear Michael, best wishes from Germany! The Grateful Dead (Wake of the Flood - 1973) are one of my earliest musical experience. I am born in 1959. Thank you for this fine and channel.

Tom Fogerty as the one rock singer I can't stand. I’d also give Joe Cocker and Van Morrison dishonorable mention. By the way I agree with you on Axl Rose.

Axl Rose is like Dave Mustaine - both perfect for their respective bands, their voices are just not made for everyone. I personally love both, but I can see why they don't work for some.

Agree agree agree. Michael just discovered your channel and we have the same taste! They have 3 albums and made it into the RR Hall. They don’t deserve it…to me. Bands from the seventies earned it. Robert Plant has a beautiful soulful blues voice. When he was younger he pushed to too far..everyone did. Not many singers can go from Whole Lotta Love to Thank You to Ramble on in 1 album. He used different textures, timbres and colors to combine with the bands sound of each song. He changed often from song to song. He also has a terrific Elvis like baritone when jamming. I still believe he is underrated. His voice changed through the seventies with age and he transformed his singing. Axel…oh lord he is so bad and has sounded the same from day one. Like a cat getting electrocuted. No feel. No soul. He is not connected to the band or Slashes guitar. There is tension. Not good tension. Like he’s on his own…fck the band.

I deal with a lot of people either loving or hating my voice as a lead singer, so I know firsthand how subjective it is. But I am right there with you on Axl! He drives me nuts! haha

During the buildup I thought you were going to say Bon Jovi [whom I never could stand]. Although in a classical sense Axl does have a horrible voice but in context of his music his voice fits perfectly hence as you say sub par rock singers get a lot of leeway if they produce great songs. Geddy Lee is another example. His voice is odd but fits the music of Rush perfectly.

I'm new to your channel, Michael, but you are spot on about Axl Rose. I always felt like he sounded like a cat getting tortured, but I keep running into all these fans on social media that worship the guy. I don't get it. As for Rod Stewart, there is a great clip of him singing Gasoline Alley a cappella. If you can find it, show it to your wife. It may convince her to change her mind.

I was praying there was someone other than me who hated this singer. Love the band. But never could get past the horrible singing.

You should do a follow up on the slash/miles Kennedy sweet child o mine song. Which vocal do you prefer?

I wouldn't mind somebody calling me the worst singer at least they would be acknowledging that I was a singer

There are a few singers for sure , even ones considered to have a “great” voice that I just cannot stand. The first that comes to mind is EDDIE VEDDER…I just can’t listen to him at all, he is like a braying sheep…in a deep register! I mean WTF…. OK I am not a Geddy Lee fan as a vocalist he sounds like he inhaled helium before every track…but he is a marvelous musician….

Greatest voice in rock... Steve Mariott.

I totally agree with you about Axel Rose (and your wife about Rod Stewart!). Can I also add Willie Nelson to the list - a voice that really does sound like nails on a blackboard! Love all your videos,brilliant!

Mike ever here of the band "Cheeks" connected to Laurie Locklear, Heather's sister, and Motley Crüe, back in the day in Thousand Oaks Ca. You look familiar to me from those days?

I couldn't STAND Led Zeppelin for over a decade as a kid because I couldn't get past Robert Plant's voice. It wasn't until he put out his solo albums in the mid to late 1980s that I realized what a marvelous voice he had. It still took me a few years to revisit Led Zep's work and learn to appreciate it, but I consider myself a fan now. Had a similar experience with RUSH. Geddy Lee's VERY high voice grated on me and I couldn't get past it to the music underneath. This last for 20 years of my youth, but after listening to Neil Peart's drum work, I was able to process their music in a different light. That said, I will NEVER like Axl Rose's voice. Agree wholeheartedly on that.

I thought I was the only one! I have never understood the love for Axle Rose

Correction, Rod Stewart was never part of the Small Faces, he was part of the Faces, which was the evolution of the Small Faces. Steve Marriott was the singer of the Small Faces, Rod Stewart was the singer of the Faces.

Unless I'm mistaken, Rod was not with Small Faces - he sang for FACES after Small Faces disbanded.

FINALLY!!! Thank you for speaking my thoughts about Axl Rose!!!! I have felt that way since I first heard him!!!!

The only thing I can stand to hear him sing is “Welcome To The Jungle”, maybe because it’s a kickass rock and roll number in spite of him.

I agree with you to an extent. His voice is very whiny at times, but what’s your opinion on November Rain?

I heard you say "Right up there with Bob Tench". I replayed it to make sure I heard you right. Bob Tench is never mentioned. And he should be. Thanks for all you do.

One of my favourite memories of my Granny was when Guns n Roses came on TV and she said: "oh, he has a lovely voice, he'll ruin it singing like that"

I really like Robert Plant's song 'Big Log' from his solo career. This song has nice guitar work.

I put your assessment of Axel in Guns n Roses in the same league of David Lee Roth in Van Halen. They both have a great sound, what if they had better singers?

There is one whose voice is like nails on a chalkboard to me: Geddy Lee. I can't stand to hear it!

Steve Perry is another who annoys many people, but I think he’s one of the greatest vocalists in rock history…

Michael this is really a good conversation

Very accurate about Rod Stuart, well explained! I remember him in the small faces. I'm not very familiar with axel Rose, but would take your word for it.

I had to develop a filter going from my ear to brain to build up a tolerance for annoying vocal styles coming from certain singers who otherwise create great music (many of the ones mentioned). I can't tell tell how many singers have annoyed me over the years with otherwise good music. I just train myself to overlook the annoying parts.

I'm a painter, and I always felt, whenever I could bring myself to listen to that squawky voice of Roses', that you can have all the colours in the world on your palette, but if you don't have the instinct and ability to use them in conjunction with all of the other elements of pictorial construction, well, you might as well just throw it all on and hope for the best. Rose is like that. Throws everything into it every time--all the same tired, old frigging vocal tricks, and you're lucky if it sounds any good or any different to the last half dozen songs you've just heard him sing. Which is a shame, because the other band members are pretty awesome--mostly.

I'm impressed you mentioned Tench... he's got that bluesy voice that complements Beck's guitar so well! Also Robin Trower's singer that passed away was so underrated...forget his name, but you know who I mean! I just looked it up..James Dewar...just superb!!!

You briefly mentioned Neil Young at the beginning. I have a bi-polar relationship with his voice and music. His acoustic stuff… transcendent and perfect and beautiful. His electric everything? Mostly drives me crazy. I got to see Neil do an acoustic tour long ago, and it was AMAZING. But if he toured with Crazy Horse, I don’t think I would even go for free. An artist whose voice people hate that I fully get, but is one of my favorite singers? Billy Corgan. Man do people hate that voice, and I get that. To me its perfection, though. Great piece. Found your channel on the ‘backing tracks’ story… and so am now digging through your catalog.

I agree with you on Axel. I find some other overarrated too but today I am in a good mood and leave it like that! What do you think of Dio? Please let me know. Long live Rock n' Roll

There is a redeeming factor...when Slash was in Velvet Revolver with Scott Weiland...so if you are like "I gotta have me some Slash guitar playing, hold the Axl..."...you can always pull up that band...

Rod has real emotion in his voice. His chops are conveying feeling that the song was intended. Agree on Axl Rose. Jerk. Self important.

Just 'For The Record', and correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the term Soprano in relation to describing singing range is exclusive to the female. The male's counter part is Falsetto. Thank you.

Vocalists that lay it on thick, really. Thanks, you cracked me up too.

Maybe it’s an acquired taste? I thought durian smelled awful, but now I’m addicted, LOL. There are things of unique qualities that cannot be appreciated without first enduring some pain and discomfort. But once past that stage and when the appreciation finally kicks in, these things often tend to have longer lasting value. FYI I’m not an Axl fan, and to me Plant will always be THE greatest Rock singer without question. I also would like to thank you for your channel. I’m sick of those idiots who somehow think bashing Jimmy Page makes them look smart, and I find great comfort from your videos. I’ve also learned a great deal thanks to your generous sharing of the many insights on Zeppelin albums. Keep up the good work! Subscribed!

Wow!! I can’t even believe you named and spoke of each singer the same way I do, with the exception of Rod Stewart. I can’t stand him,either. But Axel drives me UP THE WALL!!!!

As I was sitting here listening to your video the only singer that came to mind for me was actually Axl Rose! I've hated his voice since the 1980s and never bought a single GNR album due to it. I do like some of their songs but his voice just irritates me to no end. I'd love to hear your thoughts about his time with AC/DC in a future video, then it again it might be better for the history of Rock and Roll if we just pretend that never happened.

Every Picture Tells a Story was to me the epitome of rock music. Rod's voice and that primeval drum sound was almost perfect. Then came the 80's.

Your assessment of Rose is spot on. Some people can fart in three ranges. That doesn't mean you want to hear it. Btw, he lost his admittedly impressive range decades ago.

I agree 100%. With that said, I'll add that I've somehow been able to tone Axle out and just listen to the rest of the band, don't know how to explain it. but, it helps me enjoy GNR music.

Hi there , why did you say rid Stewart was in the small faces , thanks from confused in New Zealand

I thought He was going to say Brian May was the best guitarist but He couldn't stand Freddys voice 😆

If you want to hear some of Slash’s best work from when he was at his peak without Axl’s voice in the mix, just listen to Lenny Kravitz’s 1991 album Mama Said! Slash’s opening riff for Always on the Run is up there with Welcome to the Jungle and Sweet Child O’ Mine, if you ask me!

We love your content definitely jointing the tribe

For years I could not listen to The Cure because of Robert Smith.

You nailed it w Axl Rose. Just think, the superb Bobby Tench sang back up vocals and some lead flourishes while in a band with THE best vocalist of them all--Steve Marriott.

While you were building up to your big reveal, everything you said totally called out Sting to my ears. I know lots of people think he's a great singer (not to mention bassist, band leader, and composer, on which I agree) but Sting's high-pitched vocals always sound like he's straining to reach the top of his range. I much prefer his soft-spoken ballads.

A friend of mine was a front of house engineer for many Rod Stuart shows. He said he always sang in tune but was one of the quietest singers he ever mixed. Was always a challenge when the band was loud.

OMG, I thought I was the only one! When I clicked the link I thought "Wouldn't it be a hoot if he says Axl Rose!!" HE DID!! 😂