100 Greatest High Pitched Rock Vocalists and Metal Vocalists
When that voice soars something deep within melts. Well, that’s exactly how you feel when you hear rock vocalists and metal vocalists pull out high notes from their vocal range. This article encompasses a list of the best high pitched rock vocalists and metal vocalists.
Vocalists in the rock and metal domain have left audiences speechless with their voices. High register vocals are popular in various sub genres of heavy metal. A number of vocalists in different genres of rock possess a high vocal range. However, it’s the overall tonal quality of the voice that is also of essential importance when you consider various aspects of high pitched vocals. If you are passionate about music you will know high register vocal parts are not easy to deliver, especially when performing live. Every vocalist has their sweet spot when delivering high notes in vocal parts.
Soaring with high notes is easy for many vocalists in the high register, however maintaining vocal timber, vocal weight, vocal transition point and vocal tessitura is only accomplished perfectly by few.
It’s not just the vocal range that determines the type of high pitched voice a vocalist has, diction, vocal timber and tessitura are the most important attributes to a vocalists high vocal range. Through the years of rock and metal, a number of vocalists have mesmerized listeners and audiences. The space below features an epic list of high pitched vocalists that have poetically melted the wax in listener’s ears with their vocal prowess. Many vocalists featured in this list have been part of different bands. This list also includes vocalists with high pitched falsettos. Consider this list as a celebration of incredible vocalists with range rather than an attempt at ranking.
Feel free to hit those high notes in the comments section.
100 Greatest High Pitched Rock and Metal Vocalists
Mentioned in brackets are the band/bands in which the vocalist gained major prominence
- Michael Matijevic (Steelheart)
- Rob Halford (Judas Priest)
- Steve Perry (Journey)
- Mark Boals (Royal Hunt, Yngwie Malmsteen, Ring of Fire)
- Michael Kiske (Heloween)
- Geoff Tate (Queensryche)
- James LaBrie (Dream Theater)
- Fabio Lione (Rhapsody Of Fire, Vision Divine, Ayreon, Labyrinth)
- Chris Cornell (Soundgarden)
- Andre Matos (Angra, Shaaman, Viper)
- King Diamond (King Diamond, Mercyful Fate, Black Rose)
- Russel Allen (Symphony X)
- Michael Sweet (Stryper)
- Eric Adams (Manowar)
- Ronnie James Dio (Dio)
- Damian Wilson (Threshold)
- Tim “Ripper” Owens (Judas Priest, Iced Earth)
- Klaus Meine (Scorpions)
- Roy Khan (Kamelot, Conception)
- Timo Kotipelto (Stratovarius)
- Jeff Buckley (Jeff Buckley)
- Lou Gramm (Foreigner)
- Warrel Dane (Nevemore, Sanctuary)
- Tony Harnell (TNT)
- Devin Townsend (Strapping Young Lad)
- Brad Delp (Boston)
- Oliver Hartmann (At Vance)
- Jorn Lande (Masterplan, Beyond Twilight)
- Lenny Wolf (Kingdome Come)
- Steve Walsh (Kansas)
- John Arch (Fates Warning)
- Russ Anderson (Forbidden)
- Daniel Heimen (Lost Horizon)
- Tommy Rogers (Between the Buried and Me)
- Kai Hansen (Gamma Ray, Helloween)
- Jon Anderson (Yes)
- Michele Lupi (Vision Divine)
- Cedric Bixler-Zavala (The Mars Volta)
- John Cyriis (Agent Steel)
- Ralph Scheepers (Primal Scream, Gamma Ray)
- Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth (Overkill)
- Bruce Dickenson (Iron Maiden)
- Phil Anselmo (Pantera)
- Sebastian Bach (Skid Row)
- Matt Barlow (Ashes of Ares, Pyramaze, Iced Earth)
- Eduardo Falaschi (Angra)
- David Coverdale (Whitesnake)
- Geddy Lee (Rush)
- Freddy Mercury (Queen)
- Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin)
- Ian Gillian (Deep Purple)
- Derek Shulman (Gentle Giant)
- Dennis De Young (Styx)
- Sean Peck (Cage)
- Harry “The Tyrant” Conklin (Jag Panzer)
- Dave Bickler (Survivor)
- Claudio Sanchez (Coheed & Cambria)
- John Arch (Fates Warning)
- David Surkamp (Pavlov’s Dog)
- Kyo (Dir en Grey)
- Messiah Marcolin (Candlemass)
- Jocaim Cans (Hammerfall)
- Ski (Deadly Blessing)
- James Rivera (Helstar)
- Joey Tempest (Europe)
- Tony Moore (Riot)
- Andre Matos (Viper, Angra)
- Tony Kakko (Sonata Arctica)
- Gharam Bonnet (Michael Schenker Group, Alcatrazz, Impellitteri)
- Keith Caputo (Life of Agony)
- Hansi Kursch (Blind Guardian)
- James Neal (Malice)
- Fredrik Ohlsson (Veni Domine)
- Henning Basse (Metalium)
- Tobias Sammet (Edguy)
- Mark Slaughter (Slaughter)
- Lance King (Pyramaze, Shining Star, Balance of Power)
- D.C. Cooper (Royal Hunt)
- Fish (Marillion)
- Carl Albert (Vicious Rumors)
- Jim Gilette (Nitro)
- Matthew Bellamy (Muse)
- Niklas Isfefldt (Dream Evil)
- Kip Winger (Winger)
- Olaf Hayer (Dionysus, Luca Turilli)
- Paul Rodgers (Free, Bad Company)
- Marc Hudson (DragonForce)
- David Byron (Uriah Heep)
- Francesco Di Giacomo (Banco del Mutuo Soccorso)
- Nikola Mijic (Eden’s Curse)
- Roger Hodgson (Supertramp)
- Dan McCafferty (Nazareth)
- Myles Kennedy (Alter Bridge)
- Eric Martin (Mr Big)
- Luri Sanson (Hibria)
- Andrew Stockdale (Wolfmother)
- Neil Turbin (Anthrax, DeathRiders)
- ZP Theart (DragonForce)
- Layne Staley (Alice In Chains)
- Andrea Stoltz (Hollow)