Some of my favorites have already been mentioned:
Motorhead - Lemmy
X - John Doe (part-time lead singer)
The Cars - Benjamin Orr (part-time lead singer)
and of course the Beatles - Paul McCartney (part-time lead singer)
Some other favorites:
Beach Boys - Brian Wilson (part-time lead singer)
Teenage Fanclub - Gerard Love (part-time lead singer)
deep down in the vaults wrote:
Cream - Jack Bruce
Benny Orr - The Cars
Thin Lizzy - Phil Lynott
Mountain - Felix Pappalardi
Geddy. End of discussion
TB Player wrote:
Aussie Observer wrote:
The Cure
The Cure is a great band, and Simon Gallup is a great bass player, but I'm not aware that he's ever sung a single word on a Cure song.
Mike Dempsey got drunk and covered Foxy Lady on the first Cure record.
He probably lost a bet.
Geelong runner wrote:
Geddy. End of discussion
Yes, the less said about Mr Balls in a Vise, the better.
Netanyahole wrote:
Morphine. Mark Sandman one of the most inventive of bass players. Left us way too soon.
Great band, should have received more notoriety when playing (and even more these days).
Thin Lizzy
Geelong runner wrote:
Geddy. End of discussion
Sting/Police way better.
Neil Peart is the musician that is the heart of Rush.
Nick Lowe used to be primarily a bass player and still a helluva a singer. Brinsely Schwarz. Rockpile. Probably hasn't picked up the bass in years.
KIM CHEE wrote:
Sonic youth (Kim Gordon)
Pixies (Kim Deal)
They got their own songs where they sang lead, but they were not really the LEAD singer, so probably they don't qualify.
That's all I got.
+1 to (early) Sonic Youth / Kim Gordon. One of the most singular voices in rock music. I can't think of any other
Caio Brentar of the band "Died"
The Church for sure.
The Outfield - Tony Lewis
Netanyahole wrote:
John Doe of X deserves a mention. Not that there are any flies on Exene. X at their best when the two of them actually duet and harmonize together.
I would say Rush before even opening the thread. But im glad i did. John Doe yes.
My man “Slam” Stewart “sang” while he played upright base—and he was excellent doing so!
jamese1045 wrote:
My man “Slam” Stewart “sang” while he played upright base—and he was excellent doing so!
I know it’s “bass”
Slayer
The two difficult things about the question are"
1) What does it mean to be "the" lead singer? Does that mean The Beatles are included in consideration, or any of the other bands with part-time bassist/lead singers?
2) How do you what to measure "greatest" band? By record sales? Number of #1 or top 100 hits?
Assuming The Beatles are included, the thread is done because who could be "greater" than them with any reasonable metric?
1. The Beatles with Paul McCartney
2. Beach Boys with Brian Wilson
3. Chicago with Peter Cetera
King Crimson. All iterations.
Sunflower Bean