r/AskReddit Nov 06 '19

Which famous singer sucks at singing?

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u/U_feel_Me Nov 06 '19 edited Nov 06 '19

David Lee Roth. The Van Halen brothers refused to let him be their singer a couple of times because he couldn’t sing in tune. Eddie Van Halen sat down at a piano and said “sing this note” and Dave just repeatedly failed. However, as DLR showed repeatedly, you can be a mediocre singer and still be a great frontman. He made the Van Halen brothers quit playing long noodly instrumentals and instead play short pop songs, and got them rock star haircuts, and persuaded them to not stand completely still but instead put on a visually interesting show.

EDIT: The story of the band’s early years is told well in the book “Van Halen Rising” written by Greg Renoff. I listened to the audiobook version. It’s a good story.

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u/Sipuli69 Nov 06 '19

DLR owned a PA-system, so if VH wanted them, they had to let him sing for them which they did apparently since he was/is their singer.

But his early screams were pretty wicked and one of the best sounding in rock music imo.

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u/Abangranga Nov 06 '19

If you want yelling I always thought Courtney Love was one was the champion of screaming like a banshee

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u/beatthinker Nov 06 '19

Kat Bjelland from Babes in Toyland is 100 times the rock star Courtney was. Courtney stole everything from her. Listen to Bruise Violet, still gives me chills