Great Bands That Would Be Better If They Had A Better Singer

[The Beatles]

Wow, no love for Rush. Sold out shows every time I've seen them in Chicago, and Geddy is always in key and sings the whole show no problem (while playing his bass and the keyboards). What more can you ask for?
Also, STEVE PERRY? Are you serious? Journey was a struggling band (although a good one) until Steve joined, so he took over (as the better singer LOL) for Gregg Rollie and turned them into a mega success. Their new singers add nothing special. I sure as hell wouldn't pay to see them live. It just shows Steve isn't so easily replaceable!
I think successful bands have singers that are part of a larger puzzle, and they sing as themselves and are not trying to be something they aren't (like a lot of singers nowadays). I could argue Mick Jagger is a bad technical singer but he fits perfectly with the Stones as their frontman. Same thing with Bob Dylan, he sings out of tune and slurs his speech. But his music is great because he is himself. All because his singing gets on my nerves sometimes doesn't mean he would've been better bringing in a better technical singer while he sat back and played guitar/harmonica.
I think mega successful bands that have been brought up in this thread (Styx, Maiden, Journey, AC/DC, etc) would not have been successful if their frontmen sucked monkeybutt and weren't unique in some shape or form. (I think their frontmen kick(ed) some serious butt) I think a personal taste of not liking a particular singer doesn't mean they would be better with a different one. I guess that's why I can't think of any for the question at hand.

If a rush came anywhere near my city, id go see them without a second thought.

 

[Flower]

Steve Perry hasn't been in Journey for over ten years and they have done 4 studio albums since he left. Not to mention the three singers they have gone through since Perry

That proves how much Steve Perrry's voice bothered me .. I just tuned them out years ago and have no interest in them.

 

[taha]

Another band mention is Priest, when Rob left they blew so bad so that they all knew they had to get back together, 2 lp's w/ out Rob was way to long.
One pick I do agree w/ is AC/DC, time for a younger guy to step up......

 

[joe]

Though not a great band, 70's UK proggers Gnidrolog had some musical talent, that awful vocalist just destroyed the whole ambience.

 

[Cosmic Harmony]

STEVE PERRY? Are you serious? Journey was a struggling band (although a good one) until Steve joined, so he took over (as the better singer LOL) for Gregg Rollie and turned them into a mega success. Their new singers add nothing special. I sure as hell wouldn't pay to see them live. It just shows Steve isn't so easily replaceable!

Don't write off Arnel Pineda so quickly. I've seen Journey with him at the helm and he puts on a fantastic show. Yes, he sings almost exactly like Steve but Arnel has much more energy and showmanship than Steve ever did, all while having the pipes to back it up. As a frontman I him over Steve in fact.

 

[Fever]

How can a great band need a better lead singer?
Maybe a good band would need one but if you are great,I wouldn't think so.But hey that's just me.

 

[Cosmic Harmony]

How can a great band need a better lead singer?
Maybe a good band would need one but if you are great,I wouldn't think so.But hey that's just me.

Agreed. That's why I've not listed anyone.

 

[METALPRIEST]

I can't think of anyone off hand. I love Geddy Lee, Bruce, Brian, Steve and many others listed. I find Arnel to be a good singer in Journey as well but coming from a cover band....he was able to sing just like him...like a a comedic impressionist is able to do celebrity sound alikes in their stand up acts.

Without Steve Perry and the groundwork he laid, as well as the voice to copy...Arnel would not be in the position he is in right now.

 

[Cosmic Harmony]

I'd like to believe Arnel is perhaps in one of those "students surpassing the master" sort of situations.

 

[METALPRIEST]

Yeah I guess....but not in the sense of a certain style or genre...Steves voice was important enough to where Journey could not afford having someone (or Arnel) sound all together different and still make it sound good or acceptable to the audience.

Surpassing the master would be (to me) the same style of powerful singing done with a different voice all together and creating something new from it.