Replacement lead singers you like better than the original lead singer

[Willie G. Moseley]

There've been some spirited discussions at times about lead singers in famous rock bands who were replaced (for various reasons). And there are some replacements who have a lot more time in grade than the original, to the point that the replacement singer is permanently associated (in many fans' minds) with the band.

Talking points:

1. Bon Scott vs. Brian Johnson arguments have probably fisticuffs at times.

2. Lawrence Gowan is in the same vocal range as Dennis DeYoung, but Gowan has a grittier voice, and I like him better.

3. Roth, Hagar or Cherone?

4. Kevin Cronin wasn't the original lead singer for REO Speedwagon

5. etc.

[cmatthes]

Robin Zander in Cheap Trick after Xeno.

[cynic]

Phil Anselmo in Pantera

Bruce Dickinson in Iron Maiden (another Ford/Chevy type debate)

Adam Lambert in Queen after Freddy Mercury

[BlueRedWhite]

Adam Lambert in Queen after Freddy Mercury

Yup, run and hide baby

[Sugartune]

Can't say any of the bands I have or do listen to have done that, outside of Alice in Chains.

Layne Staley was better to me than the new guy, William DuVall.

[zorrow]

+1 for Bruce Dickinson in Iron Maiden. Paul Di'Anno wasn't bad, but Dickinson raised the game of the band to another level.

Ray Alder in Fates Warning. Before him there was John Arch. The funny thing is that Arch has a more original style than Alder, but the later gave more depth to the sound of the band, IMHO.

Joe Lynn Turner in Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force. After Jeff Scott Soto and Mark Boals, the more melodic voice of JLT gave a lot of more color to YJM's music. To me the "Odyssey" remains the pinnacle of their respective careers.

Russell Allen in Symphony X. Don't even remember the name of the singer on their first album. Allen is at the very top of the pile of modern metal singers.

Graham Bonnet in Michael Schenker Group. "Assault Attack" sounds awesome in big part thanks to him.

Graham Bonnet in Impellitteri. The first EP with Rob Rock on vocals sounded great, but man that "Stand in Line" album with Bonnet is like the resurrection of Alcatrazz. Loved it!

Coburn Pharr in Annihilator. There was Randy Rampage in "Alice In Hell", and he did fit the style. But "Never Neverland " benefited from a new singer who could sing. He had it all and was also right for the prog-thrash they were playing at the time.

[BlueRedWhite]

I have to add: Dio in any cover with Maalsteem and in any song he did outside BS and Rainbow

I'm thinking of "Love is All" with Deep Purple

[dragan]

since I couldnt think of anyone/ band . My $.02 on the OP

1 Bon scott vs Brian johnson .I dont care either one is ok

2 Lawrence Gowan vs Dennis DeYoung . anybodys better than Dennis De Young ( his voice is like fingernails on a blackboard to me )

3 Roth vs Hagar vs Cherone . Roth ( to me its not Van Halen with anyone else )

4 Kevin Cronin vs Terry Lutrell, or Mike Murphy . my preferences 1 Terry Lutrell 2 Mike Murphy 3 Not Kevin Cronin

[Biz Prof]

Some of it is evolutionary. Re: Bon vs. Brian (AC/DC) and Paul vs. Bruce (Maiden); both were the proper vocalists, stylistically, for the respective eras of those two bands. Bruce wouldn't have sounded right on Killers, and I think most would agree that Paul's style simply didn't fit the mid-1980s version of Maiden. AC/DC was a rougher sounding, less-polished band with Bon. Brian came on board just as Mutt was really shaping their 1980s sound.

As for VH, I'm firmly planted in the DLR camp, even though he's often manifested himself as the crown prince of asshattery. VH gradually evolved into a band in which I had little interest, and Sammy rode that transition into pop stardom successfully. That's great for Sammy and the guys, but there's a reason I've (and I'm sure many others have) owned and worn out multiple copies of VH1 through 1984, yet never purchased any VH recordings beyond 5150.

As for Styx, I like the mid/late '70s version of Styx that included DeYoung, but Tommy Shaw and JY were the forces that made that band appealing to me. Dennis taking a hike in pursuit of Broadway success was, in hindsight, a good move for both parties. Gowan has more than competently handled Dennis' parts.

Truth be told, I like Ronnie Dio better than John Osborne in Sabbath; but then, I was never a huge Sabbath fan.

Steve Perry had a nice run as a replacement singer in Journey, as did Cronin in REO Speedwagon.

[zorrow]

Now the following two will sound contradictory, but that's the way I really see it:

Michael Kiske in Helloween. Kiske replaced Kai Hansen on vocals, so Hansen could focus entirely on the guitar. Thanks to this move, the book on how to sing Euro power metal was written by Kiske on the two "Keeper" albums. After those, the world would never be the same again.

Kai Hansen in Gamma Ray. Hansen recruited vocalist Ralf Scheepers when he formed Gamma Ray after his own departure from Helloween. Scheepers had a great voice, but somehow the band was in need of a stronger identity -the Kiske influence was maybe too evident? When Scheepers left and Hansen took on the mic duties, his rawer-but-still-melodic voice was the perfect fit to their style, plus the natural evolution from the early Helloween sound (which had Hansen on vocals).

[Ting Ho Dung]

Arnel Pineda is way better than that other ferry.

[Tres Aardvarks]

Mike Patton replacing Chuck Mosley in Faith No More...

As evidence: Chuck:

Mike(and not even his best work but a helluva lot better than Chuck):

Ah hell, why not?

[Steve Haynie]

Adam Lambert in Queen after Freddy Mercury

Yup, run and hide baby

Pitchforks are being sharpened to extreme pointedness right now.

[Disturber]

I like Bon Scott better than Dave Evans in AC/DC. That's a replacement singer for ya´!

[Nathan of Brainfertilizer Fame]

I liked Tommy Shaw better than John Curulewski (tho JC did have a few good songs...but he went in directions that didn't fit the band).

I'm surprised to see 2 Styx references before me. What, did Styx become acceptable/not a punch line all of a sudden?

[Sugartune]

Regarding VH, it's Sammy for me, but that's only because I wasn't aware of Van Halen until Crystal Pepsi came out (man, I miss that. Actually did like it). Right Now!

All in all, they aren't my thing. Can appreciate EVH, but it ain't my style no matter who the fronting puppet is.

[unfun75]

That little guy that replaced Steve Perry.

[elduave]

I think I may have liked Rhett Forrester better than Guy Speranza, but it's hard to say.

Absolutely like Dio better than Ozzy.

5150 had such a huge impact on me that I could say that I preferred Sammy over Dave, but that's way hard to say as well.

[princeofdarkness56]

To turn it around a little bit, I can name a replacement singer that killed a band. Certainly not financially, but Michael McDonald ripped the nuts off the Doobie Brothers.

[Jeff R]

DLR is Van Halen, sorry.

AC/DC is a toss-up, both in great ways. I'll say the same for Steve Perry versus Arnel in Journey.

But my first thought when I ready the title of the thread was Myles Kennedy replacing Scott Stapp. So much for the better.

[diablo175]

+ 1 on DLR being VH. Sammy was okay but DLR was the man and the magic show-wise.

AC/DC is and always be Bon Scott. BJohnson was great on the first two but it went down hill fast after that IMO.

Kennedy over Stapp any day of the week and twice on Sundays.

Dio over Ozzy but just barely. Sure Dio could sing circles around him and Oz oft times looked like a one-trick buffoon on stage BUT Oz knew how to gather some serious talent around him and oft-times came up with some real amazing material, even if it was 99% attributable to the team pulling the Ozzy meat wagon.

Ripper Owens was NOT a better front man for Judas Priest. Period.

Joey Belladonna was better than Neil Turbin and John Bush was better than both fronting Anthrax, IMO.

John Corabi was NOT a better replacement for Vince Neil in the Crue

Mark Tornillo is NOT a better replacement for Udo Dirkschneider in Accept.

[atquinn]

To turn it around a little bit, I can name a replacement singer that killed a band. Certainly not financially, but Michael McDonald ripped the nuts off the Doobie Brothers.

Gonna have to go oppo on that one. Original DB is good, but DB as Michael McDonald backing group is even better. But then, I love me some Michael McDonald.

-

Austin

[Nathan of Brainfertilizer Fame]

Jimi Jamison was an improvement over Dave Bickler.

[polara]

I'll jump on the Dio over Ozzy side. Sabbath was great, but Dio gave them a real energy they had lost. I think Mob Rules is a really under appreciated album, and Heaven and Hell was great, too.

I haven't even heard of most of these other bands, and know nothing about Styx, sorry.

[Brooks]

ian gillian over rod evans in deep purple!

but for me personally, *NOT*

dio over ozzy

hagar over roth
forrester over sperranza

brian over bon...

PS - ...even tho technically dio & hagar were better vocalists, i prefer the originals sound and tunes.