I might get flamed here but..oh well. Have you ever thought you might not have the voice....might not be a good singer period? Singing can't really be learned like bass etc IMO its more of a natural talent. Oh, you can take voice lessions and improve a poor voice but some are made to sing some are ..not.
You also have to have the power behind you voice to project and carry for a whole show. I have seen good singers who could not do this no matter how hard they tried...they burned out or lost their voices. Doing the Slayer type vocals could even be worse due to the power and volume you must use and do it for a whole show or set.
There was allot of good advice here but playing and singing (good) is not as easy as some make it sound here... IMO. I am not saying dont try. If you have the time to give to practice etc then go for it. If not hire a singer and work on backing vocals.
I wouldn't dream of flaming anyone on TB.
I don't think I put my point across very well, what I really meant to say was why don't you both try singing. If you don't try you will never know if you can do it or not. I am not saying it will be easy, especially while playing bass but if you both have a mic then you both have the option.
I have been playing for 40+ years and only really started singing lead about 4 years ago, I share the lead with the guitarist who has been doing it for ever. I have sung backing vocals for years but lead is a whole new world.
I started when I decided to learn a bit of delta blues slide guitar and realised I needed a singer, there was only me! My son was home when I was practising once, his exact words were "Well your guitar playing is good but your vocals sound like your heart is not in them." I recorded myself and realised he was right, I was singing the right words and tune but with no conviction. So I set about to rectify it. I sang at every possible opportunity (when no-one was in ear shot) while driving when in the house on my own, whenever I could. Then I suggested a song for the band and the guitarist could not or did not want sing it, so I sang it myself. When I listened to the playback I sounded half decent. With a bit more practice it was a lot better. Now I sing about 20% of our numbers and really enjoy it.
I had a bizarre experience a few weeks ago. At a jam night I sang one of the numbers that I sing with my band but with the jamming musicians. They already had a bass player and only wanted a singer so I had nothing to do with my hands. Now I know why Joe Cocker waves his hands about all over when singing, he used to be a drummer. I ended up sticking them in my back pockets to stop them playing the song.
Sorry it's a bit long winded.
