Is it weird that the drummer is also the singer?

[Chrisk-K]

Ever heard of a guy named Don Henley?

 

[elgecko]

With all this Levon Helm talk, here's The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down from The Last Waltz...still gives me chills!

YouTube - The Last Waltz - The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.mpg

 

[spaz21387]

my drummer sings lead vocals the guitarist does back up i dont even want a mic infront of me because i knock it over with my bass or i like to go wireless and jump down to the floor and pump up the crowd.

 

[prd004]

Don Henley, yes but the Eagles also have Glen Fry, Joe Walsh, and Timothy B Schmidt all sing lead as well, plus Glenn Fry does a lot of it so Henly is not "THE" lead singer, although he hanles quite a load! Somebody else mentioned Ringo, I hope that was a joke!

Don't worry you're not the only one who doesn't like it, I think it removes the element of having a frontman in your band which is important! My brother and I have a band and our singer is both an excellent singer and a very good drummer too, but the band voted to get someone else on drums and have our singer be in front. It took some resolve because drummers are scarse in Seattle, and we had to search for a while but the end result was worth it! Now we have two great musicians instead of one and our stage show is better as a result!

 

[bluewine]

Genesis, Grand Funk Railroad...

Didn't Mark Farner sing lead and play lead guitar on most of the Grand Funk Rail Road songs?

 

[bluewine]

I think (actually I know) Denis Wilson , Beach Boys drummer sang lead on some songs.

Thing is you guys have mentioned alot of famous bands that had drummers singing some if not all lead vocals.

Here is somrthing else. even though those are great bands and great singing

At the end of the day, having a drummer sing lead still seems weird and looks weird.

blue

 

[bluewine]

Audiences like to see a front man, and when the front man is confined to a stationary spot in the back of the stage and covered by a bunch of huge gear, it hurts the overall visual. It's cool in the scenario where it's backup vocals or the occasional song, but a lead singing drummer for the whole set?

+1

blue

 

[kawika5150]

Anyone ever heard of a speed metal band in the 80's called Exciter? Their drummer (Dan Beehler) was the singer. Three man band. I could never figure how he could go apes**t on the skins and sing (with pretty good range, I might add) at the same time.

 

[TC2112]

Again - I present Jellyfish. Stand-up, right up front drummer with a GREAT voice (sang lead on everything) and very solid chops -
YouTube - Jellyfish - New Mistake

 

[Joe Gress]

Melvins - Two drummers and they both sing, but only backup vocals. Still amazing to hear four part harmony screams though.

Death From Above 1979 - The drummer is the lead singer all of the time.

 

[drewfunk]

In my old band our drummer was the lead singer, and he was damn good at both!

 

[Drop-D]

On a modern metal note:

Brandon Saller, Atreyu's drummer, does lead clean vocals. I saw them live a couple summers ago. He does a great job.

 

[Epitaph04]

I know this forum hates him, but Mike Portnoy would do a lot of backing vox during DT's shows. He did pretty good with most of them, especially in the last few years. He really improved from when he first started out doing them.

 

[Big John66]

The drummer from Night Ranger sang lead. His kit was setup far stage left, pointing across the stage, so he could sing while looking over his left shoulder at the crowd. Good drummer and a good singer. I just never liked any of their tunes.

 

[p-lo]

Cowboy Mouth is another example of a band where the drummer is without a doubt the lead singer.

 

[Jhengsman]

When they made Funk,before they made their pop move Walter (Clyde) Orange of The Commodores shared lead duties with Lionel Ritchie. He sang lead on their breakout hit Brick House. As a front-man they needed someone else so a second drummer was hired to tour and Clyde and Ritchie tag teamed the song in concert.

 

[lomky]

Satanic Surfers

 

[Stumbo]

I want to request we bring in a new singer, but don't want to hurt feelings. The drummer is a GREAT drummer , but a so-so singer, probably b/c he's trying to do both at the same time.

Make some recordings and see if the rest of the band agrees with you.

 

[Oopsdabassist]

My current covers band has drummer singer, he is the only one good enough to carry off lead vocals, not ideal, but hey we get em dancin' I do some backing vocals, so end up being the focal point I guess, just an excuse for my antics lol!

 

[hrodbert696]

I just saw a Genesis concert on TV recently and Phil Collins was singing the whole time, not playing drums at all, some other guys was drumming.

Collins has some serious health issues with his arms and can't drum any more. He played and sang ever since Peter Gabriel left, and through the 80s.

Hey, and who could forget Night Ranger?