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Robert Plant voted rock's greatest voice

New poll salutes veteran screechers

Michael Leonard, Sun 4 Jan 2009, 3:04 pm UTC

Robert Plant

Robert Plant - rock's greatest voice?

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Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant has been voted the greatest voice in rock by listeners of DAB radio station Planet Rock.

The singer beat Queen's Freddie Mercury, Free's Paul Rodgers and Deep Purple's Ian Gillan to the top spot in the UK poll. Plant scored just under 10 per cent of the total vote.

"Thirty-two of the Top 40 are still performing today," notes Planet Rock, "while the youngest entrant in the list is former Soundgarden and Audioslave frontman Chris Cornell who made the list at number 39.

"And the only female representation in the top 40 is Janis Joplin, who is at number 21. Stevie Nicks and Grace Slick fell just short of the list."

It's about as 'classic' as classic rock can be, then.

The full Top 40 is:

1. Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin)
2. Freddie Mercury
(Queen)
3. Paul Rodgers
(Free/Bad Company)
4. Ian Gillan
(Deep Purple)
5. Roger Daltrey
(The Who)
6. David Coverdale
(Whitesnake)
7. Axl Rose
(Guns N' Roses)
8. Bruce Dickinson
(Iron Maiden)
9. Mick Jagger
(The Rolling Stones)
10. Bon Scott
(AC/DC)
11. David Bowie
12. Jon Bon Jovi
(Bon Jovi)
13. Steven Tyler
(Aerosmith)
14. Jon Anderson
(Yes)
15. Bruce Springsteen
16. Steve Perry
(Journey)
17. Ozzy Osbourne
(Black Sabbath)
18. Bono
(U2)
19. Peter Gabriel
20. James Hetfield
(Metallica)
21. Janis Joplin
22. Brian Johnson (AC/DC)
23. Roger Chapman
24. Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzy)
25. Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple)
26. Joe Cocker
27. Jim Morrison (The Doors)
28. Alex Harvey (SAHB)
29. Alice Cooper
30. Ronnie James Dio (Dio, Black Sabbath)
31. Sammy Hagar (Van Halen, solo)
32. Meat Loaf
33. Rob Halford (Judas Priest)
34. Geddy Lee (Rush)
35. Biff Byford (Saxon)
36. David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
37. Fish (Marillion)
38. Dave Lee Roth (Van Halen, solo)
39. Chris Cornell (Soundgarden, Audioslave, solo)
40. Neil Young

Here's Robert Plant with Led Zeppelin, playing Communication Breakdown way back in 1969.

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User comments (1)

  • acedrums

    Avatar for acedrums

    44 weeks ago.

    pah...a lot of generic shite in here. here are my favourites -
    1)Eddie Vedder - more passion and conviction in his voice than any of those on the list.
    2)Chris Cornell - Shite now but just listen to Temple Of The Dog. Amazing voice.
    3)Axl Rose - None more original, gritty and rock n roll
    4)Steven Tyler - Just amazing...still is too
    5)Robert Plant
    6)Tim Buckley - Maybe better than his son.
    7)Steve Marriot
    8)Janis Joplin
    9)Matt Bellamy
    10)Thom Yorke.

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