best backing vox in rock?

[jnurp]

I think many people take the art of backing vox for granted, they add so much depth and dimension to songs. They can make a good song great imo. So this thread is a tribute to the unsung heros of song, the backing vocalist who also is 99% of the time playing an instrument which makes his/her job even more complicated in the band.

#1 imo is Michael Anthony
Nuno
Jerry Cantrell
Richie Sambora

There are tons of great answers here.

I dont know the dynamics of the Beach Boys but that is certainly a perfect example, as are the EAgles. Probably the two bands with the most amazing backing harmonies ever.

[JerEvil]

Oh man for sure Jerry C!

I'll go:

Jerry Cantrell
Chris DeGarmo
KISS (Yes, I mean it)
Jason Bieler (spelling?)

[Ostinato Rubato]

Lucia Cifareli


though she takes lead on some songs

[MacaroniSalad]

Michael Anthony is a front runner for sure.

Nuno and Pat from Extreme are also hard to beat...

[Stratsouldier]

I know they're not considered "rock" but David Crosby and Graham Nash are pretty awesome when they get together.

[Loop Bizkit]

Nuno
Ty Tabor

[jnurp]

oh jer how could I forget Jason Bieler..I loved SAigon Kick especially the album WAter because he was the lead vocalist but yeah those first two albums he was outrageous on the backing vox.

[Ry Manchu]

The Band
The Beatles
The Beach Boys
The Bee Gees
Fleetwood Mac
The Eagles
Sly and the Family Stone
The Neville Brothers
The Isley Brothers
The Jackson 5
The Black Crowes
Spandau Ballet
Heart
Def Leppard
Styx
INXS
The National
The Screaming Trees
Oasis
Avenged Sevenfold
Tegan and Sara
Split Enz
Arcade Fire
The Cars
The Who
Barenaked Ladies
311
BTO
BOC
Buffalo Springfield
Badfinger
The Clash
Dance Gavin Dance
Depeche Mode
The Doobie Brothers
Fugazi
Gomez
Gorillaz
Hollywood Undead
Human League
Jesus & Mary Chain
Jefferson Airplane
Lacuna Coil
Level 42
Nightwish
Night Ranger
Parquet Courts
Pink Floyd
The Prodigy
Sisters of Mercy
Slightly Stoopid
Simon & Garfunkel
Squeeze
Supertramp
Tears for Fears
They Might be Giants
Traffic
Veruca Salt
XTC
ZZ Top
Cream
Chicago
Atreyu
Blink 182
Pixies
Low
Of Monsters and Men
My Bloody Valentine
Grouplove
Silversun Pickups
Rilo Kiley
Belle & Sebastian
Fitz & the Tantrums
Roxette
Skillet
Against Me
Kylesa
The Grateful Dead
Genesis
Toad the Wet Sprocket
REM
Indigo Girls
Phish
Savatage
Massive Attack
The Weepies
Husker Du

[Mood Sphinx]

Michael Anthony hands down

[Reverse Entropy]

Michael Anthony has STILL got the range and power even 35 years later.

Richie Kotzen deserves honorable mention, he's always had an amazing voice even in his shred days.

Jonathan Cain of Journey - range, power and a consistent talent for decades under heavy tour schedules. He trains his ass off, too.

Tommy Shaw - despite a hard intervening period, he still "hits those notes that got me the job," and really sounds as good as ever.

[JerEvil]

Michael Anthony has STILL got the range and power even 35 years later.

Richie Kotzen deserves honorable mention, he's always had an amazing voice even in his shred days.

Jonathan Cain of Journey - range, power and a consistent talent for decades under heavy tour schedules. He trains his ass off, too.

Tommy Shaw - despite a hard intervening period, he still "hits those notes that got me the job," and really sounds as good as ever.

Man how did I forget Shaw??? I sing his parts all the time in one of the projects I am in!

[fretless]

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HagmKBLVnio[/video]

[overdrivenel34s]

The two that come to mind immediately besides John, Paul and George of the Beatles on backing and harmony vocals they've sang are:
Jerry Cantrell
Nancy Wilson

[Reverse Entropy]

Thanks for posting that video Fretless - some legendary talent there. Some of that singing gave me chills.

[benjamin801]

John Frusciante's backing vocals have been the only remotely good thing about the RHCP for two decades and counting. And it's odd, because I think he's a terrible lead vocalist.

[fretless]

Thanks for posting that video Fretless - some legendary talent there. Some of that singing gave me chills.

right ! they took some good songs and made them masterpieces . They are the best of the best .

[Ostinato Rubato]

Thanks for posting that video Fretless - some legendary talent there. Some of that singing gave me chills.

right ! they took some good songs and made them masterpieces . They are the best of the best .

Yes and on this note Marley's backup girls were also awesome and really made a lot of the songs feel complete.



[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgRm1ISlw_A[/video]

[GuitarBilly]

#1 is Queen and it's not even close.

[RIFF]

Styx was pretty great, one of my faves.
Eagles were probably the best at it tho, IMO.


HAHA yes, how didnt I think of queen...

[Ostinato Rubato]

Styx was pretty great, one of my faves.
Eagles were probably the best at it tho, IMO.


HAHA yes, how didnt I think of queen...

IMO Queen doesn't count. Freddy layered himself mostly.

['63-Strat]

I know they're not considered "rock" but David Crosby and Graham Nash are pretty awesome when they get together.

Don't forget Steven Stills Crosby is much better as a backing vocalist than a lead vocalist tho, agreed.

[RIFF]

Styx was pretty great, one of my faves.
Eagles were probably the best at it tho, IMO.


HAHA yes, how didnt I think of queen...

IMO Queen doesn't count. Freddy layered himself mostly.

True, there was a lot of that, especially in Bohemian & some of those that sounded like they had a full chorus singing, but May & Taylor did some nice backups.

[Telephant]

I know they're not considered "rock" but David Crosby and Graham Nash are pretty awesome when they get together.

Don't forget Steven Stills Crosby is much better as a backing vocalist than a lead vocalist tho, agreed.

Don't forget Steven Stills awful ass guitar tone. Fuck. He damn near ruined Super Sessions with that shit.

['63-Strat]

I know they're not considered "rock" but David Crosby and Graham Nash are pretty awesome when they get together.

Don't forget Steven Stills Crosby is much better as a backing vocalist than a lead vocalist tho, agreed.

Don't forget Steven Stills awful ass guitar tone. Fuck. He damn near ruined Super Sessions with that shit.

Agreed there.

[Telephant]

Don't get me wrong, Stills is the shit. But every time that record pops up I'm like damn... Especially the version of Season of the Witch.. Then you hear the live version with Bloomfield and its no contest. Although the album version has a killer horn part.