best backing vox in rock?
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best backing vox in rock?
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.
#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.
amps:
Boss Katana 50
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THR10
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Boss Katana 50
Mesa boogie single recto
THR10
Zoom G5N
tunes: http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default ... tent=music
http://www.soundcloud.com/jnurp
Re: best backing vox in rock?
Oh man for sure Jerry C!
I'll go:
Jerry Cantrell
Chris DeGarmo
KISS (Yes, I mean it)
Jason Bieler (spelling?)
I'll go:
Jerry Cantrell
Chris DeGarmo
KISS (Yes, I mean it)
Jason Bieler (spelling?)
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Re: best backing vox in rock?
Lucia Cifareli 
though she takes lead on some songs

though she takes lead on some songs
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Re: best backing vox in rock?
Michael Anthony is a front runner for sure.
Nuno and Pat from Extreme are also hard to beat...
Nuno and Pat from Extreme are also hard to beat...
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Re: best backing vox in rock?
I know they're not considered "rock" but David Crosby and Graham Nash are pretty awesome when they get together.
Go make me a drinky poo
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Re: best backing vox in rock?
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.
amps:
Boss Katana 50
Mesa boogie single recto
THR10
Zoom G5N
tunes: http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default ... tent=music
http://www.soundcloud.com/jnurp
Boss Katana 50
Mesa boogie single recto
THR10
Zoom G5N
tunes: http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default ... tent=music
http://www.soundcloud.com/jnurp
Re: best backing vox in rock?
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
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
A - A
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Re: best backing vox in rock?
Michael Anthony hands down
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Re: best backing vox in rock?
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.
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.
“Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity."(Hanlon's Razor)
"rock enough that I don't drown in ... jazz ennui" - draelyc
"...you realize that absolutely nothing happens when you get butthurt, right?
You know you're not going to go home and immediately have cancer, right?" - Steinmetzify
"rock enough that I don't drown in ... jazz ennui" - draelyc
"...you realize that absolutely nothing happens when you get butthurt, right?
You know you're not going to go home and immediately have cancer, right?" - Steinmetzify
Re: best backing vox in rock?
Reverse Entropy wrote: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!
_____________________________________________________
I have some gear and junk...
Like Coffee? Like Pedals and amps? Like General Jackassery???
Check out "Dunky's N' Demos at:
https://dunkysndemos.com
https://www.youtube.com/c/JeremyVarao
I have some gear and junk...
Like Coffee? Like Pedals and amps? Like General Jackassery???
Check out "Dunky's N' Demos at:
https://dunkysndemos.com
https://www.youtube.com/c/JeremyVarao
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Re: best backing vox in rock?
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HagmKBLVnio[/video]
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"Stand up for what you believe in even if you are standing alone"
― Sophie Scholl
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Re: best backing vox in rock?
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
Jerry Cantrell
Nancy Wilson
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Re: best backing vox in rock?
Thanks for posting that video Fretless - some legendary talent there. Some of that singing gave me chills.
“Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity."(Hanlon's Razor)
"rock enough that I don't drown in ... jazz ennui" - draelyc
"...you realize that absolutely nothing happens when you get butthurt, right?
You know you're not going to go home and immediately have cancer, right?" - Steinmetzify
"rock enough that I don't drown in ... jazz ennui" - draelyc
"...you realize that absolutely nothing happens when you get butthurt, right?
You know you're not going to go home and immediately have cancer, right?" - Steinmetzify
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Re: best backing vox in rock?
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.
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Re: best backing vox in rock?
Reverse Entropy wrote: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 .
“Our virtues and our failings are inseparable, like force and matter. When they separate, man is no more”
― Nikola Tesla
“I cannot be arsed with this right now”
― MISTER NOBODY™
"Stand up for what you believe in even if you are standing alone"
― Sophie Scholl
― Nikola Tesla
“I cannot be arsed with this right now”
― MISTER NOBODY™
"Stand up for what you believe in even if you are standing alone"
― Sophie Scholl
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Re: best backing vox in rock?
fretless wrote:Reverse Entropy wrote: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]
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Re: best backing vox in rock?
#1 is Queen and it's not even close.
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Re: best backing vox in rock?
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...
Eagles were probably the best at it tho, IMO.
HAHA yes, how didnt I think of queen...
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Re: best backing vox in rock?
RIFF wrote: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.
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CS Deja Vibe mkii > SupaTrem Jr. > Xotic Wah > OCD v2.0 > Fulldrive 2 mkii > TB Jailed Pitchblack > (Alter Ego x4)
Re: best backing vox in rock?
Stratsouldier wrote: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

Re: best backing vox in rock?
M.Mike LX-R wrote:RIFF wrote: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.
Re: best backing vox in rock?
'63-Strat wrote:Stratsouldier wrote:I know they're not considered "rock" but David Crosby and Graham Nash are pretty awesome when they get together.
Don't forget Steven StillsCrosby 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.

Re: best backing vox in rock?
Telephant wrote:'63-Strat wrote:Stratsouldier wrote:I know they're not considered "rock" but David Crosby and Graham Nash are pretty awesome when they get together.
Don't forget Steven StillsCrosby 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.
Re: best backing vox in rock?
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.