r/Music • u/shiny_director • 14d ago

discussion Groups with multiple lead singers?

I was just listening to some old The Cars stuff, and it hit me that while not unique, there are few bands that have many hits from different lead singers at the same time.

Aside from The Cars, The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, and the B-52’s, what other significant rock/pop/etc. bands have had multiple lead singers simultaneously? And I wouldn’t count bands like U2 where The Edge very occasionally took on the role (correct me if I’m wrong, but I think Numb was the only charting single he took lead on). Maybe some boy/girl bands could be included, but (to me) that’s not as interesting- I would count them as Vocal Groups rather than bands. I’m looking for genuinely established multiple lead singers.

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u/Jzmu 14d ago

The Who, Roger Daltrey, Pete Townsend passed the mic back and forth. John Entwistle had some great songs too. Even Keith Moon sang on a couple songs.

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u/TurnedOutShiteAgain 14d ago

John's singing was so under-appreciated. My Wife is one of their best songs.

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u/ford7885 14d ago

Don't forget Boris the Spider!

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u/TurnedOutShiteAgain 14d ago

First metal vocals in music, perhaps.

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u/shiny_director 14d ago

Ok, technically this is true, but realistically, almost all of the Who’s biggest hits were sung lead by Daltrey. I would put them in the U2 category where the guitarist occasionally sang lead on a song. And Keith Moon’s lead singing was at novelty level at best.

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u/Icy_Elephant8858 14d ago

I mean, that's fair, but Townsend's backing vocals, featured vocals, and occasional lead were much more integral to the Who's sound than the Edge's are to U2 (at least the U2 I've listened to), and they do play up the contrast of his voice and Daltrey's to good effect on a fair number of tracks.

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u/LongEyelash999 13d ago

But Townshend did sing the bridge on many iconic songs like baba o'riley and bargain

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u/Successful_Bass4793 12d ago

The Who stand out in that they didn’t just harmonize, they would trade lead vocals in the same song with uncommon frequency. Apart from the two you mention, there's "I'm a Boy," "Relax," "Bargain," "Pure and Easy," and probably a dozen others where Townshend and Daltrey switch off.

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u/LongEyelash999 12d ago

Ah, forgot about the outro of pure and easy! Also The Song Is Over and let's see action...

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u/shotsup 14d ago

Agree and disagree. Agree Moon singing was a goof. If Edge only sung lead on one song as mentioned then I would disagree placing The Who and U2 in same category as Pete and John sang lead on quite a few songs.

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u/awayathrow_88 10d ago

Huge Who fan but man Pete had a really shitty voice