10 Rock Songs NOT Sung By The Lead Singer
Breaking the vows of silence.
The coveted lead singer role in a band has been the cause of main instrumentalists' nightmares.
Not only do they soak up all the attention by singing all of the songs you play, but the singer also tends to be looked at as the mouth of the band who dictates every move you make going forward. For as much supposed power that these singers get, sometimes it's better to assert yourself and step up to the mic.
While many of these bands have some of the best vocalists in rock and roll, the songs here offer a bit of a different take on the typical formula you'd expect. With a new voice leading the charge, the entire song takes on a different character, whether it be in lyrical style or just a lower register than you're used to.
Given the shake up in the normal band dynamic, this also gives the entire band an opportunity to think outside the box and toy with styles they wouldn't normally try with the main person up front. The face up front might be a little bit different this time around, but these songs still hold up as unique experiments in rock history.
10. A Legal Matter - The Who
As the British Invasion began to expand past the Beatles and Stones, The Who were definitely one of the best in the field. First emerging from the London Mod scene, everything about the band seemed essential from the songwriting from Pete Townshend to the manic drum performances of Keith Moon. Though Roger Daltrey's wail gave the band character, Townshend's vocal chops on "A Legal Matter" weren't too shabby either.
Given the song's more light-hearted melody, Townshend's pillowy voice works wonders, but there's a bit more of a story behind Daltrey's absence. Since the song's subject matter has to do with a man being separated from his significant other over legal disputes, fans have speculated that Daltrey refused to sing because of his recent divorce from his wife.
While the signature scream of the Who isn't here in full force, this song shows the band's ability to flex their muscles as a trio, which they would refine on later albums. Not only did this mark a change of pace on the mic, but it also opened the door for the other band members to sing, with Townshend taking the reigns on songs like "Going Mobile" and John Entwistle on "My Wife."
The Who may have been a solid rock unit, but this marked the start of them becoming more of a musical democracy when it came time to sing.