10 Greatest Vocal Performances In Classic Rock

Across Deep Purple's career, the band have had several tremendous musicians occupy the lead singer slot. From their later period with bluesy howler David Coverdale to having the Voice of Rock Glenn Hughes as a bass player, the group had a standard much higher than most when it came to singing.

Though many singers have left their mark on Purple's work, there doesn't seem to be anything quite like "Child In Time." Spanning over 10 minutes, the song gives each member a chance to shine, with vocalist Ian Gillan at the center of the madness. The song initially begins as a plaintive ballad, but the intensity in Gillan's performance fluctuates from subtle falsetto croons to some of the most impressive shrieks ever to be put on record. This not only became the standard for hard rock vocals, but also the blueprint for high range metal vocalists going forward from Bruce Dickinson to Geoff Tate.

The actual performance took such a toll on Gillan that the song has now been officially retired from Purple's setlist due to its demanding peaks. While it's a shame we may never hear these howls live again, the recorded version is still one of the greatest vocal snapshots not just for rock music, but for music in general.