12 Greatest Classic Rock Singers Of All Time
3. Steven Tyler - Aerosmith
Aerosmith tended to get a lot of hate thrown their way in the beginning of their career. From the way they presented their music to even the way they seemed to behave while onstage, the critics were quick to dismiss the group as just another band trying to ride the coattails of the Rolling Stones. While there may have been some cross-influence over the years, no other vocalist can touch the range that Steven Tyler has.
Starting off as a typical bluesman in the vein of the Yardbirds, Tyler quickly opened up his throat to create one of the most identifiable screaming registers in rock and roll. The sound had a shrill quality to it, but also a certain tunefulness that made it impossible to resist on songs like "Walk This Way." As opposed to the other rock acts of the day, Tyler's vocal chops gave the band a streetkid attitude that made everything feel much more down to Earth.
Whereas most singers would blow you away with their gigantic range, Tyler knew the way to focus his screams to make them mid song show stoppers. While many great singers have come and gone in the rock sphere, there is absolutely no replacing the undisputed Demon of Screamin.