12 Greatest Classic Rock Singers Of All Time

The 80's were truly the decade for the rock and roll showman. With the hair metal scene in full swing and bands like Van Halen and Motley Crue gaining prominence, there was no way you were getting popular if you didn't have a snarky frontman in the center of the stage. Just across the Atlantic though, something else was manifesting in Ireland.

Coming from the post punk scene, U2 were originally looked at as another band from the alternative side of the spectrum. While they had their fair share of hits, no one could have anticipated the band's meteoric rise to fame. Each member of the band plays a more or less equal role in the music, but Bono's talents behind the mic made them something extraordinary.

Across albums like War and the Joshua Tree, the yearning and desire in Bono's voice seemed to tap into every bit of pain he felt in his life and manifested itself into fantastic songs like "Pride" and "Red Hill Mining Town." Even when the band changed directions, Bono's vocals remained as strong as ever, as he took on more slinky tones as the character of the Fly. Though he may veer on the pretentious side from time to time, the vocal chops Bono possesses are what has made these songs modern anthems.