OT - Gramm still has it

[Andrew]

Awful. And I adore the guy...

Only if you're measuring it to the impossible standard set by Lou himself - and even then, it's not total shit..

True TNC. But Awful doesn't mean total shit. And in my mind Lou was one of the Top 5 vocalists in history. Perry/Plant/Glenn Hughes/Mark Free being the others.

[S2M]

Awful. And I adore the guy...

Only if you're measuring it to the impossible standard set by Lou himself - and even then, it's not total shit..

True TNC. But Awful doesn't mean total shit. And in my mind Lou was one of the Top 5 vocalists in history. Perry/Plant/Glenn Hughes/Mark Free being the others.

Stick RJD in there, Drew, and you got a deal.....

[conversationpc]

Check him out singing "Stairway To Heaven"! This is freaking incredible!!! Man I miss this voice. I hope there's at least a passing resemblance to this when he comes out with his new album. I'll support him either way...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWKZekhh ... re=related

I just found that also...I like Plant's version better but Gramm is one of the few singers that can take a cover version and make it his own.

[swataz]

Just doing a comparison of the two clips, it seems like it was also performed a full step lower...

[G.I.Jim]

Check him out singing "Stairway To Heaven"! This is freaking incredible!!! Man I miss this voice. I hope there's at least a passing resemblance to this when he comes out with his new album. I'll support him either way...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWKZekhh ... re=related

I just found that also...I like Plant's version better but Gramm is one of the few singers that can take a cover version and make it his own.

Plant was one of a kind! Never was a huge Zepplin fan though...maybe just a little before my time, or just a little too different for my tastes. I do love that song though. I do like Pink Floyd and David Coverdale though...does that make up for it?

[Ehwmatt]

Awful. And I adore the guy...

Only if you're measuring it to the impossible standard set by Lou himself - and even then, it's not total shit..

True TNC. But Awful doesn't mean total shit. And in my mind Lou was one of the Top 5 vocalists in history. Perry/Plant/Glenn Hughes/Mark Free being the others.

Robert Plant sucks nowadays. People don't call him on it because he's a big bad rock legend who's been around forever. Fuck it. I love Zeppelin but, fuck am I glad they didn't reunite. That one-off show was HIDEOUSLY bad. Moving songs like that a full step down is just criminal. All those primal screams sound pretty tame when that happens.

[WykkedSensation]

Man that was incredibly hard to listen to. Oh, the memories.

[texafana]

Not "awful" by any measure. "That way you only judge based on sound not vision." That's fkin harsh.

[Aaron]

Brad Delp

Awful. And I adore the guy...

Only if you're measuring it to the impossible standard set by Lou himself - and even then, it's not total shit..

True TNC. But Awful doesn't mean total shit. And in my mind Lou was one of the Top 5 vocalists in history. Perry/Plant/Glenn Hughes/Mark Free being the others.

[NealIsGod]

You know what? When people hear Lou sing these days it completely justifies Foreigner finding another singer and keeping the music alive.

Now I understand why Perry doesn't perform anymore.

[EightyRock]

You know what? When people hear Lou sing these days it completely justifies Foreigner finding another singer and keeping the music alive.

Now I understand why Perry doesn't perform anymore.

Comparing Lou and his problems with Perry and his reluctance/lack of desire to sing are two different animals. Perry may not be a 30/40-something with ear piercing high notes anymore, but I bet he can stay on key a hell of alot better than Gramm or most other live singers. I love Gramm, too, but he is off key in some of that clip. Perry in any diminshed capacity would blow him out of the water today. It's not Lou's fault. He's had major problems. Who can blame him if he still has the desire to sing? He should be respected for his contributions to his craft.

Somebody else mentioned Plant. I think what he does w/ Krauss sucks, but I respect his desire to still do something he loves, even if it is different. He just told a guy that looked older than he does that he'd like to see HIM do Communication Breakdown in "these" pants (meaning "in his shoes"). People age and shit happens to all of us. It shouldn't take away from what was accomplished in youth and held over ones head like an anchor to keep you from moving forward as the years roll on. Enjoy what these guys have to give at this point. Soon enough, even VH1 classic and the classic rock radio stations will kick them to the curb and replace them with stuff we don't recognize!

[conversationpc]

You know what? When people hear Lou sing these days it completely justifies Foreigner finding another singer and keeping the music alive.

Now I understand why Perry doesn't perform anymore.

Comparing Lou and his problems with Perry and his reluctance/lack of desire to sing are two different animals. Perry may not be a 30/40-something with ear piercing high notes anymore, but I bet he can stay on key a hell of alot better than Gramm or most other live singers. I love Gramm, too, but he is off key in some of that clip. Perry in any diminshed capacity would blow him out of the water today. It's not Lou's fault. He's had major problems. Who can blame him if he still has the desire to sing? He should be respected for his contributions to his craft.

Somebody else mentioned Plant. I think what he does w/ Krauss sucks, but I respect his desire to still do something he loves, even if it is different. He just told a guy that looked older than he does that he'd like to see HIM do Communication Breakdown in "these" pants (meaning "in his shoes"). People age and shit happens to all of us. It shouldn't take away from what was accomplished in youth and held over ones head like an anchor to keep you from moving forward as the years roll on. Enjoy what these guys have to give at this point. Soon enough, even VH1 classic and the classic rock radio stations will kick them to the curb and replace them with stuff we don't recognize!

Amen and hallelujah!

[EightyRock]

Amen and hallelujah![/quote]

[weatherman90]

Awful. And I adore the guy...

Only if you're measuring it to the impossible standard set by Lou himself - and even then, it's not total shit..

True TNC. But Awful doesn't mean total shit. And in my mind Lou was one of the Top 5 vocalists in history. Perry/Plant/Glenn Hughes/Mark Free being the others.

Mark Free? Interesting choice...I will definitely have to check out some more of his stuff.

[annie89509]

Man, you guys are hard to please. Of course, he does not sound like in the '80s. 20-25 yrs. older ... 50 lbs. heavier ... voice lowered ... still has that passion, though. Kudos to Lou.

[Michigan Girl]

Man, you guys are hard to please. Of course, he does not sound like in the '80s. 20-25 yrs. older ... 50 lbs. heavier ... voice lowered ... still has that passion, though. Kudos to Lou.

Of course you are right, Annie!! He is a bit rough sounding, but I would definitely go see him again, given
the opportunity and love every minute of it!!!

[annie89509]

Man, you guys are hard to please. Of course, he does not sound like in the '80s. 20-25 yrs. older ... 50 lbs. heavier ... voice lowered ... still has that passion, though. Kudos to Lou.

Of course you are right, Annie!! He is a bit rough sounding, but I would definitely go see him again, given
the opportunity and love every minute of it!!!

Right on, MGirl!

[Vladan]

And in my mind Lou was one of the Top 5 vocalists in history. Perry/Plant/Glenn Hughes/Mark Free being the others.

Lou definitely up there in the top 5, but John Farnham the true voice, that's actually still intact and still firing on all cylinders, leaves Plant for dead, he dismisses the lot of those guys in my opinion. And I feel Robert Plant is the most over rated vocalist in history, along with Ian Gillan. With the range Arnel Pineda has, he can sing rings around those guys in his sleep.

[EightyRock]

And in my mind Lou was one of the Top 5 vocalists in history. Perry/Plant/Glenn Hughes/Mark Free being the others.

Lou definitely up there in the top 5, but John Farnham the true voice, that's actually still intact and still firing on all cylinders, leaves Plant for dead, he dismisses the lot of those guys in my opinion. And I feel Robert Plant is the most over rated vocalist in history, along with Ian Gillan. With the range Arnel Pineda has, he can sing rings around those guys in his sleep.

Plant was never a technically proficient vocalist, but he is considered one of the most innovative in rock. He also wrote incredible lyrics to all of Zeppelin's songs (except those that were old blues tunes). Plant really is the great rearranger, and the absolute greatest frontman in rock history. Just the idea that they had to have a lottery for millions around the world to even attempt to get a ticket for their reunion in London, shows that youngsters and oldsters alike were willing to spend their life savings for a one-off with those guys. They got rave reviews from all the media. Love him or hate him....Plant's the greatest frontman of all time, and Led Zeppelin are the words that should appear when you look up "Rock Music" in your Funk and Wagnel.....er.....Wikipedia!

[Ehwmatt]

And in my mind Lou was one of the Top 5 vocalists in history. Perry/Plant/Glenn Hughes/Mark Free being the others.

Lou definitely up there in the top 5, but John Farnham the true voice, that's actually still intact and still firing on all cylinders, leaves Plant for dead, he dismisses the lot of those guys in my opinion. And I feel Robert Plant is the most over rated vocalist in history, along with Ian Gillan. With the range Arnel Pineda has, he can sing rings around those guys in his sleep.

Range isn't the magic bullet automatically making or breaking one's being a great singer. Plant was awesome in his time. He just can't do it at all any more, at least not on the stuff that made him famous.

The range qualifier is like comparing Jimi Hendrix's technical skills to John Petrucci's. Kind of a moot point.

[StoneCold]

I've no idea what royalties Gramm gets. Maybe its not that much money. On the flip side maybe its quite a bit but he doesn't wanna sit on his butt and twiddle his thumbs at home.

I've heard worse from artists singing in their prime. Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, Joe Cocker, etc.

If a physician and fitness trainer could help Gramm get back in shape, no doubt the reception to his performances would be more favorable.

[Don]

I've no idea what royalties Gramm gets. Maybe its not that much money. On the flip side maybe its quite a bit but he doesn't wanna sit on his butt and twiddle his thumbs at home.

I've heard worse from artists singing in their prime. Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, Joe Cocker, etc.

If a physician and fitness trainer could help Gramm get back in shape, no doubt the reception to his performances would be more favorable.

Royalties can be a funny thing. Nick Lowe wrote a song for Elvis Costello called "What's so funny 'bout peace love and understanding". A small hit and no big deal. Years later, Curtis Stigers remakes it for the Bodyguard soundtrack which goes on to 15x platinum. Nick Lowe said the royalties from this one song made him a millionaire because he wrote it.
Now Lou (and Steve Perry also) might not have a slew of songs where they are the only songwriter but if they just have their names on a few hits, even with co-writers, I would think they would be in the same boat as Mr. Lowe financially and be living quite comfortably.

[Ehwmatt]

I've no idea what royalties Gramm gets. Maybe its not that much money. On the flip side maybe its quite a bit but he doesn't wanna sit on his butt and twiddle his thumbs at home.

I've heard worse from artists singing in their prime. Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, Joe Cocker, etc.

If a physician and fitness trainer could help Gramm get back in shape, no doubt the reception to his performances would be more favorable.

Royalties can be a funny thing. Nick Lowe wrote a song for Elvis Costello called "What's so funny 'bout peace love and understanding". A small hit and no big deal. Years later, Curtis Stigers remakes it for the Bodyguard soundtrack which goes on to 15x platinum. Nick Lowe said the royalties from this one song made him a millionaire because he wrote it.
Now Lou (and Steve Perry also) might not have a slew of songs where they are the only songwriter but if they just have their names on a few hits, even with co-writers, I would think they would be in the same boat as Mr. Lowe financially and be living quite comfortably.

In theory, of course. We don't have any idea to know what their spending habits were and things like that. Specifically, in Gramm's case, who knows what kind of health insurance he had? His illness coulda cost him a pretty penny.

One thing's for sure: 99% of these guys, even if they BADLY need the money, still do it because they love it as well. I don't think the joy of that ever leaves you. It's just hard for some (here's lookin at you, SP) to not be the same at 60 as they were at 25.

[Andrew]

And in my mind Lou was one of the Top 5 vocalists in history. Perry/Plant/Glenn Hughes/Mark Free being the others.

Lou definitely up there in the top 5, but John Farnham the true voice, that's actually still intact and still firing on all cylinders, leaves Plant for dead, he dismisses the lot of those guys in my opinion. And I feel Robert Plant is the most over rated vocalist in history, along with Ian Gillan. With the range Arnel Pineda has, he can sing rings around those guys in his sleep.

Yeah, put Farnham at #6 for me. Incredible...

[Andrew]

I've heard worse from artists singing in their prime. Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, Joe Cocker, etc.

3 of the worst singers in history. But it ain't always about the power or tone of the voice. I'm a tone kinda guy though, hence my love for Lou and Steve etc...

[Don]

Justin Hayward has kept his voice in good shape but I don't think he has really ever tried to sing out of his range.

[Tito]

Awful. And I adore the guy...

Only if you're measuring it to the impossible standard set by Lou himself - and even then, it's not total shit..

True TNC. But Awful doesn't mean total shit. And in my mind Lou was one of the Top 5 vocalists in history. Perry/Plant/Glenn Hughes/Mark Free being the others.

Who the hell is that?

Gramm is, was, and always be better than Perry. At least he's still singing. If anything, he wins by default.

[Ehwmatt]

Justin Hayward has kept his voice in good shape but I don't think he has really ever tried to sing out of his range.

I saw the Moodys two summers ago and I was floored. I like them a lot and I wasn't expecting a killer show to be honest (even tho the live DVDs I have are good). Well, I got one. Very good all-around, especially with two beautiful women in the band backing them.

[Don]

Kenny Loggins is another who has lost a lot of range but gets by because a lot of his songs use falsetto anyway. When I saw him live, he finished up with "Forever" in the encore and actually held the note at the end. I do think though, if he had to do another song after that, he would have been in trouble.

[Andrew]

Who the hell is that?

Mark Free - One of the true greats. Ever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjjVmNyY ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIJpGDQu ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1tb8WLq ... re=related