Talk:Lead vocalist

Criteria
We need to come up with a definitive criterion for lead singers here. For instance, Jennifer Nettles is irrefutably the lead singer of Sugarland, but what about more unusual cases? For instance, where both halves of a duo alternate as lead vocalists semi-regularly (e.g. Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn of Brooks & Dunn)? What about duos or groups that shared lead vocals? For instance, Neil Thrasher and Kelly Shiver of Thrasher Shiver sang everything in unison (instead of one leading and one harmonizing), and both halves of Orrall & Wright split the lead on all their songs. Also, there are cases like the Eagles, where just about everyone rotates as lead singer in nearly-equal measure. Does this mean that all of their lead singers should be listed, as is the case now? Ten Pound Hammer and his otters • (Broken clamshells • Otter chirps • HELP) 01:26, 3 September 2008 (UTC)
 * This article used to consist solely of the first paragraph, and the list was located at List of lead singers (now a redirect). User:Thebluesharpdude conducted a unilateral merge without discussion. I asked him about this, but never received an answer. I would personally favor a proposal to re-separate these two articles, and possibly a deletion of the lead vocalist article as well; as you've noticed, TPH, the criteria can be somewhat vague. Glass  Cobra  02:32, 3 September 2008 (UTC)
 * But if Lead vocalist is deleted, then why would we need a list of lead vocalists? No point in having a list if the parent article is wiped out. Ten Pound Hammer  and his otters • (Broken clamshells • Otter chirps • HELP) 02:35, 3 September 2008 (UTC)
 * Apologies, I meant the list of lead vocalists. Glass  Cobra  02:47, 3 September 2008 (UTC)
 * Hmm. Should we file a RFC? Ten Pound Hammer  and his otters • (Broken clamshells • Otter chirps • HELP) 02:56, 3 September 2008 (UTC)
 * Perhaps. What are your thoughts? Glass  Cobra  03:01, 3 September 2008 (UTC)
 * Only thing that I can think of. Ten Pound Hammer  and his otters • (Broken clamshells • Otter chirps • HELP) 03:01, 3 September 2008 (UTC)

List
The list of lead vocalists was unilaterally merged to this article without discussion. I'm tempted to just spin the list back off like it was before, but I have a couple reservations about it. First of all, as mentioned above, defining a lead vocalist can sometimes be a grey area. For example, Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn, both halves of Brooks & Dunn, split the lead vocals about 60/40 on their albums (in Dunn's favor), but they've only released about six singles with Kix on lead. Also, some groups use double-lead vocals, like Neil Thrasher and Kelly Shiver of Thrasher Shiver, who both sang all the lead vocals in unison. So basically, this is a two-in-one RFC: 1.) Should the list be spun back off?, and 2.) Do halves of a duo count as "lead singers"? Ten Pound Hammer and his otters • (Broken clamshells • Otter chirps • HELP) 16:07, 4 September 2008 (UTC)
 * Gah, why is the RFC template red linked? Ten Pound Hammer  and his otters • (Broken clamshells • Otter chirps • HELP) 14:25, 6 September 2008 (UTC)
 * I am going to boldly separate the list back out. The merging of the list and article goes against every list convention imaginable.--Esprit15d • talk • contribs 01:53, 19 January 2009 (UTC)

Picture
Why is Bennington's picture used here? Of course it's all a matter of opinion, but why him? Someone more iconic would be suitable, maybe Robert Plant? Everyone recognizes him. Plus, if this article is about lead singers, Bennington wouldn't be ideal, due to the occasional rapping in Linkin Park. Something to consider? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.45.76.69 (talk) 20:05, 24 January 2009 (UTC)

Ambiguous lead vocalists
Someone with enough knowledge should revise the examples given in this section. IMO, for both described categories of ambiguous lead vocalists only three or four well-known, significant examples should be given. Then no more examples should be allowed in. People seem to think they need to misuse these passages to promote their favourite bands.--Sylvia Anna (talk) 15:39, 30 May 2010 (UTC)

Front man
"Front man" should not revert to this page, as not all "front" members of a band are vocalists.--Chimino (talk) 12:45, 30 June 2011 (UTC)
 * Agree. Frontman and lead vocalist are two different roles in a band.  They're often done by the same person, but they're not at all the same thing.  Fleetwood Mac would be a good example, Mick Fleetwood was the frontman, and Stevie Nicks was the lead vocalist.  — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2601:589:300:CA70:AD94:C7B4:AEE8:4B7B (talk) 19:34, 20 March 2023 (UTC)

Original research
Why and where does this article contain original research? How should it be cleaned up? Hyacinth (talk) 22:41, 29 April 2012 (UTC)

Lots of errors
Came to this page and just found LOTS of mistakes, it just worries me because there can be many more I have not saw. I'll do some research and rewrite a lot of paragraphs in the next days. Exemple of factual errors that makes me question this article: Primus is not a band known for having more than one vocalist, Tom Waits, Fred Durst, etc featured on single songs only. Larry Lalonde barely never sang. Rush is not a good exemple of bands with more than one designated singer, Alex Lifeson provided only backing vocals and occasinal spoken words passages in live versions. Underoath changed their sound from Black Metal to Screamo when they where still with their first signer. Rage Against The Machine never changed lead signer. Audioslave was another totally diferent entity, not considered as Rage Against The Machine. Nfs_riffle (talk) 16:22, 6 march 2015 (UTC) s — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2604:2D80:C016:0:7455:A1D0:AD33:BC5 (talk) 23:09, 13 December 2023 (UTC)
 * — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2604:2D80:C016:0:7455:A1D0:AD33:BC5 (talk) 23:16, 13 December 2023 (UTC)