Axl Rose Sounds Off on "World's Greatest Singers" List: It's "Flattering and Humbling" to Be Included

Guns 'N Roses frontman, alleged in a poll to have a bigger vocal range than Mariah Carey, shares a list of his favorites with Spin

Axl Rose isn't using any illusion when it comes to being on a list of the "world's greatest singers."

The Guns N' Roses frontman, whose vocal range was deemed the most expansive of all on a chart posted by ConcertHotels.com—a chart that debunkers were swift to point out was not trying to say that Rose himself was the best singer in the world—has responded to the hype in a letter to Spin.

The music mag was one of many outlets that was marveling over the analysis of which artists supposedly have bigger ranges than others, with Rose's range topping those of Mariah Carey, Prince, Steven Tyler and 73 other artists.

"Big thanks to all the fans and media for the props reacting to the Spin top vocalists article," Rose's letter began.

"From what I could tell, the original article was for the most part only talking about the professionally recorded vocal range of the singers they compared calling the entire group 'The World's Greatest Singers.' It's very flattering and humbling to be included in such an illustrious ensemble."

As for whom he would consider the greatest, Rose wrote, "I'd say first that I don't know there's a definitive answer as in my opinion it's subjective, and second that my focus is primarily rock singers."

And most of Rose's top picks are classic rockers, albeit artists for the ages.

 

"I enjoy Freddie Mercury, Elvis Presley, Paul McCartney, Dan McCafferty, Janice Joplin, Michael Jackson, Elton John, Roger Daltrey, Don Henley, Jeff Lynne, Johnny Cash, Frank Sinatra, Jimmy Scott, Etta James, Fiona Apple, Chrissie Hynde, Stevie Wonder, James Brown and a ton of others (predominantly 70's rock singers) and would rather hear ANY of them anytime rather than me!" he concluded. "Peace!"