A recent review of my new album was rather complimentary about my own vocal abilities which was reassuring given some of the terrible comments I’ve received in the past, some even implying I probably shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near a microphone.

Nearly, all of my favourite vocalists wouldn’t have got through the first round of a current TV talent show, but they know how to tell the story or convey emotion with their voices. That’s what interests me about singing.

I thought it would be fun to list some of the artists I’ve always admired and who inspired me, many of which were also pilloried at times for their own vocal abilities.

In no particular order or rank:

Roger Waters – Known of course for his acerbic narrative and grandiose conceptual story telling, he remains one of my biggest inspirations. He also had a reputation for not being able to sing, but no one does the angry man shouting at the world like Roger. He’s a controversial figure now of course, but I can’t help finding a deep resonance in almost every song he’s written. Listen to ‘The Last Refugee’ on ‘Is This the Life We Really Want’. It’s his Johnny Cash ‘Hurt’ moment. The kind of delivery only a man with a lifetime of trauma and regret behind him can deliver.

Thom Yorke – The aforementioned Waters rather disparagingly described him as a ‘timid little man’ but that seems to me to be a diss more related to his opposing political viewpoint. Yorke’s vocals defined the late 90s/early 2000s for me. His epic melancholic delivery on ‘The Bends’ had me hooked for life. His lyrics are so unbelievably depressing but simultaneously beautiful , and his vocal delivery at times can make you feel like every emotion you’ve ever felt is being dragged out of you all at the same time. Few vocalists ever will reach that level of penetration to people’s deepest fears and darkest thoughts. One of the few Gen X vocalists that will achieve legendary status.

Chris Martin – Coldplay is like kryptonite for prog fans but I was young and in love during the era of Parachutes and the next couple of albums, and it was the soundtrack of my life for a while. His singing is often wayward and pitchy but his transition from chest to head voice coupled with that open tuned acoustic never fails to give me goosebumps. Listen to the concluding falsetto refrain of ‘Square One’, absolutely heart rending beauty. Chris Martin was my singular inspiration for my vocal performance in ‘You Didn’t See The Thief’ on The Orphan Epoch.

Glenn Hughes – He was regularly touted as The Voice of Rock but to me Glenn Hughes voice had it’s origins more in 70s soul. Technically, for me the best singer in my list. His work on ‘Come Taste The Band’ is always a standout for me, particularly his performance on ‘This Time Around’ but his voice even today still shows the raw power that he’s famous for.

Kate Bush – There’s no way a young Kate would get anywhere in a TV talent show today but that says everything about the cookie cutter expectation we have for young female artists now. Her voice is unique, often made fun of, being particularly English but anything but reserved, instead more performative and theatrical. The concepts were so much deeper and more interesting than singing about your sex life which seems to be de rigueur again for any young aspiring female artist.

David Bowie – It’s been said my own vocal style is channelling Bowie or maybe an amalgam of Bowie and Waters with added Yorke. Whatever you think, I certainly don’t have his incredible charisma and stage presence. I love singers that mix their own spoken accent into the sung performance and he’s one of the greatest exponents of that.

Freddie Mercury – Queen were omnipresent in my childhood and it felt like all the lights of rock had gone out when Freddie died. Even now I can’t get through the footage of his vocal warm up with the crowd at Live Aid without welling up… or indeed the epic ‘Who Wants To Live Forever’ which was once the closing theme of one of my daughter’s dance school ballet performances. It caused some embarrassment when Dad’s eyes started leaking mid performance. The phrase force of nature doesn’t cover it, Freddie was sent for us from another universe.

Ronnie James Dio – I could never reconcile the power of Ronnie’s voice with his diminutive stature. He was like a heavy metal Yoda. ‘Voodoo’ lives rent free in my head for eternity for a lot of reasons but the vocal is a masterclass in bringing the heavy into metal.. I believe Ronnie wasn’t that comfortable with the ‘devil worshipping’ lyrics but he certainly gave it his all. ‘Sign of the Southern Cross’ is his seminal work in my view and also has the best heavy metal riff of all time…

Paul McCartney – It would be a crime not to have him in the list. One of the most versatile singers ever, over decades of releases, almost spanning the history of recorded music. His voice is sadly fading now, but I have a deep love and respect for him, like a musical dad. It warms my heart that my lad age 20 is an even bigger Macca fan than me.

Karen Carpenter – One of those singers of that take you right back to your childhood. She had a unique vocal control that didn’t rely on vibrato or melismatic delivery, instead concentrating on rock solid pitch control and beautiful vowel expression. She was a master technician and just as incredible as a drummer.

Phil Collins – Another incredible singing drummer…Dave Grohl should be on that list too. Controversially with prog fans, I prefer Collins era Genesis by some margin…Their slow evolution into a rock band with commercial hits allowed him to find his wings vocally. The vocal on ‘Mama’ get me every time. ‘Snowbound’ on And Then There Were Three also evokes all sort of memories for me and the delivery of the lyric ‘They say a snow year’s a good year, Filled with the love of all who lie so deep’, hits hard…

Peter Gabriel – Again controversially, I think his best work was post Genesis where I found his vocals often too whimsical both in delivery and lyrics for my tastes. His solo work allowed him to explore much more freedom, experimentation and ultimately more self expression. He’s in the list not so much for the lyrics but for the wonderful sonorous tone his voice has, which often sounded like he had 3 larynxes singing in unison. I’m a sucker for the big 80s hits and ‘Red Rain’ and ‘Sledgehammer’ do it for me.

Ian Gillan – His screaming delivery on most of Deep Purple’s ‘In Rock’ captivated me when I was 15. ‘Perfect Strangers’ is a masterclass of his vocal ability. I found some of his lyrics a bit facile and shallow, but he could be here just for ‘Child In Time’ of which I don’t know any other singer that could get anywhere close…

Jon Anderson – I think Yes was the first proper prog band I truly connected with. The way in was John. His voice was so clear and distinct above all the other musical mayhem going in the band and that caught my attention. The fact that the lyrics spoke of strange spiritual things I didn’t really understand didn’t matter. In fact I later pondered that my favourite prog rock song of all time, Awaken, could in fact all have been a collection of hippy dippy abstract words. It doesn’t matter…

The list is getting too long and so many I’ve probably missed but some of the other greats I must at least mention.

Mikael Akerfeldt (who’s vocal talent is out-shadowed by the whole growling thing. Listen to ‘Burden’), Steven Wilson (for doing incredibly brilliant things with a fairly average voice), Alison Goldfrappe (Queen of synth pop), David Coverdale (early days), Dave Grohl (one of the best screamers in Rock), Brett Anderson, David Longdon (who had much of the 3 larynx ability of Gabriel and will doubtless remain the best singer I’ve ever worked with), Billie Eilish, John Wetton, Stevie Wonder, George Michael and many, many more…