Unexpected musical partnerships that rocked the charts
It's safe to say that Freddie Mercury is one of the most iconic singers of all time. But Queen had a unique guitarist who could match the performance of the band's lead singer. Indeed, Brian May and Freddie Mercury were a truly fascinating duo.
The Rolling Stones wouldn't be the band they are without these two. Jagger and Richards have been rocking (and partying) together for decades, and we just can't get enough of them.
Okay, this one is a bit of cheating, because ultimately they are a duo. Still, Simon is the lead guitarist, and they both made a great songwriting team together.
Maybe the fact that these two members of Fleetwood Mac were romantically involved also helped with the chemistry. But despite their troubled relationship, the music spoke for itself, and the audience's eyes were always drawn to these two on stage.
Led Zeppelin are one of the most influential bands in rock 'n' roll history, and both Plant's voice and Page's guitar licks had a lot to do with it.
Both the singer and guitarist were over-the-top performers in their own way. But while Roth was a showman in every sense of the word, the late guitar icon awed everyone with his innovative guitar playing. Two absolute legends who will surely go down in rock history.
Despite their troubled relationship, the Guns N' Roses bandmates are a match made in rock 'n' roll heaven. Axl's voice and Slash's guitar playing are recognizable on their own. Combine them together, and you have the backbone of one of the greatest rock bands of all time.
Dubbed the "Toxic Twins" due to their problems with substance abuse, Tyler and Perry have always been the driving force behind Aerosmith. It's like they feed off each other's energy, and the audience can feel that!
Bono (Paul Hewson) and The Edge (Dave Evans) have stuck together for over 40 years. Now with less hair but with the same chemistry, the lead vocalist and the lead guitarist of U2 continue to do what they do best.
But let's not forget the first singer of AC/DC, the man who wrote songs such as 'Highway to Hell' with Angus and his brother Malcom Young. The early days of the Aussie band were pretty wild, and these two were the main characters.
Not many hard rock bands come close to AC/DC. Their syncopated rhythms, catchy chorus, and, of course, lead guitar parts make them one of the greatest rock acts in the world. Johnson and Young are responsible for fronting this iconic band, and do so marvelously well.
The two Bon Jovi icons shared the stage for decades before splitting. But for many years they really were the heart and soul of the band, from songwriting to performance. It's safe to say that Sambora's backing vocals were a perfect fit for Jon Bon Jovi's lead.
Deep Purple wouldn't be Deep Purple without these two. While Blackmore left the band after a few years, the two were the driving force of Deep Purple in the early days.
The "Prince of Darkness" is the only singer on this list to have had not only one, not two, but three iconic guitarists by his side. Here is the first one: his Black Sabbath bandmate, Tony Iommi.
After Ozzy left Black Sabbath, he embarked on a very successful solo career, and the late guitar hero Randy Rhoads had something to do with that. His guitar playing complemented Ozzy's vocals perfectly!
Both Morrissey's voice and Marr's guitar defined the sound of The Smiths. The two became as iconic as their songs, and definitely deserve a spot on this list.
Cheap Trick is just one of those bands that makes us want to stand up and sing real loud. Of course, these two have something to do with it. And they've been doing so for nearly half a century!
Journey became huge thanks to songs such as 'Don't Stop Believin',' and Perry and Schon made it work incredibly well. Unfortunately, Perry parted ways with his bandmates, but these two surely had something special.
Heart wrote some of the most amazing power ballads in rock history. And, of course, the Wilson sisters' chemistry is undeniable. They too deserve a place on this list.
Living Colour were a pretty unique band in the sense that they mixed elements of rock, funk, and metal like no other act. Glover and Reid were fronting the band, and were (and still are) the ones to watch.
Sources: (Yardbarker)
Like any good rock act, Poison was fronted by an amazing lead singer and and equally amazing guitarist. DeVille did leave the group for some time, but then returned to share the stage with the 'Every Rose Has Its Thorn' band.
They might have one of the most troubled relationships in rock history, but the Gallagher brothers are Oasis. They wrote hit after hit in the '90s, and are in the top spots when it comes to singer-guitarist duos (though Noel sang some of the band's songs).
What would be of Rage Against the Machine without the angry vocals and the crazy guitar sounds, right? It's safe to say Zack de la Rocha and Tom Morello are key pieces in the puzzle.
Joan Jett might have had a more successful career after The Runways, but these two had an incredible chemistry when they were bandmates.
After Rhoads' tragic death, Zakk Wylde had big shoes to fill, but he did it. Wylde's unique style worked really well with Ozzy's songs, and their partnership was a success.
Who can forget the video for 'More Than Words,' where the two members of Extreme play and sing together? The singer and the guitar virtuoso had exceptional chemistry.
The Who became known not only for their music, but also for their onstage antics. Not many singer-guitarist duos can say they have smashed numerous instruments during their shows like Daltrey and Townshend.
The vocalist and the guitarist were iconic members of REO Speedwagon. They too are going down in rock history as one of the most iconic singer-guitarist duos.
Not only were Stanley and Cantrell the main songwriters in Alice in Chains, their voices also sounded amazing together. The vocal harmonies are a key element in the band's unique sound, and this wouldn't have been possible without them.
What makes an iconic singer-guitarist duo? Is it their songwriting ability? Or maybe it's the way the guitar complements the vocal lines, and vice versa? Perhaps their onstage presence has something to do with it? Well, maybe it's a combination of all of these things, and, of course, an exceptional chemistry that is unique to these individuals.
Luckily, rock music has quite a few of these pairs. Click through the following gallery and take a look at the most iconic singer-guitarist duos in rock history.
The most iconic singer-guitarist duos
These pairs will go down in rock history
MUSIC Rock
What makes an iconic singer-guitarist duo? Is it their songwriting ability? Or maybe it's the way the guitar complements the vocal lines, and vice versa? Perhaps their onstage presence has something to do with it? Well, maybe it's a combination of all of these things, and, of course, an exceptional chemistry that is unique to these individuals.
Luckily, rock music has quite a few of these pairs. Click through the following gallery and take a look at the most iconic singer-guitarist duos in rock history.