The ABCs of Rock: The Top Rock Screams

If your kids are anything like mine then they like two things, ice cream and noise. I figured the best way to get them into rock music and off of stuff like Teletubbies and Barney was to show them how loud and out of control rock & roll could be. I started to make a list of the best rock screams and had them listen to the music and countdown to the point where the rock yell comes in. Here are my top rock screams. Hopefully this helps to teach your kids about the power of rock & roll.

Paul McCartney

The Beatles should be on every list with the words “rock music” in it. Check out the scream at the beginning of “Helter Skelter.” The song is one of their most rockin’ but the yell is that much better because Paul seems to run out of breath and lets fly with a furious “Yeeeeeeah.”

Bruce Springsteen

Number two might be hard to come by. It’s off of Bruce Springsteen’s Live 75-85 box set. His “Darkness on the Edge of Town” was a great mid tempo track from his 1978 album, but this live version is worth waiting until the end to hear Bruce hold that lost note as he bellows “Tooooooooooooown.” A great rocker proving that his live show is always worth the price of admission.

(This version isn’t from Live 75-85, but it is from the same tour as the one used on the box set.)

Roger Daltry

Finally, the top of the list belongs to Roger Daltrey and The Who on “Won’t Get Fooled Again.” The song is a little long but it’s worth it for your kids to sit through the whole thing. The scream comes at the end of the breakdown. Roger releases an anthem with his “Yeeeeeeeeah” as Pete Townsend replies with his windmill guitar. There’s a quick final verse about meeting the new boss after that works perfectly with his yell. The scream is so long that I let my kids see if they can mimic the length (something my wife is not too fond of).

What, no Axl Rose, no Robert Plant? No Demon of Screamin’ Stven Tyler, fer cryin’ out loud? Check back for Part Two, coming soon! Name your favorite rock scream in the comments.