Yes, indeedy!!!

Gary, you've hit it right on the head there! Even when I was YOUNG singing AND playing fast songs would wear me out and leave me out-of-breath!

I've always sang back-up vocals when playing, and would get usually one or two songs that I'd sing lead on per set (other than the one band I played in that had a full-time lead vocalist). It just kinda came natural to me -- except I was never able to do fills very well or anything else "fancy" while singing. Sort of like rubbing your stomach and patting your head at the same time, I guess...

I've never suffered from a lack of energy. It was a severe lack of talent that kept the microphones far far far away from my lips.

WAAAAAYYYY back when I was playing the chili cookoff circuit in Tx (the 70s), the group I was with wanted me to sing. I argued that you simply can't make a silk purse out of a sows butt. It took me singing "Driving My Life Away" to prove my point.

They stopped asking.

I have been in bands where I was the lead singer while playing and have always sung backup. Truly the biggest problem is hearing yourself and when I say that, I am not necessarily talking about intonation with your singing. My problem was that I was always over-singing behind a kit. Now with in ear monitors, that is so much easier. Also, just the adrenaline that gets pumped into your system from drumming can cause me to over sing.

As to physically pulling that off, I have always thought that generally one of the two disciplines has to go on auto pilot while you focus on the other. That is, of course an over simplification but I generally found myself concentrating on vocals and not as much on the drumming. Occasionally that would be the other way around though. I've always found the worst parts were singing sustained notes like oohs and ahhs when singing BGV's. It is just tough to pull that off and blend with a straight tone when your limbs are whacking away. To that point I have always found it easier to sing lead than backups even when it is really complicated stuff.

Lastly, to the point of wireless, I think that is not a great idea. Most of my time is now spent producing live events and I will say that, if you can be on a wire, you should be on a wire. Wireless frequencies in the entertainment world are a dicey proposition. I typically hire a technician that does nothing but scan for available frequencies on a daily basis as the frequencies the FCC has allotted to entertainment are also allotted for HDTV. Finding suitable frequencies can certainly be a full time job especially when you have a lot of wireless channels. If you are going to stay behind your kit, stay wired. If something goes wrong with that, it is an easy fix. It will be far more stable than low end wireless gear. That is probably a topic for another thread or perhaps another forum entirely. Sorry.

I originally had a boom set up for back up vocals, eventually developed a repertoire of about 30 songs on which I sing lead. Always pick the songs carefully as I found that the drumming takes second place when I sing lead.

Way the brain works,, mine anyhow..

Also played some blues harp at times using a around the neck harness,

Best thing I found to help for vocals, is a "Boss" mini monitor that I mount in close to the Hi Hats & aim right at the mike.

Works great

You lot have some good advice!!!

I was practising "I shot the sheriff" by Clapton this morning and it wasn't too bad. I am just singing the backing vocals on that song, but I like these as it's not sustained oohs and aahhs. Yeah, the long, sustained notes are harder.

I used to sing along to "Abacab" (as Phil Collins is one of my idols) when I was much younger. I used to also be able to sing along to "I don't are anymore" as well. Those are not quite as easy for me these days...

Thanks for the input and suggestions!!!

One thing you may already know: Find the right key for your range.

Lots of cover bands are loathe to change from the original key, but if that isn't right for you, it can be very hard. Being in the correct key is much more natural and comfortable.

If you have qualified players in your band, making a key switch should be easy for them to do.

I have never felt better about ANY set of musicians I have worked with in a very long time!!! These blokes know how to change keys pretty well!!! We change keys pretty easily when the main lead needs to go up or down according to her vocal range. I haven't worked with professionals of this calibre in a long, long time!!! I pinch myself knowing who I am working with!!!

Good advice!!!

We're currently working on a queen set. Hopefully we'll do nothing but queen, I know, a tough band to cover, but we're not doing too bad. Anyhoo, I stepped up to the plate and said, let's do i'm in love with my car. Cheese and rice, roger had a high voice. I'm getting there. It helps that i've listened and watched queen, especially roger, for over 30 years now. :-D

Queen are brilliant!!! It's ambitious to cover Queen, but if you get it, your audience will want more and more!!!