Actually, I don't feel BD was a great vocalist at all.   Mediocre at best.  His voice sounds like it cracks and his vocal range is short.  His talent was songwrighting.  My first impression of heavens door is GNR's version.  Axl isn't much now, but you lose it if you don't use it.  On the bright side, there's this argentinian guy and a mexican fat impersonators that can sing exactly like AR.  Neat.  youtube it.

Edit: 5/9/12

Then again...  I just went through the billboard top 50 for old times sake, and I didn't find one song I liked. 0.o
Maybe I don't relate to the 2020's, yikes!  60% of the songs sounds like Techno/Chicks belting out funky techno beats.