10 Classic Rock Artists Who Left Their Band & Had A A success Solo Career

We frequently fixate on and analyze so many quite a lot of ingredients of traditional rock tune with a microscope. Like, what makes rock, especially from the ’70s and ’80s timeframe, one thing we rob into fable “traditional?” What songs from the greater echelon of the fashion are easy reasonably standard to in the meanwhile on streaming products and providers savor Spotify, to the level that they’ve crossed over a billion streams? Classic rock easy is conscious of techniques to find our attention (and our ears) this form, correct down to a pair of the very best bands in traditional rock and why they broke up.

Those juicy crucial factors aside, even supposing, what about what occurred to these traditional rock band ringleaders once the band drama, the disagreements, and the egos bought build to the side, and they went solo as a substitute? That freedom doesn’t continually lead to a fatal blow for these creators who think to head independent (even supposing in most cases the implications aren’t large). The truth is, there are extra than a pair of musicians who no longer easiest left their teams at the abet of nonetheless arguably had equal if no longer greater success when they selected to head and waste a title for themselves.

10

Darius Rucker, Hootie & The Blowfish

A Pop-Rocker Goes Nation

Darius Rucker’s band Hootie & The Blowfish became once (and remains) a staple of ’90s radio pop-rock, a hit two Grammy Awards and having three High 10 charting singles, as properly as an album (1994’s Cracked Rear Window) that’s regarded as one of the all-time easiest-selling data in the US. Whereas the crew by no manner truly split up (easiest occurring a ten-year hiatus in 2008), Rucker first took the opportunity to head solo in 2002. Whereas his R&B debut, Attend to Then, ​​​​​​didn’t waste waves, it became once country tune the attach Rucker stumbled on added success.

His first country single, 2008’s “Don’t Mediate I Don’t Mediate About It” (off Study to Are living), became the key song by a Murky artist since Charley Satisfaction in 1983 to chart at number one on the Scorching Nation Songs chart. In 2009, Rucker became the key Murky American to receive the New Artist Award from the Nation Music Affiliation, and he’s mechanically been a solo presence on the Nation and Billboard charts with every commence he’s had since.

9

Michael McDonald, The Doobie Brothers

A Soulful Crooner Finds Solo Success

Vocalist Michael McDonald joined rock crew the Doobie Brothers in 1975, before the total lot as a non permanent substitute for lead singer Tom Johnston, who became once going by illness. McDonald sooner or later proved a hit passable to retain plump-time, singing lead on major Doobie hits and bringing a soulful groove to songs savor “Takin’ It to the Streets,” “It Keeps You Runnin’,” and “What a Fool Believes” (which earned McDonald a Grammy Award).

After the band’s first farewell tour, McDonald went solo with his 1982 debut album If That’s What It Takes, which featured hit songs “I Gotta Try” and “I Save Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Shut to)”. McDonald has had thoroughly different other hit tracks over time as properly, savor “Sweet Freedom,” “No Lookin’ Attend,” and “Take It to Heart,” and earned two Grammy nominations for his 2007 Motown tribute album Motown. McDonald has easiest continued to be a presence in the field of R&B, soul, rock, and yacht rock categories into the stylish era.

8

Sting, The Police

New Waver Finds New Lifestyles Solo

English musician Sting first rose to prominence because the bassist, lead songwriter, and frontman for unusual wave rock crew the Police, from their 1977 formation till they sooner or later split up in 1986. Mixing rock with the sounds of reggae, punk, and jazz, the band scored hits at some stage in their tenure, equivalent to “Roxanne,” “Can’t Stand Losing You,” “Don’t Stand So Shut To Me,” and “Every Breath You Take.” As soon as the trio broke up, even supposing, Sting didn’t proceed out a beat going out on his receive.

His debut solo sage, The Dream of the Blue Turtles, swiftly went triple platinum and purchased four Grammy nominations. Over the years, Sting’s solo songs would proceed to search out the charts, including “Englishman in New York,” “Fields of Gold,” “If I Ever Lose My Religion in You,” “Trace New Day,” and “Fascinated by Fancy” (with Rod Stewart and Bryan Adams). Between his solo profession and the Police, Sting has bought over 100 million albums, obtained 17 Grammy Awards, and became once inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Repute.

7

Phil Collins, Genesis

The Drummer Takes The Lead

Firstly an actor in his younger days, Phil Collins assumed the role of drummer in the rock band Genesis starting up in 1970. After musician Peter Gabriel left the crew in 1975, Collins took over as lead singer as properly, scoring an instantaneous hit album with the band in 1976’s A Trick of the Tail. More success adopted with the crew’s 1977 prepare-up album,… And Then There Had been Three…, as properly as 1980’s Duke. Whereas Collins wouldn’t formally proceed Genesis till 1996 (for a time), he first went solo starting up in 1981.

That debut album (entitled Face Value) started a bustle of solo dominance for Collins in the last decade, led by thoroughly different LP hit singles savor “In The Air Tonight,” “I Don’t Care Anymore,” “Sussudio,” “Don’t Lose My Number,” and “Two Hearts.” In the raze, Collins is belief of as one of easiest three musical artists to ever sell over 100 million albums each with a band and solo, joining Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson in that uncommon category of popularity.

6

Joan Jett, The Runaways

This Rocker Slays Punk Mastery

Whereas easy in her formative years, guitarist/singer Joan Jett first became portion of the recognition spotlight when she joined the all-girl rock crew the Runaways in 1975. Regardless of opening for bands savor Low-impress Trick, Van Halen, and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and having illustrious songs savor “Cherry Bomb” and “Hollywood” of their catalog, the Runaways by no manner reasonably caught on (especially in the usa). By 1979, Jett would receive out about to pursue a solo profession.

Releasing her debut solo sage in 1980 with backing band the Blackhearts (on her self-started independent sage imprint in the usa), Jett has long past on to commence twelve entire studio albums underneath the Joan Jett and the Blackhearts title. Three of these data were licensed platinum or gold, whereas eleven singles (including “I Fancy Rock ‘n’ Roll” and “I Disfavor Myself for Loving You”) charted on the Billboard Scorching 100.

5

Peter Gabriel, Genesis

One more Genesis Solo Star

Before drummer Phil Collins wound up changing into the lead singer of the band Genesis, there became once Peter Gabriel. No doubt one of many founders of the crew in 1968, Gabriel became once with the crew at some stage in their first six studio albums sooner than departing for his receive solo profession in 1975. Whereas the frontman had first price results with Genesis, his breakout occurred on his receive deserves.

After four a hit self-titled data, his fifth LP (entitled So) became his bestseller, going multi-platinum in each the UK and the usa. So singles “In Your Eyes” and “Sledgehammer” led the manner in recognition, with the “Sledgehammer” tune video occurring as regarded as one of the most conducted in the history of the tune channel MTV. In entire, Gabriel has obtained six Grammy Awards and been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Repute twice, with Genesis and solo.

4

Rod Stewart, The Jeff Beck Neighborhood/Faces

A Frontman Goes Even Bigger Solo

English singer-songwriter Rod Stewart bought his first gargantuan spoil in tune with the Jeff Beck Neighborhood in 1967, his trademark raspy vocals joining forces with the faded Yardbirds guitarist as properly as future Rolling Stones musician Ronnie Wooden. After a contentious two years, Stewart would proceed to affix the Faces in 1969, whereas also launching his solo profession the same year. As Stewart’s solo work bought greater (especially after his 1971 single “Maggie Could presumably additionally”), that became his major level of interest after the Faces broke up in 1975.

In the latter half of of the ’70s, Stewart reached the height of his global popularity, backed by songs savor “Tonight’s the Evening,” “You’re in My Heart,” and “Scorching Legs.” Transitioning to disco and silent wave sounds as time went on, Stewart sooner or later graduated to a heavily soft-rock sound because the ’80s became into the ’90s. Stewart even started decoding the Great American Songbook in the 2000s on the manner to two Rock and Roll Hall of Repute entries and over forty top-charting singles between the US and UK.

3

Tina Turner, Ike & Tina Turner Revue

A Rock And Roll Redemption Tale

Tina Turner first rose to prominence because the lead singer of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue with her husband Ike Turner from 1960 till 1976. The soul and R&B-leaning duo observed their popularity launch up to rise as they integrated rock tunes into their repertoire, preserving tracks savor The Beatles’ “Attain Together,” the Rolling Stones’ “Honky Tonk Girl,” and Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Proud Mary” (their very best hit). Sadly, Ike Turner’s rising drug concerns and abuse in the direction of Tina led to their split in 1976 (and divorce in ’78).

In 1984, Turner launched a large solo profession comeback with her multi-platinum album Personal Dancer (and Grammy-a hit single “What’s Fancy Received to Attain With It”). This kicked off an global level of success that incorporated the perfect-grossing tour of the ’80s (and 2nd-perfect grossing of the ’90s), eleven extra Grammy Awards, two Rock and Roll Hall of Repute inductions, and a Kennedy Heart Honor. Turner extra than earned the nickname she’d sooner or later receive, the “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll.”

2

Robert Plant, Led Zeppelin

A Rock Frontman Diversifies

Robert Plant became once regarded as one of many very best and most profound rock and roll frontmen when he helmed the band Led Zeppelin from 1968 till they dissolved in 1980, on a level with Roger Daltrey with the Who or Jim Morrison with the Doors. Plant sang timeless Zeppelin classics, savor “Immigrant Tune,” “Stairway to Heaven,” “Magnificent Conditions Noxious Conditions,” “Dazed and At a loss for phrases,” and “Murky Dog,” among so many others build out by the pioneering entertaining rockers.

After the crew contributors went their separate ways following the death of drummer John Bonham, Plant went by thoroughly different shades of rock and roll, each solo (on his most a hit 1988 multi-platinum album Now and Zen) and with side teams savor the Honeydrippers (with songs savor a remake of “Sea of Fancy”). He even took a critically acclaimed country/folks-rock turn with bluegrass artist Alison Krauss as portion of a storied, ongoing profession.

1

Paul Simon, Simon & Garfunkel

A Folks-Rock Songwriting Royal

There are few duos in the history of folks-rock as iconic because the large Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, who took the ’60s by storm because the tandem identified as Simon & Garfunkel. Singles savor “Mrs Robinson,” “The Boxer,” “Bridge Over Anxious Water,” and “The US” easiest launch up to scratch the skin of their notoriety. Sadly, stress between the 2 contributors led to Simon fully embracing his solo profession with a self-titled LP in 1972 after Simon & Garfunkel formally split in 1970.

Simon didn’t lose a step on his solo shuffle, even supposing, embracing sounds ranging from gospel to reggae, soul, and South African influences on albums savor Soundless Loopy After All These Years, Graceland, and There Goes Rhymin’ Simon. The twice-inducted Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and winner of 16 Grammy Awards has continued to ply his skillful songwriting trade properly into the twenty first century, even being acknowledged in 2007 with the Library of Congress’s inaugural Gershwin Prize for Neatly-liked Tune.