10 Traditional Rock Artists Who Left Their Band & Had A Worthwhile Solo Profession

We steadily fixate on and analyze so many diversified parts of classic rock song with a microscope. Esteem, what makes rock, in particular from the ’70s and ’80s duration of time, something we have in thoughts “classic?” What songs from the upper echelon of the vogue are light moderately in vogue thus a long way to day on streaming companies like Spotify, to the point that they’ve crossed over a thousand million streams? Traditional rock light knows the true scheme to assemble our attention (and our ears) this form, appropriate the total vogue down to about a of the ideal bands in classic rock and why they broke up.

Those juicy particulars apart, though, what about what took situation to those classic rock band ringleaders once the band drama, the disagreements, and the egos got attach to the aspect, and they went solo as a exchange? That freedom doesn’t continuously lead to a deadly blow for these creators who judge to switch self sustaining (though every so steadily the implications aren’t immense). In fact, there are more than about a musicians who no longer most efficient left their groups in the abet of but arguably had equal if no longer increased success once they chose to switch and effect a title for themselves.

10

Darius Rucker, Hootie & The Blowfish

A Pop-Rocker Goes Country

Darius Rucker’s band Hootie & The Blowfish was once (and stays) a staple of ’90s radio pop-rock, winning two Grammy Awards and having three Top 10 charting singles, as well to an album (1994’s Cracked Rear Window) that’s one in every of the all-time very best-promoting records in the US. Whereas the neighborhood never truly split up (most efficient occurring a ten-year hiatus in 2008), Rucker first took the alternative to switch solo in 2002. Whereas his R&B debut, Inspire to Then, ​​​​​​didn’t effect waves, it was once country song where Rucker found added success.

His first country single, 2008’s “Don’t Dangle I Don’t Dangle About It” (off Study to Dwell), became the main tune by a Black artist since Charley Pride in 1983 to chart at number 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart. In 2009, Rucker became the main Black American to fetch the New Artist Award from the Country Tune Affiliation, and he’s robotically been a solo presence on the Country and Billboard charts with every unencumber he’s had since.

9

Michael McDonald, The Doobie Brothers

A Soulful Crooner Finds Solo Success

Vocalist Michael McDonald joined rock neighborhood the Doobie Brothers in 1975, in the initiating as a momentary exchange for lead singer Tom Johnston, who was once facing sickness. McDonald sooner or later proved a success ample to have beefy-time, singing lead on main Doobie hits and bringing a soulful groove to songs like “Takin’ It to the Streets,” “It Keeps You Runnin’,” and “What a Idiot 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 Strive” and “I Preserve Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Terminate to)”. McDonald has had moderately about a other hit tracks over time as correctly, like “Candy Freedom,” “No Lookin’ Inspire,” and “Rob It to Coronary heart,” and earned two Grammy nominations for his 2007 Motown tribute album Motown. McDonald has most efficient persevered to be a presence in the enviornment of R&B, soul, rock, and yacht rock categories into the fashionable generation.

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 place original wave rock neighborhood the Police, from their 1977 formation till they finally split up in 1986. Mixing rock with the sounds of reggae, punk, and jazz, the band scored hits all over their tenure, comparable to “Roxanne,” “Can’t Stand Dropping You,” “Don’t Stand So Terminate To Me,” and “Every Breath You Rob.” Once the trio broke up, though, Sting didn’t miss a beat going out on his beget.

His debut solo legend, The Dream of the Blue Turtles, rapidly went triple platinum and acquired four Grammy nominations. Over the years, Sting’s solo songs would proceed to in finding the charts, alongside side “Englishman in New York,” “Fields of Gold,” “If I Ever Lose My Faith in You,” “Ticket New Day,” and “Making an allowance for Care for” (with Rod Stewart and Bryan Adams). Between his solo occupation and the Police, Sting has supplied over 100 million albums, received 17 Grammy Awards, and was once inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Reputation.

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 in 1970. After musician Peter Gabriel left the neighborhood in 1975, Collins took over as lead singer as correctly, scoring a straight away hit album with the band in 1976’s A Trick of the Tail. More success followed with the neighborhood’s 1977 note-up album,… And Then There Were Three…, as well to 1980’s Duke. Whereas Collins wouldn’t formally proceed Genesis till 1996 (for a time), he first went solo starting in 1981.

That debut album (entitled Face Place) started a rush of solo dominance for Collins in the decade, led by moderately about a LP hit singles like “In The Air Tonight,” “I Don’t Care Anymore,” “Sussudio,” “Don’t Lose My Number,” and “Two Hearts.” Within the ruin, Collins is one in every of most efficient three musical artists to ever sell over 100 million albums every with a band and solo, joining Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson in that uncommon class of fame.

6

Joan Jett, The Runaways

This Rocker Slays Punk Mastery

Whereas light in her younger of us, guitarist/singer Joan Jett first became fragment of the essential particular person highlight when she joined the all-girl rock neighborhood the Runaways in 1975. No topic opening for bands like Cheap Trick, Van Halen, and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and having renowned songs like “Cherry Bomb” and “Hollywood” of their catalog, the Runaways never moderately caught on (in particular in the United States). By 1979, Jett would gaze to pursue a solo occupation.

Releasing her debut solo legend in 1980 with backing band the Blackhearts (on her self-started self sustaining legend place in the United States), Jett has long gone on to unencumber twelve complete studio albums below the Joan Jett and the Blackhearts title. Three of these records beget been licensed platinum or gold, while eleven singles (alongside side “I Care for Rock ‘n’ Roll” and “I Hate Myself for Loving You”) charted on the Billboard Hot 100.

5

Peter Gabriel, Genesis

One other Genesis Solo Huge title

Sooner than drummer Phil Collins ruin up turning into the lead singer of the band Genesis, there was once Peter Gabriel. One of the crucial founders of the neighborhood in 1968, Gabriel was once with the neighborhood all over their first six studio albums earlier than departing for his beget solo occupation in 1975. Whereas the frontman had decent outcomes with Genesis, his breakout happened on his beget deserves.

After four a success self-titled records, his fifth LP (entitled So) became his bestseller, going multi-platinum in every the UK and the United States. So singles “In Your Eyes” and “Sledgehammer” led the system in fame, with the “Sledgehammer” song video going down as one in every of the most played in the history of the song channel MTV. In complete, Gabriel has received six Grammy Awards and been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Reputation twice, with Genesis and solo.

4

Rod Stewart, The Jeff Beck Neighborhood/Faces

A Frontman Goes Even Bigger Solo

English singer-songwriter Rod Stewart got his first mountainous destroy in song with the Jeff Beck Neighborhood in 1967, his trademark raspy vocals joining forces with the dilapidated Yardbirds guitarist as well to future Rolling Stones musician Ronnie Wood. After a contentious two years, Stewart would proceed to be a part of the Faces in 1969, while additionally launching his solo occupation the same year. As Stewart’s solo work got bigger (in particular after his 1971 single “Maggie Would possibly presumably per chance”), that became his main focal point after the Faces broke up in 1975.

Within the latter half of the ’70s, Stewart reached the peak of his world fame, backed by songs like “Tonight’s the Evening,” “You’re in My Coronary heart,” and “Hot Legs.” Transitioning to disco and original wave sounds as time went on, Stewart sooner or later graduated to a closely at ease-rock sound because the ’80s became the ’90s. Stewart even started interpreting the Worthy American Songbook in the 2000s on the system to 2 Rock and Roll Hall of Reputation entries and over forty top-charting singles between the US and UK.

3

Tina Turner, Ike & Tina Turner Revue

A Rock And Roll Redemption Myth

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 saw their fame commence to upward thrust as they incorporated rock tunes into their repertoire, overlaying tracks like The Beatles’ “Attain Collectively,” the Rolling Stones’ “Honky Tonk Lady,” and Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Proud Mary” (their ideal hit). Unfortunately, Ike Turner’s increasing drug factors and abuse in opposition to Tina resulted in their split in 1976 (and divorce in ’78).

In 1984, Turner launched a huge solo occupation comeback with her multi-platinum album Non-public Dancer (and Grammy-winning single “What’s Care for Bought to Originate With It”). This kicked off a world level of success that incorporated the absolute best-grossing tour of the ’80s (and 2d-absolute best grossing of the ’90s), eleven more Grammy Awards, two Rock and Roll Hall of Reputation inductions, and a Kennedy Heart Honor. Turner more than earned the nickname she’d finally receive, the “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll.”

2

Robert Plant, Led Zeppelin

A Rock Frontman Diversifies

Robert Plant was once one in every of the ideal 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 Doorways. Plant sang timeless Zeppelin classics, like “Immigrant Tune,” “Stairway to Heaven,” “Factual Situations Nasty Situations,” “Dazed and Puzzled,” and “Black Dog,” among so many others attach out by the pioneering exhausting rockers.

After the neighborhood people went their separate ways following the loss of life of drummer John Bonham, Plant went thru diversified shades of rock and roll, every solo (on his most a success 1988 multi-platinum album Now and Zen) and with aspect groups like the Honeydrippers (with songs like a remake of “Sea of Care for”). He even took a significantly acclaimed country/folks-rock turn with bluegrass artist Alison Krauss as fragment of a storied, ongoing occupation.

1

Paul Simon, Simon & Garfunkel

A Folks-Rock Songwriting Royal

There are few duos in the history of folks-rock as iconic because the immense Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, who took the ’60s by storm because the tandem identified as Simon & Garfunkel. Singles like “Mrs Robinson,” “The Boxer,” “Bridge Over Panicked Water,” and “The US” most efficient commence to scratch the skin of their notoriety. Sadly, tension between the 2 people resulted in Simon entirely embracing his solo occupation with a self-titled LP in 1972 after Simon & Garfunkel formally split in 1970.

Simon didn’t lose a step on his solo jog, though, embracing sounds starting from gospel to reggae, soul, and South African influences on albums like Restful Crazy 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 persevered to ply his skillful songwriting exchange correctly into the twenty first century, even being acknowledged in 2007 with the Library of Congress’s inaugural Gershwin Prize for In vogue Tune.