Best person the leave a band a go solo?

[PVF]

Who do you think has had the most successful solo run after being in a band?

I would say Ozzy Osbourne. Had a great career with Black Sabbath and then went huge when he went solo.

Had 8 platinum albums with great albums like Blizzard Of Oz, Diary of a Madman, Bark at the Moon and No More Tears.

What do you think?

 

[Paranoid]

Not that I like his music but Robbie Williams was huge after that bad he was in.

 

[TheStinger]

Sting.

 

[aussierulesrules]

Not that I'm a big fan, but I hear that Phil Collins (and Peter Gabriel for that matter!) went OK after he left Genesis: "According to Atlantic Records, Collins's total worldwide sales as a solo artist, as of 2000, were 150 million. Collins has won numerous music awards throughout his career, including seven Grammy Awards, five Brit Awards—winning Best British Male three times, an Academy Award, and two Golden Globes for his solo work. Collins is one of only three recording artists (along with Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson) who have sold over 100 million albums worldwide both as solo artists and (separately) as principal members of a band." (Wikipedia)

 

[Plugger35]

Neil Young /thread

He dominated after leaving Buffalo Springfield and CSNY, they begged him to come back but Neil was a free spirit, too good to be tied down to a band.

Absolute Legend

[YOUTUBE]cMs3PCDM8Eg[/YOUTUBE]

 

[aussierulesrules]

I prefer this one, which is from a Live DVD: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SdikywAcaM&feature=g-like&context=G2c79108ALT4bgAQALAA

 

[Eddie Dingle]

Iggy Pop
John Lennon

 

[Dan Moody]

Rod Stewart
Don Henley
Glenn Frey

 

[DrVanNostrand]

Sting. Love his solo work, especially the first few jazz-tinged albums.

I'll never forgive Rod Stewart for disbanding Faces.

 

[bombermick]

It would have to be Michael Jackson, becoming the biggest pop star ever. Robbie Williams did very well (at least commercially) after leaving/getting kicked out from Take That.

 

[La Dispute]

Elliott Smith.

 

[Hue_Jars]

Gotta be MJ I reckon.

There's heaps of artists that I like that have been in big bands. Richard Ashcroft originally from the Verve's first album was good. Keef Richard's stuff with the X-Pensive Winos was great. Mick Jagger's not so good. I like Noel Gallagher's recent work with The High Flying Birds too. George Harrison, John Lennon and Paul Maccartney were all awesome.

Then theres artists who haven't done so well, like Liam Gallagher's Beady Eye and Slash.

 

[Tex_21]

^Slash has only released one solo album, so its a bit early to be judging that one. Had numerous 'projects' like the 2 Snakepit incarnations, the Blues Ball, playing with MJ (amongst a heap of others), the rise and halt of VR, before actually going solo.

Do we get to count Axl Rose? Or because it wasn't his 'choice' to go 'solo' it doesn't count?

 

[Cursed Cat]

not a fan, but Beyonce.

 

[Quivorir]

Michael Jackson gets my vote.

 

[TheStinger]

David Lee Roth did alright for himself when he left VH.

 

[CURVE]

Wasn't Madonna in a band?? I think they were called THE BREAKFAST CLUB.

If so, then Madonna or Michael Jackson.

 

[AtomicBlonde]

Gotta add Stevie Nicks to the list, remarkable solo career whilst the Mac were in hiatus.

Tina Turner, ditched the hubby's Revue and spent years playing the hotel circuits paying off debts and then went on to become a massive star selling more concert tickets than any other solo performer in history along the way.

Diana Ross, left The Supremes and until Madonna came along was the world's most successful female pop star.

 

[TubbsFarquhar]

Van Morrison probably deserves a mention.

 

[Zuma]

Gotta add Stevie Nicks to the list, remarkable solo career whilst the Mac were in hiatus.

Tina Turner, ditched the hubby's Revue and spent years playing the hotel circuits paying off debts and then went on to become a massive star selling more concert tickets than any other solo performer in history along the way.

Diana Ross, left The Supremes and until Madonna came along was the world's most successful female pop star.

Very good post. Don't think you would find any bigger than the late Michael Jackson. In Australia Jimmy Barnes had 9 or 10 #1 albums if I remember correctly as a solo performer.

On Neil Young, he was in the Buffalo Springfield but I have always considered him as a solo guy as he started out solo and has always done his own thing coincidentally involving Crazy Horse, Pearl Jam, CSN, others as his muse wondered.

 

[Eddie Dingle]

I don't particularly like him, but how has nobody mentioned Justin Timberlake yet?

Yeah good point. Jusso brought sexy back ffs.

 

[JimDocker]

Neil Young /thread

He dominated after leaving Buffalo Springfield and CSNY, they begged him to come back but Neil was a free spirit, too good to be tied down to a band.

Absolute Legend

[youtube]cMs3PCDM8Eg[/youtube]

Agree 1 million percent !!!!

I saw CS&N a couple of weks back and they were utter shit. Neil is still totally relevant.

 

[Golding]

Do we get to count Axl Rose? Or because it wasn't his 'choice' to go 'solo' it doesn't count?

If the "Gunners" stuff post Slash, Duff, Steve / Matt, Izzy etc was any good then maybe.

 

[raskolnikov]

Agree with Neil Young but would also like to nominate Eric Clapton.

 

[Plugger35]

Agree 1 million percent !!!!

I saw CS&N a couple of weks back and they were utter shit. Neil is still totally relevant.

I have never been much of a fan of CSN&Y or CS&N, they have some nice harmonies but that's about it. They are a bit too hippie for my liking and I suspect a bit too hippie for Neil Young too who always had a much darker edge to his music.

Can't say I'm much of a fan of Buffalo Springfield either, only song of theirs I really know is "For What It's Worth" which is a great song.