# Singers from bands who DON'T suck solo **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 27, 2004, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-from-bands-who-dont-suck-solo/271399 "2004-10-27T06:12:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Gotterfunken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/58956e/32.png) [@Gotterfunken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gotterfunken)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-from-bands-who-dont-suck-solo/271399/21 "2004-10-27T16:38:16Z")
**Morrissey**. (see, **Anastasaeon** , you have some company here–he’s been nominated by at least four people so far!). While his work with The Smiths is the stuff of legend, his solo work stands quite well on its own. I will also nominate **David Byrne**. I loved Talking Heads, but I also love Byrne’s solo work, which I think is highly underrated. IMHO, he’s one of the most gifted songwriters and musicians ever. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Sayid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@Jack\_Sayid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Sayid)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-from-bands-who-dont-suck-solo/271399/22 "2004-10-27T16:41:42Z")
> [@BurnMeUp](#): > > As much as I love and am devoted to the works of Mr Elfman, I would not really call him a solo artist. > > His scoring work and musicals are not really “solo artist” type music. > > His album So-Lo was actually most of the band Oingo Boingo and only recorded under his name to get out from under a recording contract restriction. > > The only vocal work he’s done is the recordings for The Nightmare Before Christmas and that was over 8 years ago. Touche I just thought I would throw it out there. Elfman and Mothersbaugh should really have their own category…_The Super Solo Composer Artist_, or something. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![pasunejen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/58956e/32.png) [@pasunejen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pasunejen)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-from-bands-who-dont-suck-solo/271399/23 "2004-10-27T17:04:39Z")
Elliott Smith. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-from-bands-who-dont-suck-solo/271399/24 "2004-10-27T17:08:45Z")
Aimee Mann – she fronted Til Tuesday, then went solo. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-from-bands-who-dont-suck-solo/271399/25 "2004-10-28T00:16:59Z")
Well, **Paul Weller** doesn’t suck as a solo singer; he’s pretty good, but still, give me **The Jam** anyday. ---
**Author:** ![yBeayf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e274bd/32.png) [@yBeayf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yBeayf)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-from-bands-who-dont-suck-solo/271399/26 "2004-10-28T00:26:17Z")
Les Claypool’s solo work hasn’t been bad. I would say Billy Corgan and Zwan, but he was for all intents and purposes a solo artist with Smashing Pumpkins so it doesn’t count. Enya from Clannad hasn’t done badly, either. ---
**Author:** ![yBeayf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e274bd/32.png) [@yBeayf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yBeayf)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-from-bands-who-dont-suck-solo/271399/27 "2004-10-28T00:30:03Z")
Oh yeah… who can forget John Lennon? ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-from-bands-who-dont-suck-solo/271399/28 "2004-10-28T00:33:51Z")
Martin Gore Ben Gibbard (if the Postal Service counts) Alan Wilder (Recoil) ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-from-bands-who-dont-suck-solo/271399/29 "2004-10-28T03:54:19Z")
All four Beatles, including Ringo. Burton Cummings and Randy Bachmann. Jack White Steve Winwood Eric Clapton Pete Townsend Brian Setzer Brian Wilson John Fogerty Neil Young Jeff Lynne Frank Sinatra Lowell George Paul Simon Rod Stewart Ryan Adams George Michael (sort of) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-from-bands-who-dont-suck-solo/271399.md?page=1)