# Singers who were great in a group, but suck solo **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 25, 2004, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-were-great-in-a-group-but-suck-solo/271139 "2004-10-25T23:02:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![JerH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bb73d2/32.png) [@JerH](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerH)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-were-great-in-a-group-but-suck-solo/271139/61 "2004-10-26T21:03:53Z")
No mention of the Bauhaus/Love and Rockets yet either. Peter Murphy’s solo stuff was pretty good, but David J and Daniel Ash’s solo stuff sucked. ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Doubt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@Stan\_Doubt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Doubt)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-were-great-in-a-group-but-suck-solo/271139/62 "2004-10-26T21:07:52Z")
Lots of good ones already. I hate all Van Morrison and Rod Stewart solo stuff, but I like Them and the Faces. How about David Johansen? From the NY Dolls to Buster Poindexter? I put Evan Dando right up there with P. Westerberg as a guy who started off his career with an awesome album/albums then got pussified with each subsequent band release until settling into a solo career of utter shite. Westerberg is better now, though. I like his Grandpaboy stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Liz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/liz/32/17737_2.png) [@Liz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liz)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-were-great-in-a-group-but-suck-solo/271139/63 "2004-10-26T21:15:15Z")
I personally like hearing Rollins speak more than sing. He’s a smart, interesting guy. Love Black Flag, though. As for Ozzy, his biggest crime is his fucking maddening _inconsistency_. There have been more than a few flashes of pure brilliance in his solo stuff, and lots of pure, 100% shit. As for Sting… ugh. Just ugh. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-were-great-in-a-group-but-suck-solo/271139/64 "2004-10-26T21:25:47Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Agnetha & Frida, the women from ABBA. How many people even know they recorded anything after the group broke up? > > Bjorn & Benny’s musicals, Chess & Kristina, though brillant, haven’t received the recognition they deserve. I have some of the ABBA-ladies post-ABBA stuff. Frida’s _There’s Something Going On_ was destro…, uh, produced by Phil Collins. He and his backing band (who are actually quite good, Daryl Stuermer is an underrated guitarist) are on it. The song “I Know There’s Something Going On” is not too bad. Agnetha’s solo stuff leaves much to be desired. Her videos aren’t much better. ---
**Author:** ![TheInterruptingCow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9c0ed/32.png) [@TheInterruptingCow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheInterruptingCow)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-were-great-in-a-group-but-suck-solo/271139/65 "2004-10-26T21:27:10Z")
> [@Padeye](#): > > Ehhh, IMHO Michael McDonald killed the Doobie Brothers. They had been the ultimate California biker bar band but they ended up being sidemen for the Kenny Rogers of Rock and Roll. However I can safely say that aside from a few backing vocals he did with Steely Dan (Peg) I think he was as good as a solo artist as he ever was. :rolleyes: > > At least he never started a fried chicken franchise. IIRC, McDonald was involved with Steely Dan even before he was a Doobie. He toured with them in 1972; didn’t join the Doobies until 1975 when Tom Johnston couldn’t tour. I thought he still sounded pretty good on [The New York Rock & Soul Review](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000002L0E/qid=1098825976/sr=8-1/ref=__1/104-7029540-6625523?v=glance&s=music) album with Becker, Fagen, Boz Skaggs, Phoebe Snow, Eddie and David Brigati, and Charles Brown. He does look disturbingly like Kenny Rodgers, though… ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-were-great-in-a-group-but-suck-solo/271139/66 "2004-10-26T23:56:12Z")
> [@Anastasaeon](#): > > _Shhhhhh._ > > I’m not _allowed_ to. My husband is a huge Michael McDonald fan. Granted, Michael did save the Doobies (IMHO), … Funny, I always thought he _ruined_ the Doobies. 😃 But McDonald is a good musician, well-respected even by the likes of Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. I’ve liked much of his solo work, as well as most of his backing vocals on other artists’ songs. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-were-great-in-a-group-but-suck-solo/271139/67 "2004-10-27T00:53:00Z")
I’ve got to strongly dispute both Roger Waters mentions. Frankly, I think _Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking_ and _Amused to Death_ are two albums that are better than all but one of Pink Floyd’s entire body of work. ---
**Author:** ![Roberta\_Plant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c89c15/32.png) [@Roberta\_Plant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roberta_Plant)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-were-great-in-a-group-but-suck-solo/271139/68 "2004-10-27T00:58:56Z")
Steve Winwood. Every single song on every single solo album he has made sounds EXACTLY THE SAME. If you hear one SW song, you truly have heard them all. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-were-great-in-a-group-but-suck-solo/271139/69 "2004-10-27T01:03:47Z")
> [@Roberta Plant](#): > > Steve Winwood. > > Every single song on every single solo album he has made sounds EXACTLY THE SAME. If you hear one SW song, you truly have heard them all. Which is why you should only listen to _Arc of a Diver_. ---
**Author:** ![nitroglycerine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c5a1d2/32.png) [@nitroglycerine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nitroglycerine)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-were-great-in-a-group-but-suck-solo/271139/70 "2004-10-27T05:21:54Z")
Glen Danzig. I loved Misfits and Samhain, but aside from a few great songs, Danzig the band suck ass. Jesse Malin (Ex D Generaation) Blech. Adam Ant Billy Idol (OK a lot of Billy’s stuff was prtty good, but none of it comes close to the greatness of Generation X) Iggy Pop-Iggy is god, yeah, but his post Stooges stuff is pretty spotty while every note the Stooges played was pure genius. Gene, Paul, Ace and Peter Sky Saxon. All of the post Seeds stuff I’ve heard was pretty much unlistenable. Frank Black Grant Hart and Bob Mould’s post Husker stuff. ---
**Author:** ![nitroglycerine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c5a1d2/32.png) [@nitroglycerine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nitroglycerine)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-were-great-in-a-group-but-suck-solo/271139/71 "2004-10-27T05:55:57Z")
> [@Loopydude](#): > > I kinda lost interest immediately after hearing “Dyslexic Heart”, which made me gnash my teeth in dismay. Perhaps I should give him another chance as well. Thanks Loopydude. It’s been a 45 minutes since I read this and I still have it playing in my head ☹ ---
**Author:** ![spiralscratch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dfb087/32.png) [@spiralscratch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spiralscratch)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-were-great-in-a-group-but-suck-solo/271139/72 "2004-10-27T06:12:21Z")
> [@nitroglycerine](#): > > …Bob Mould’s post Husker stuff. Oh, you have got to be kidding. All of it? He did a lot of great work solo and with Sugar. On his most recent stuff, however, I might be more inclined to agree. ---
**Author:** ![nitroglycerine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c5a1d2/32.png) [@nitroglycerine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nitroglycerine)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-were-great-in-a-group-but-suck-solo/271139/73 "2004-10-27T06:24:12Z")
> [@spiralscratch](#): > > Oh, you have got to be kidding. All of it? He did a lot of great work solo and with Sugar. > > On his most recent stuff, however, I might be more inclined to agree. Sugar just didn’t do it for me. But OK. I stand by the suck-ness of Black Streets of Rain and Workbook though. ---
**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-were-great-in-a-group-but-suck-solo/271139/74 "2004-10-27T07:25:54Z")
> [@JerH](#): > > No mention of the Bauhaus/Love and Rockets yet either. Peter Murphy’s solo stuff was pretty good, but David J and Daniel Ash’s solo stuff sucked. Sadly, I have to agree about Love and Rockets. I like some of their stuff, but overall I don’t like them. Tones on Tail has some good songs though. The guy I’m going to mention wasn’t a singer, but he still sucked going solo. **Johnny Marr** Brilliant guitarist, but his Johnny Marr and the Healers album is terrible. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-were-great-in-a-group-but-suck-solo/271139/75 "2004-10-27T07:35:53Z")
> [@spiralscratch](#): > > Oh, you have got to be kidding. All of it? He did a lot of great work solo and with Sugar. > > On his most recent stuff, however, I might be more inclined to agree. Bob is my favorite guitarist of all time. I am disappointed with his gradual transformation into an electronica artist (or, as I like to say, Depeche Mould). ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-were-great-in-a-group-but-suck-solo/271139/76 "2004-10-27T08:58:42Z")
> [@nitroglycerine](#): > > Sugar just didn’t do it for me. But OK. I stand by the suck-ness of Black Streets of Rain and Workbook though. You wanna step outside, nitroglycerine? Two of my favourite miserablist guitar-hero albums of all time: when everything in your world is going wrong and you feel like life hates you, play Black Sheets Of Rain REALLY loud. You’ll feel better. ---
**Author:** ![paulberserker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@paulberserker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paulberserker)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-were-great-in-a-group-but-suck-solo/271139/77 "2004-10-27T09:32:45Z")
Try [this](http://members.aol.com/paulspage/sounds.htm) for what Westerberg sounds like these days. (legal downloads) I saw an interview with Tommy Stinson not long back saying he should get out of his basement more, but he certainly is not Sting. The new Folker album isn’t too bad anyway, I liked it. And as much as I hate the Beatles, _Cloud Nine_ by George Harrisons a great pop album. Aside from Jeff Lynnes shitty Jeff Lynne production. And PIL were hit and miss as far as John Lydon was concerned, but when they hit, they were the bollocks. John Squire off the Stone Roses solo stuff is mediocre guitar wankery. ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-were-great-in-a-group-but-suck-solo/271139/78 "2004-10-27T14:12:23Z")
After going solo from Judas Priest, **Rob Halford** admitted he sucked. Does that count? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-were-great-in-a-group-but-suck-solo/271139/79 "2004-10-27T15:46:07Z")
> [@Iris](#): > > I’m going to nominate Johnette Napolitano - the lead singer from the band Concrete Blonde. I used to listen to them in college, but they broke up sometime in the late 90’s so she could pursue a solo singing career. I don’t think it went anywhere. Concrete Blonde reformed and released a new CD called **Mojave.** It was alright at best. ---
**Author:** ![nitroglycerine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c5a1d2/32.png) [@nitroglycerine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nitroglycerine)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-were-great-in-a-group-but-suck-solo/271139/80 "2004-10-27T16:03:26Z")
> [@Middlecase](#): > > You wanna step outside, nitroglycerine? Two of my favourite miserablist guitar-hero albums of all time: when everything in your world is going wrong and you feel like life hates you, play Black Sheets Of Rain REALLY loud. You’ll feel better. Haha…I don’t wanna step outside. 🙂 I just don’t like Bob’s stuff after Husker, That doesn’t mean YOU can’t enjoy it! This is a thread about opinions ferchristsake…no need to feel all defensive and shit. I bet there’s plenty of stuff I like that you would hate! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-were-great-in-a-group-but-suck-solo/271139.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-were-great-in-a-group-but-suck-solo/271139.md?page=5)