# Well-known groups that spawned more than one popular solo artist **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 29, 2006, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-groups-that-spawned-more-than-one-popular-solo-artist/382197 "2006-11-29T15:30:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2006, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-groups-that-spawned-more-than-one-popular-solo-artist/382197/81 "2006-12-01T00:06:01Z")
The Police:Sting Andy Summers Stewart Copeland Klark Kent ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2006, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-groups-that-spawned-more-than-one-popular-solo-artist/382197/82 "2006-12-01T00:11:34Z")
Well now we’re _reeeeally_ stratching the definition of “successful.” Managing to produce a solo album that sells 10 copies doesn’t cut it, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2006, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-groups-that-spawned-more-than-one-popular-solo-artist/382197/83 "2006-12-01T00:25:54Z")
Joe Walsh had a career before he joined the Eagles. Hard to say if Timothy B. Schmidt or Bernie Leadon had a career after the Eagles. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2006, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-groups-that-spawned-more-than-one-popular-solo-artist/382197/84 "2006-12-01T00:33:17Z")
[QUOTE=pulykamell] Deep Purple had a bunch of people who went on to have memorable musical careers (both solo and with other bands), including Joe Satriani, David Coverdale, Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Gillan, but, once again I’m not sure anyone except Satriani would qualify as successful in a solo context. [/QUOTE] Satch had a career long before Purple. Coverdale is a good mention. Steve Morse went into Purple with a string of acclaimed albums both solo and as the leader of the (Dixie) Dregs. ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2006, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-groups-that-spawned-more-than-one-popular-solo-artist/382197/85 "2006-12-01T00:39:01Z")
[QUOTE=Hippy Hollow] Rockpile featured Nick Lowe and Dave Edmunds. [/QUOTE] Rockpile were a strange case. Because Lowe and Edmunds were signed to different labels, they couldn’t record under the name Rockpile. The band appeared on albums by both Lowe and Edmunds until the conflicting contracts expired. They made one perfect record and then split up. ---
**Author:** ![Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilvert_s_Pagan)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2006, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-groups-that-spawned-more-than-one-popular-solo-artist/382197/86 "2006-12-01T01:10:03Z")
[QUOTE=lissener] King Crimson:Robert Fripp Adrian Belew Tony Levin Bill Bruford [/QUOTE] Well, with apologies to **Astorian, Biffy, _et al_** , I’m as big a Crimhead as anyone on this board. But even I wouldn’t argue that someone who moved from Yes in their heyday to King Crimson could be considered to have become popular because of King Crimson. And Adrian was with Frank Zappa, then Talking Heads and Bowie before being a Crim, and Tony was a much-sought-after session musician before Crimson as well… Robert Fripp and Mel Collins, maybe? ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2006, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-groups-that-spawned-more-than-one-popular-solo-artist/382197/87 "2006-12-01T01:31:57Z")
What about successive lead singers for the same band who then left for solo careers? I ask because of **Black Sabbath** : Ozzy, Ronny James Dio … perhaps one or two others? ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2006, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-groups-that-spawned-more-than-one-popular-solo-artist/382197/88 "2006-12-01T01:54:49Z")
How about **Santana**? Besides the eponymous Carlos, we have: Greg Rolie & Neal Schon - **Journey** Buddy Miles - although he was established before Santana. Coke Escovedo had several albums after he left the group. Curtis Salgado - Robert Cray Band, Roomful of Blues, and a pretty successful solo act. I’d say **Santana** fits the bill! ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2006, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-groups-that-spawned-more-than-one-popular-solo-artist/382197/89 "2006-12-01T04:02:53Z")
[QUOTE=RealityChuck] **The James Gang** – Joe Walsh, Dominic Troioano, and Tommy Bolin had some solo success. [/QUOTE] You know, I absolutely adore Tommy Bolin and I’m trying to figure if him being with the James Gang is simply something I forgot, or if I just followed him from a later point and never checked his history. Regardless, **RC** , thanks for that. I’ll be trackin’ those two JG albums down. Oh, and DP’s _Come Taste The Band_ was sweet but _Teaser_ (minorly) and _Private Eyes_’ Post Toastie (major major majorly) just slay me. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2006, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-groups-that-spawned-more-than-one-popular-solo-artist/382197/90 "2006-12-01T04:27:52Z")
[QUOTE=VCO3] Well, if you want to argue for “units sold” or whatever, that could be a completely differnet thread. But critically, Calvin Johnson’s solo albums have done well and been lauded, and he just played two sold-out nights in Chicago a few months ago. That’s my definition of success. [/QUOTE] That’s fine, but you missed the second part of my question: what has Brett Lunsford done? Are you talking about his work with D+? ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2006, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-groups-that-spawned-more-than-one-popular-solo-artist/382197/91 "2006-12-01T04:49:31Z")
Going the soul music route: The Impressions–Jerry Butler and Curtis Mayfield The Dominoes–Clyde McPhatter and Jackie Wilson The Drifters–Clyde McPhatter and Ben E. King The Soul Stirrers–Sam Cooke and Johnnie Taylor ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2006, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-groups-that-spawned-more-than-one-popular-solo-artist/382197/92 "2006-12-01T05:20:28Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] More than one popular solo artist is the title of the thread. 😉 [/QUOTE] I give you [Stewart](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/103-1500251-3199847?url=search-alias%3Dpopular&field-keywords=stewart+copeland&Go.x=11&Go.y=9) [Copeland](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004841/). (_The Rhythmatist_ is available starting at $43? Holy crap - damn glad I bought it back then…) ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2006, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-groups-that-spawned-more-than-one-popular-solo-artist/382197/93 "2006-12-01T06:03:14Z")
[QUOTE=control-z] Personally, I can’t name any music by Jeff Beck, [/QUOTE] Jeff Beck is one of the most respected guitarists of all time. He’s won 4 grammys and has a host of gold records as a solo artist. He’s kinda rsponsible for launching Rod Stewart and Ron Wood (both were in the Jeff Beck Group) but I don’t think we should hold that against him. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2006, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-groups-that-spawned-more-than-one-popular-solo-artist/382197/94 "2006-12-01T07:27:05Z")
[QUOTE=Turek] Lindsey Buckingham had small-to-medium radio success with “Go Insane” and “Holiday Road,” the latter being featured in _National Lampoon’s Vacation._ [/QUOTE] When i think of Buckingham’s solo career, the first song that comes to mind is “Trouble.” I think it went top 10 in the US. I never knew he sang the “Holiday Road” song from the movie. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2006, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-groups-that-spawned-more-than-one-popular-solo-artist/382197/95 "2006-12-01T08:43:14Z")
[QUOTE=mhendo] When i think of Buckingham’s solo career, the first song that comes to mind is “Trouble.” I think it went top 10 in the US. I never knew he sang the “Holiday Road” song from the movie. [/QUOTE] Doesn’t really count; Buckingham was hired (along with Nicks) because he (they) had already had some success as “Buckingham Nicks.” Mick Fleetwood hired them to spice up Fleetwood Mac. So they’re kind of the opposite of the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2006, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-groups-that-spawned-more-than-one-popular-solo-artist/382197/96 "2006-12-01T13:28:26Z")
[QUOTE=spoke-] Well now we’re _reeeeally_ stratching the definition of “successful.” Managing to produce a solo album that sells 10 copies doesn’t cut it, IMO. [/QUOTE] If that’s the definition, then ABBA counts, with both Friday & Agnetha releasing pre- and post-ABBA albums that sold a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2006, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-groups-that-spawned-more-than-one-popular-solo-artist/382197/97 "2006-12-01T14:59:25Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] That would be a bad idea. It would mean, for example, that Creedence Clearwater Revival wasn’t a successful group, as they never had a #1 single. Ditto Pink Floyd. [/QUOTE] [TotalFloydNerdNitpick]Unless you count British pop charts, with which the Floyd had a #1 hit with _See Emily Play_[/nitpick] ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2006, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-groups-that-spawned-more-than-one-popular-solo-artist/382197/98 "2006-12-01T17:25:23Z")
[QUOTE=lissener] Doesn’t really count; Buckingham was hired (along with Nicks) because he (they) had already had some success as “Buckingham Nicks.” Mick Fleetwood hired them to spice up Fleetwood Mac. So they’re kind of the opposite of the OP. [/QUOTE] Hardly the opposite. The OP wanted “well-known groups that spawned more than one popular solo artist.” The opposite of that would be well-known solo artists that spawned a popular band. Neither Nicks nor Buckingham was a real solo artist (well-known or otherwise) before joining Fleetwood Mac, and they certainly didn’t spawn Fleetwood Mac, which had been a popular band, especially in the UK and Europe, since the late '60s. Also, the Buckingham Nicks album was hardly a raging success. Both artists only gained real exposure and fame with their invitation into Fleetwood Mac. Then, after Fleetwood Mac, each had successful solo careers. I don’t think it’s a stretch at all to fit them into the OP’s formulation. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-known-groups-that-spawned-more-than-one-popular-solo-artist/382197.md?page=4)