# What all bands have had members go onto be successful solo artists **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 30, 2004, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-all-bands-have-had-members-go-onto-be-successful-solo-artists/257622 "2004-07-30T18:25:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2004, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-all-bands-have-had-members-go-onto-be-successful-solo-artists/257622/41 "2004-07-31T05:53:21Z")
> [@syncrolecyne](#): > > Plus…if I am not mistaken, Ringo was mildly famous _before_ the Beatles - I got that impression for their ‘Anthology’ anyway, when they talked about how he was invited into the band. The group he played in, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, was the biggest group in Liverpool for a time, but the Beatles had far surpassed them by the time Ringo was asked to join. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2004, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-all-bands-have-had-members-go-onto-be-successful-solo-artists/257622/42 "2004-07-31T14:20:33Z")
**Bill Monroe and His Bluegrass Boys** begat **Lester Flatt** and **Earl Scruggs**. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2004, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-all-bands-have-had-members-go-onto-be-successful-solo-artists/257622/43 "2004-07-31T14:43:27Z")
I think Iggy Pop is probably better known than The Stooges. I’ve encountered people who were unaware that Neil Young was ever involved with Crosby, Stills, and Nash. > [@RealityChuck](#): > > Pete Townsend (& to a lesser degree, John Entwistle and Roger Daltry) – The Who Actually, all of the original members of The Who released at least one solo album. Keith Moon’s **Two Sides of the Moon** wasn’t particularly successful and is of interest primarily as a novelty, though. Who needs an album of Moon _singing_, with most of the _drumming_ done by others? John Entwistle’s solo work had something of a cult following, but never really broke through to the mainstream. Roger Daltrey was rather more successful. I don’t think he ever cracked the Top 40, but he came close. But as you say, it was only Pete Townshend who had any real hits outside The Who. He’s also the only Who member ever to win a Grammy (for the Broadway **Tommy** album). The band itself, surprisingly enough, was never so honored by The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences. ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2004, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-all-bands-have-had-members-go-onto-be-successful-solo-artists/257622/44 "2004-07-31T14:49:28Z")
> [@Only Mostly Dead](#): > > Whiskeytown begot Ryan Adams And Caitlin Cary, who has had a couple of really great CDs. New Edition begat solo careers for Bobby Brown, Ralph Tresvant, Johnny Gill & Michael Bivens as well as spinning out the group Bell Biv DeVoe. Culture Club begat a modest solo career for Boy George. Chris Perez began his career playing guitar in Los Dinos, the backing band of Selena, to whom he was eventually married. Frieda from ABBA had at least one solo hit. The Gumm Sisters begat Judy Garland 😃 ---
**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:** [July 31, 2004, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-all-bands-have-had-members-go-onto-be-successful-solo-artists/257622/45 "2004-07-31T15:08:35Z")
> [@Dooku](#): > > The Pixies: Black Francis (now Frank Black), Kim Deal (The Breeders) Kim Deal never had a solo career, though. She played with The Breeders and The Amps, but never as Kim Deal. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2004, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-all-bands-have-had-members-go-onto-be-successful-solo-artists/257622/46 "2004-07-31T15:25:10Z")
> [@Only Mostly Dead](#): > > not quite on topic, but Nirvana gave us Dave Grohl as a frontman for Foo Fighters I think that could fit- he did record the band’s first album all by his lonesome, save one guest guitar solo. ---
**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:** [July 31, 2004, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-all-bands-have-had-members-go-onto-be-successful-solo-artists/257622/47 "2004-07-31T16:09:47Z")
> [@TeaElle](#): > > Frieda from ABBA had at least one solo hit. That’ “Frida” sweetie. And all the ABBA members have done post-ABBA work. Benny&Bjorn scored moderate success with the musical “Chess” and mega-success with “Mamma Mia!” which they had very little to do with. I’m hoping the English version of “Kristina from Duvemala” will bring them the success they should have. Agnethat released three solo albums, went into exile, took a stalker to court who turned out to be her ex-lover :eek: and recently released another CD “My Colouring Book.” ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2004, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-all-bands-have-had-members-go-onto-be-successful-solo-artists/257622/48 "2004-07-31T16:22:53Z")
Prince and the Revolution begat Shiela E. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2004, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-all-bands-have-had-members-go-onto-be-successful-solo-artists/257622/49 "2004-07-31T16:48:06Z")
There was this group the Temptations that was lead by this Diana Ross lady… 🙂 Vince Neil did a pair of albums after leaving Motley Crue. Anyone meantion Lionel Richie from the Commodores? Of course, I blame him for the upcoming Paris Hilton album… ---
**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:** [July 31, 2004, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-all-bands-have-had-members-go-onto-be-successful-solo-artists/257622/50 "2004-07-31T16:50:03Z")
> [@kidchameleon](#): > > There was this group the Temptations that was lead by this Diana Ross lady… 🙂 I think you mean the Supremes with Diane Ross… ---
**Author:** ![Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f19dbf/32.png) [@Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Only_Mostly_Dead)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2004, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-all-bands-have-had-members-go-onto-be-successful-solo-artists/257622/51 "2004-07-31T17:02:15Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Benny&Bjorn scored moderate success with the musical “Chess” and mega-success with “Mamma Mia!” which they had very little to do with. I’m hoping the English version of “Kristina from Duvemala” will bring them the success they should have. As a great fan of Chess (well, at least of the Euro Concept Album), I was considering nominating Benny & Bjorn. But it didn’t really seem like they became solo artists, just clever Broadway collaborators. And for Mamma Mia, they did doubly little; their contributions to the adaptation to Broadway was minimal, and their original contribution was as members of ABBA, not post-ABBA. ---
**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:** [August 4, 2004, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-all-bands-have-had-members-go-onto-be-successful-solo-artists/257622/52 "2004-08-04T18:48:26Z")
Billy Joel was part of a group called The Hassles before he hit it big. But, even better, [he played in Attila](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE47816DD4AA47420F0B9127CF09156DF25FB66DAA33F09667CF2940567BF4355CE71E9BFBFB5B324B701F9B326BB5E10D1CAEE52B0DE6C393987EEA5705843&uid=MIDMR0408041443&sql=10:5q6wtra9klmx~T1), a power duo consisting of him on a B3 and a drummer. > [@](#): > > Many critics, fans, and college students have spent hours debating the serious question of what the worst album in the history of rock actually is. One listen to Attila would provide them with a definitive answer. Attila undoubtedly is the worst album released in the history of rock & roll – hell, the history of recorded music itself. Now I have to find me a copy… ---
**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:** [August 4, 2004, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-all-bands-have-had-members-go-onto-be-successful-solo-artists/257622/53 "2004-08-04T19:24:15Z")
Frankie Valli had a nice solo run in the 70s after his time with the Four Seasons. Eddie Kendricks had a Billboard #1 in the U.S. after leaving the Temptations. Smokie Robinson also did well after leaving the Miracles. Guitar virtuoso Steve Vai has been a popular live headliner for years, thought none of his solo work has made the American Top 40. His name was made mostly after his stints in Frank Zappa’s and David Lee Roth’s bands. ---
**Author:** ![Padmaraga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f07891/32.png) [@Padmaraga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padmaraga)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2004, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-all-bands-have-had-members-go-onto-be-successful-solo-artists/257622/54 "2004-08-04T21:25:08Z")
**Michael Nesmith** had a fairly decent solo career (mostly C&W) after **The Monkees**. Not to mention his producing credits. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2004, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-all-bands-have-had-members-go-onto-be-successful-solo-artists/257622/55 "2004-08-04T22:59:31Z")
The Fresh Prince left DJ Jazzy Jeff and managed to make a niche for himself as an actor, didn’t he? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-all-bands-have-had-members-go-onto-be-successful-solo-artists/257622.md?page=2)