# What is your favorite solo artist from a group? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 6, 2009, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-solo-artist-from-a-group/516608 "2009-11-06T17:39:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Translucent\_Daydream](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/translucent_daydream/32/16170_2.png) [@Translucent\_Daydream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Translucent_Daydream)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-solo-artist-from-a-group/516608/1 "2009-11-06T17:39:58Z")
I know the thread title is clunky, but I was wondering who some doper’s favorite solo artists were that played with bands previously / currently. I like Eddie Vedder and John Lennon. Who do you guys like? ---
**Author:** ![JohnnyMac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@JohnnyMac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnnyMac)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-solo-artist-from-a-group/516608/2 "2009-11-06T17:42:13Z")
Lou Reed and Brian Eno. (And John Lennon. Yay for John Lennon) ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-solo-artist-from-a-group/516608/3 "2009-11-06T17:45:25Z")
Mark Knopfler and Eric Clapton. ---
**Author:** ![Translucent\_Daydream](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/translucent_daydream/32/16170_2.png) [@Translucent\_Daydream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Translucent_Daydream)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-solo-artist-from-a-group/516608/4 "2009-11-06T17:45:46Z")
I have just started getting into Brian Eno, **JohnnyMac**. I collect vinyl records and I think after I complete my David Gilmour and Boards of Canada collections, I will start branching out towards him. ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-solo-artist-from-a-group/516608/5 "2009-11-06T17:55:41Z")
He’s not my favorite, but I like Don Henley’s singles, but I hate the Eagles (man). ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-solo-artist-from-a-group/516608/6 "2009-11-06T18:02:07Z")
Peter Gabriel, Neal Morse, Fish. In no particular order. ---
**Author:** ![JohnnyMac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@JohnnyMac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnnyMac)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-solo-artist-from-a-group/516608/7 "2009-11-06T18:05:00Z")
> [@Translucent\_Daydream](#): > > I have just started getting into Brian Eno, **JohnnyMac**. I collect vinyl records and I think after I complete my David Gilmour and Boards of Canada collections, I will start branching out towards him. If you ever want advice, I am more than willing to recommend and/or email tracks :D. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-solo-artist-from-a-group/516608/8 "2009-11-06T19:06:44Z")
Andrew Bird. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-solo-artist-from-a-group/516608/9 "2009-11-06T19:30:01Z")
Does Paul Simon count? If he does, he’s up there with Peter Gabriel. (Though my wife would undoubtedly vote for Sting.) ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-solo-artist-from-a-group/516608/10 "2009-11-06T19:40:43Z")
Pete Townshend ---
**Author:** ![Simmerdown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simmerdown/32/14859_2.png) [@Simmerdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simmerdown)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-solo-artist-from-a-group/516608/11 "2009-11-06T19:42:45Z")
Bunny Wailer ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-solo-artist-from-a-group/516608/12 "2009-11-06T20:01:40Z")
Jerry Garcia had a long running solo career aside from his 30 years with the Grateful Dead. His work with the Jerry Garcia Band was quite different than his role in the Grateful Dead. The JGB featured Motown covers, several Dylan tunes, some original Garcia compositions and various songs from his favorite influences… There are many who did not care for the Grateful Dead’s music that really enjoyed the Jerry Garcia Band. (and probably a few deadheads who were not into the JGB) ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-solo-artist-from-a-group/516608/13 "2009-11-06T20:14:13Z")
George Harrison, Pete Townshend, Jeff Lynne. ---
**Author:** ![JohnnyMac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@JohnnyMac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnnyMac)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-solo-artist-from-a-group/516608/14 "2009-11-06T21:12:32Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > Pete Townshend I didn’t say him, but I want to express my approval. I never got to see the Who…I wouldn’t see them these days, without John Entwistle there…but Pete? I’d love to see him solo. ---
**Author:** ![bink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/439d5e/32.png) [@bink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bink)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-solo-artist-from-a-group/516608/15 "2009-11-06T21:17:57Z")
Todd Rundgren Goran Bregovic ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-solo-artist-from-a-group/516608/16 "2009-11-06T21:19:07Z")
I just interviewed Pete via email a couple of weeks ago for a fan message board. He had some interesting things to say about his creative process, his favorite curse word, and other topics. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-solo-artist-from-a-group/516608/17 "2009-11-06T21:27:02Z")
Van Morrison. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-solo-artist-from-a-group/516608/18 "2009-11-06T22:09:18Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > Van Morrison. As much as I love Van Morrison’s music, he has always pretty much been a solo artist, playing with many different backing musicians (in a seemingly ever-changing rotation) throughout his 40+ year career. He was with the group Them for a year or two very early on, but he soon left (after writing the hit “Gloria”) to strike out on his own and has never been in a “band” since… ---
**Author:** ![JohnnyMac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@JohnnyMac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnnyMac)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-solo-artist-from-a-group/516608/19 "2009-11-06T22:17:27Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > I just interviewed Pete via email a couple of weeks ago for a fan message board. He had some interesting things to say about his creative process, his favorite curse word, and other topics. Link? ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-solo-artist-from-a-group/516608/20 "2009-11-06T22:28:23Z")
> [@JohnnyMac](#): > > Link? The message board ([TheShout.net](http://TheShout.net)) requires registration, but I copied the interview on my so-called blog: > **[The Shouting Grasshopper](https://theshoutinggrasshopper.blogspot.com/2009_10_18_archive.html)** Note: the basis of these questions were ideas from the members, with a “no questions about The Who!” restriction. Thus a couple of them will seem extremely geeky to anyone unfamiliar with some of the mundane aspects of Pete’s life. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-solo-artist-from-a-group/516608.md?page=2)