We often fixate on and analyze so many different elements of classic rock why they broke up.
Those juicy details aside, though, what about what happened to those classic rock band ringleaders once the band drama, the disagreements, and the egos got put to the side, and they went solo instead? That freedom doesn't always lead to a fatal blow for these creators who decide to go independent (though sometimes the results aren't great). In fact, there are more than a few musicians who not only left their groups behind but arguably had equal if not greater success once they chose to go and make a name for themselves.
10 Darius Rucker, Hootie & The Blowfish
A Pop-Rocker Goes Country
Darius Rucker's band Hootie & The Blowfish was (and remains) a staple of '90s radio pop-rock, winning two Grammy Awards and having three Top 10 charting singles, as well as an album (1994's Cracked Rear Window) that's one of the all-time best-selling records in the US. While the group never truly split up (only going on a ten-year hiatus in 2008), Rucker first took the opportunity to go solo in 2002. While his R&B debut, Back to Then, didn't make waves, it was country music where Rucker found added success.
10 Classic Rock Songs That Have Become Essential Karaoke Tunes
With so many classic rock songs to choose from, there are a plethora of options for karaoke night, but these 10 songs are among the absolute best.
His first country single, 2008's "Don't Think I Don't Think About It" (off Learn to Live), became the first song by a Black artist since Charley Pride in 1983 to chart at number one on the Hot Country Songs chart. In 2009, Rucker became the first Black American to win the New Artist Award from the Country Music Association, and he's routinely been a solo presence on the Country and Billboard charts with every release he's had since.
9 Michael McDonald, The Doobie Brothers
A Soulful Crooner Finds Solo Success
Vocalist Michael McDonald ed rock group the Doobie Brothers in 1975, initially as a temporary replacement for lead singer Tom Johnston, who was dealing with illness. McDonald eventually proved successful enough to retain full-time, singing lead on major Doobie hits and bringing a soulful groove to songs like "Takin' It to the Streets," "It Keeps You Runnin'," and "What a Fool Believes" (which earned McDonald a Grammy Award).
After the band's first farewell tour, McDonald went solo with his 1982 debut album If That's What It Takes, which featured hit songs "I Gotta Try" and "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)". McDonald has had various other hit tracks over the years as well, like "Sweet Freedom," "No Lookin' Back," and "Take It to Heart," and earned two Grammy nominations for his 2007 Motown tribute album Motown. McDonald has only continued to be a presence in the world of R&B, soul, rock, and yacht rock categories into the modern era.
8 Sting, The Police
New Waver Finds New Life Solo
English musician Sting first rose to prominence as the bassist, lead songwriter, and frontman for new wave rock group the Police, from their 1977 formation until they ultimately split up in 1986. Mixing rock with the sounds of reggae, punk, and jazz, the band scored hits throughout their tenure, such as "Roxanne," "Can't Stand Losing You," "Don't Stand So Close To Me," and "Every Breath You Take." Once the trio broke up, though, Sting didn't miss a beat going out on his own.
10 Classic Rock Bands That Are Still Touring Today
Although these classic rock bands have existed for many decades, they are still proving they can perform at high levels while on tour.
His debut solo record, The Dream of the Blue Turtles, quickly went triple platinum and received four Grammy nominations. Over the years, Sting's solo songs would continue to find the charts, including "Englishman in New York," "Fields of Gold," "If I Ever Lose My Faith in You," "Brand New Day," and "All for Love" (with Rod Stewart and Bryan Adams). Between his solo career and the Police, Sting has sold over 100 million albums, won 17 Grammy Awards, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
7 Phil Collins, Genesis
The Drummer Takes The Lead
Initially an actor in his younger days, Phil Collins assumed the role of drummer in the rock band Genesis beginning in 1970. After musician Peter Gabriel left the group in 1975, Collins took over as lead singer as well, scoring an immediate hit album with the band in 1976's A Trick of the Tail. More success followed with the group's 1977 follow-up album,... And Then There Were Three..., as well as 1980's Duke. While Collins wouldn't formally leave Genesis until 1996 (for a time), he first went solo beginning in 1981.
That debut album (entitled Face Value) began a run of solo dominance for Collins in the decade, led by various LP hit singles like "In The Air Tonight," "I Don't Care Anymore," "Sussudio," "Don't Lose My Number," and "Two Hearts." Ultimately, Collins is one of only three musical artists to ever sell over 100 million albums both with a band and solo, ing Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson in that rare category of fame.
6 Joan Jett, The Runaways
This Rocker Slays Punk Mastery
While still in her teens, guitarist/singer Joan Jett first became part of the fame spotlight when she ed the all-girl rock group the Runaways in 1975. Despite opening for bands like Cheap Trick, Van Halen, and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and having noted songs like "Cherry Bomb" and "Hollywood" in their catalog, the Runaways never quite caught on (especially in the United States). By 1979, Jett would look to pursue a solo career.
The 10 Best Uses Of Joan Jett Songs In Movies
Called the Queen of Rock and Roll, Joan Jett's iconic tunes crank up the energy of any movie scene they're played in, from Shrek to Birds of Prey.
Releasing her debut solo record in 1980 with backing band the Blackhearts (on her self-started independent record label in the United States), Jett has gone on to release twelve total studio albums under the Joan Jett and the Blackhearts name. Three of these records have been certified platinum or gold, while eleven singles (including "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" and "I Hate Myself for Loving You") charted on the Billboard Hot 100.
5 Peter Gabriel, Genesis
Another Genesis Solo Star
Before drummer Phil Collins wound up becoming the lead singer of the band Genesis, there was Peter Gabriel. One of the founders of the group in 1968, Gabriel was with the group throughout their first six studio albums before departing for his own solo career in 1975. While the frontman had decent results with Genesis, his breakout occurred on his own merits.
After four successful self-titled records, his fifth LP (entitled So) became his bestseller, going multi-platinum in both the UK and the United States. So singles "In Your Eyes" and "Sledgehammer" led the way in popularity, with the "Sledgehammer" music video going down as one of the most played in the history of the music channel MTV. In total, Gabriel has won six Grammy Awards and been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, with Genesis and solo.
4 Rod Stewart, The Jeff Beck Group/Faces
A Frontman Goes Even Bigger Solo
English singer-songwriter Rod Stewart got his first big break in music with the Jeff Beck Group in 1967, his trademark raspy vocals ing forces with the former Yardbirds guitarist as well as future Rolling Stones musician Ronnie Wood. After a contentious two years, Stewart would depart to the Faces in 1969, while also launching his solo career the same year. As Stewart's solo work got bigger (especially after his 1971 single "Maggie May"), that became his primary focus after the Faces broke up in 1975.
10 Great Cover Songs By Classic Rock Musicians In The 1970s
In the 1970s, some of the biggest classic rock artists the genre has ever known were able to make these cover songs bigger than they had been before.
In the latter half of the '70s, Stewart reached the peak of his international fame, backed by songs like "Tonight's the Night," "You're in My Heart," and "Hot Legs." Transitioning to disco and new wave sounds as time went on, Stewart eventually graduated to a heavily soft-rock sound as the '80s turned into the '90s. Stewart even began interpreting the Great American Songbook in the 2000s on the way to two Rock and Roll Hall of Fame entries and over forty top-charting singles between the US and UK.
3 Tina Turner, Ike & Tina Turner Revue
A Rock And Roll Redemption Story
Tina Turner first rose to prominence as the lead singer of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue with her husband Ike Turner from 1960 until 1976. The soul and R&B-leaning duo saw their fame begin to rise as they incorporated rock tunes into their repertoire, covering tracks like The Beatles' "Come Together," the Rolling Stones' "Honky Tonk Woman," and Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Proud Mary" (their biggest hit). Unfortunately, Ike Turner's growing drug issues and abuse towards Tina led to their split in 1976 (and divorce in '78).
In 1984, Turner launched a massive solo career comeback with her multi-platinum album Private Dancer (and Grammy-winning single "What's Love Got to Do With It"). This kicked off an international level of success that included the highest-grossing tour of the '80s (and second-highest grossing of the '90s), eleven more Grammy Awards, two Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions, and a Kennedy Center Honor. Turner more than earned the nickname she'd ultimately receive, the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll."
2 Robert Plant, Led Zeppelin
A Rock Frontman Diversifies
Robert Plant was one of the biggest and most profound rock and roll frontmen when he helmed the band Led Zeppelin from 1968 until they dissolved in 1980, on a level with Roger Daltrey with the Who or Jim Morrison with the Doors. Plant sang timeless Zeppelin classics, like "Immigrant Song," "Stairway to Heaven," "Good Times Bad Times," "Dazed and Confused," and "Black Dog," among so many others put out by the pioneering hard rockers.
Every Led Zeppelin Album Ranked Worst to Best
Let the arguments commence, as we rank one of the greatest back catalogues in the history of rock. Here's our ranking of every Led Zeppelin album.
After the group went their separate ways following the death of drummer John Bonham, Plant went through different shades of rock and roll, both solo (on his most successful 1988 multi-platinum album Now and Zen) and with side groups like the Honeydrippers (with songs like a remake of "Sea of Love"). He even took a critically acclaimed country/folk-rock turn with bluegrass artist Alison Krauss as part of a storied, ongoing career.
1 Paul Simon, Simon & Garfunkel
A Folk-Rock Songwriting Royal
There are few duos in the history of folk-rock as iconic as the great Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, who took the '60s by storm as the tandem known as Simon & Garfunkel. Singles like "Mrs Robinson," "The Boxer," "Bridge Over Troubled Water," and "America" only begin to scratch the surface of their notoriety. Sadly, tension between the two led to Simon fully embracing his solo career with a self-titled LP in 1972 after Simon & Garfunkel formally split in 1970.
Simon didn't lose a step on his solo trek, though, embracing sounds ranging from gospel to reggae, soul, and South African influences on albums like Still Crazy After All These Years, Graceland, and There Goes Rhymin' Simon. The twice-inducted Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and winner of 16 Grammy Awards has continued to ply his skillful songwriting trade well into the 21st century, even being acknowledged in 2007 with the Library of Congress's inaugural Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.