When it comes to musicians who decide to depart the flock and go solo, history is littered with examples who hit the dust and flamed out. Think Tommy Lee when he departed Mötley Crüe, or Mick Jagger when he tried to break off from the Rolling Stones. It takes a canny operator to properly execute such a sly maneuver.
So, what does it take for a musician to eclipse the success of the band that first made them famous? Usually a mix of charisma and talent—plus a dash of luck—qualities not always obvious when they were just one piece of powerhouse acts like Nirvana or No Doubt.
In other cases, their star might not have been allowed to fully truly to its full extent when they were part of an ensemble of talented vocalists, like N’Sync, Take That, or even the Jackson Five. It wasn’t until said acts were finally placed in the spotlight that it became apparent how talented they truly were. Let’s take a look.
Dave Grohl
The perfect example of a beloved support player who evolved to become an even more beloved frontman. In this respect, Dave Grohl is unique. He played drums for years in transformative grunge act Nirvana up until Kirk Cobain’s tragic death in 1994. When Grohl launched Foo Fighters, serving this time as songwriter and guitarist, there was certainly plenty of goodwill.
Nobody could have predicted the extent of Foo Fighters’ success. The band’s self-titled debut landed nicely with rock fans in 1995, but their 1997 follow-up The Color and the Shape really cemented the band in the rock lexicon. After 11 studio albums and more than 30 million sales worldwide, Grohl joined the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021.
What is tougher to measure is the impact Grohl made with his charisma (something not immediately apparent when playing drums in the shadow of Cobain’s incredible persona). Forget the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, because Grohl’s endless positivity saw him take up residence in the zeitgeist as everybody’s favorite, lovable rock ‘n’ roll dad.
Michael Jackson
Arguably the biggest ‘solo success’ of all time. Michael Jackson’s time in the spotlight began in the ’60s alongside his siblings as part of The Jackson Five, one of the most successful acts to ever sign with the seminal Motown Records. Jackson struck out on his own with the disco-flavored Off the Wall, and the rest is history.
Jackson’s sophomore album Thriller went on to become the biggest selling album in history, and this success was consolidated with successive smash albums like Bad and Dangerous. His effortless mastery of the burgeoning music video format, with his trademark street dance moves like the ‘Moonwalk’ and inimitable anti-grav lean, saw him dominate MTV throughout the ’80s.
In spite of a running series of controversies later in his life (leading up to his death in 2009), Jackson enjoyed a solo career of such immense influence and success that his reign as the ‘King of Pop’ continues to this day.
Phil Collins
Somewhat of a softer “adult contemporary” equivalent to Dave Grohl, the enduring career of Phil Collins saw him initially serving as drummer for Genesis, before stepping up to frontman duties after the departure of Peter Gabriel in 1975. He also showed he had no trouble cutting it as a solo artist in 1981 with the release of Face Value.
Phil Collins sold a whopping estimated 150 million albums worldwide as a solo artist, but this one-time drummer made sure he never forgot his roots as a skinsman. He regularly jumped behind the drums at his shows over the years, and he laid down one of the most famous drum solos of all time with “In The Air Tonight.”
Justin Timberlake
Boy bands are notorious for their members’ attempts to break free from the group before falling flat on their face. Justin Timberlake definitely counts as a notable exception to this rule. NSYNC is one of the most successful boy bands of all time, though Timberlake was written off as just another boy-bander before he shocked skeptics with Justified.
Timberlake’s follow-up album FutureSex/LoveSounds secured him in the zeitgeist forevermore as a performer with legit leading-man charisma (he’s the one who is solely credited with bringing “SexyBack,” after all). Controversial SuperBowl appearances aside, Timberlake is a bonafide pop icon who is figuratively seated next to Michael Jackson as the reigning Prince of Pop.
Annie Lennox
Annie Lennox definitely shared the spotlight in The Eurythmics alongside producer Dave Stewart. However, it was the two of them who broke off together from their former new-wave band The Tourists, proceeding to mega success throughout the ’80s in their new incarnation that helped establish Lennox as one of the most iconic female vocalists of all-time.
“Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” proved such a seminal hit that it reigns in nightclubs to this day as a surefire go-to crowd-pleaser for DJs to draw upon. Lennox also saw plenty of success striking out as a solo artist throughout the ’90s and beyond, following the release of Diva and the string of solo albums that followed.
Hayley Williams
Paramore vocalist Hayley Williams was courted by Atlantic Records when she was only 14. The label wanted to fashion her as a solo pop artist more in the vein of Avril Lavigne (likely involving a sacrifice of her artistic independence). Williams famously pushed back, more interested in forming a band with the musicians she’d played with in high school.
The resulting Paramore proceeded to become a defining pop-punk band, and arguably the defining emo act throughout the 2000s, with Williams’ heartfelt vocal delivery connecting with millions worldwide. There’s also little doubt that Williams’ staggering stage presence represents the core of Paramore, and she’s been the only constant member since forming in 2004.
Gwen Stefani
Gwen Stefani stood out from the very beginning as the quirky lead vocalist of No Doubt, busting out with plenty of rockstar energy the band’s 1994 breakthrough hit “Just a Girl” while also showing she had the chops to take things to tackle the ballads on “Don’t Speak.” Stefani felt the inkling to take things solo a decade later, proving herself a bonafide pop star.
“What You Waiting For?” demonstrated from the get-go that Stefani’s rock star stage presence could transcend the band she’d risen to fame with, and what emerged was something more ambitious. Her debut album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. features collaborations with some of hip-hop and electronic music’s finest, and she’s definitely maintained her artistic edge.
George Michael
Wham! were a certified hit machine from 1981 to 1986. Before long, it was clear that George Michael’s songwriting and vocals were steering the duo and pointing him toward solo megastardom. His partner Andrew Ridgeley, often targeted by the U.K. press, has taken the criticism in stride and remains remarkably good-natured.
Songs like “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” certainly don’t come around every day, though this was just the beginning for Michael. His debut solo album, Faith, locked in his icon status, while his defining smash “Freedom 90” perfectly encapsulates the era’s vibrant dancefloors and reigns forever as one of the greatest pop-dance tunes we’ve ever seen.
Robbie Williams
Another solo powerhouse whose irrepressible charisma allowed him to transcend the dreaded boy-band curse. Robbie Williams always played the part of rogue during his days as Take That, who ruled the UK pop scene with an iron fist throughout the ’90s. Williams’ devilish charm clashed mightily with the clean-cut appeal of Gary Barlow, and in 1995, Williams made a clean break.
Williams brought a unique blend of cheeky charisma and versatile vocals, and a genre-spanning approach that saw him tackle everything from pop-rock to swing with ease. Hits like “Millennium” and “Rock DJ” proved defining pop hits of the era, and 80 million album sales later, it’s safe to say that he’s outshone his early days as part of Take That.
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
