Better solo or in the band?

avatar for Muddy
Muddy
USA
Some artists start out in a band then go solo or even the opposite like Joe Walsh. You guys have examples of what you like better?


Police or Sting. I mean I like some of stings solo songs but if you played his albums I might fall sleep, he got a lot softer after the police. But The Police on the other hand, I mean in my opinion you got three of the greatest on their respective instruments and sting one of the greatest frontmen ever, (best song writer, most charisma, bassist, all that shit. He wrote so m if of their shit, Every little thing she does is magic that is just incredible, and Copeland and Summers drums and guitar) it’s just tough top it.

Genesis vs Phil Collins. I like Genesis Phil Collins, (not really a fan of Peter Gabriel Genesis) but I’m a big Phil Collins solo fan, I like the poppy, direction he went in, a lot people don’t like that but I just loved all that Phil Collins solo shit. I’m bummed he hung up for good this past year. I’ll take solo here.

19 comments

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avatar for mike710
mike710
2 years ago
Paul McCartney, Michael Jackson, Ozzie and Clapton probably all had more success as solo artists than in their respective bands. There are a lot of examples probably but I can't think of them all.
avatar for rattdog
rattdog
2 years ago
joan jett
lita ford
ronnie james dio
rod stewart
peter frampton
gwen stefani

avatar for docsavage
docsavage
2 years ago
Each of the Beatles was not as good individually as they were together in a group. There is often a synergistic effect in a band where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. A more recent example is Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas. He has superior production talents and is a more prolific songwriter, but she adds a darkness to their music which makes it somewhat unique for pop music and more interesting.
avatar for Warrior15
Warrior15
2 years ago
Stevie Nicks / Fleetwood Mac
avatar for rockie
rockie
2 years ago
The solo work of Van Morrison far exceeds the band (Them) that first brought him public attention with the song "Gloria" among others. I prefer all Steve Winwood solo works, but enjoy most of his group efforts with The Spencer Davis Group and Traffic (among others). John Fogerty was the stellar talent in Creedence Clearwater Revival, but his best solo efforts do not exceed the group efforts of the band (CCR).

Eric Clapton rules (Collaboratively or Solo)!

avatar for Hank Moody
Hank Moody
2 years ago
Do you specifically mean ‘bands’ and not ‘groups?’ Not this board’s typical demo but Beyoncé (Destiny’s Child) and Justin Timberlake (*NSYNC) were super successful with their groups and then super ridiculously successful as solo acts.
avatar for motorhead
motorhead
2 years ago
Not saying that Diana Ross was bigger than the Supremes, but going solo certainly did not hurt her career

She sold an enormous amount of records in the 70’s and 80’s as a solo artist
avatar for datinman
datinman
2 years ago
velvet underground > Lou Reed
Peter Gabriel > Genesis
Beatles > Wings > McCartney solo albums
Pavement > Stephen Malkmus
avatar for SirLapdancealot
SirLapdancealot
2 years ago
Stevie Nicks > Fleetwood Mac
Peter Gabriel > Genesis
Phil Collins = Genesis
Ice Cube < NWA
Dr. Dre = NWA
Peter Murphy < Bauhaus
Henry Rollins > Black Flag
Mike Watt > Minutemen > Firehouse
Bryan Ferry < Roxy Music
Justin Timberlake > NSYNC
avatar for datinman
datinman
2 years ago
Replacements > Paul Westerberg
Talking Heads >>>> David Byrne
avatar for SirLapdancealot
SirLapdancealot
2 years ago
Danzig < Misfits
avatar for SirLapdancealot
SirLapdancealot
2 years ago
PIL (Johnny Rotten) << Sex Pistols
avatar for SirLapdancealot
SirLapdancealot
2 years ago
PIL < < Sex Pistols
avatar for motorhead
motorhead
2 years ago
Kenny Rogers and Lionel Ritchie Better solo the the First Edition and the Commodores
avatar for crosscheck
crosscheck
2 years ago
SirLap - I think you meant fIREHOSE not Firehouse. BIG difference there.
avatar for SirLapdancealot
SirLapdancealot
2 years ago
@crosscheck yes absolutely Firehouse. Ducking autocorrect.
avatar for SirLapdancealot
SirLapdancealot
2 years ago
Firehose!!!
avatar for crosscheck
crosscheck
2 years ago
^ The first Firehouse album is quite good though…
avatar for Cashman1234
Cashman1234
2 years ago
I may not be popular after this one - but I like Dave Grohl in the Foo Fighters more than I did when he was with Nirvana. That’s not a proper answer to the OP’s question.

I think Fleetwood Mac got full of themselves - and that was a mistake. Stevie Nicks voice was incredible, and she really made their sound.

I loved Natalie Merchant’s solo work - possibly more than her music with 10,000 maniacs. I think her voice was pretty impressive on its own.

In terms of Genesis, I look at it as Phil Collins band. I think Peter Gabriel needed to be a solo artist, to explore different music genres. Phil Collins with Genesis and solo seem very similar to me.
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