Grunge: Classic Rock Bands with Most Successful Solo Careers
In the world of classic rock, numerous iconic bands housed enough talent to allow individual members to kick-start successful solo careers once the group ran its course. This combination of skill and unwavering fan support resulted in these artists evolving into stars in their own right. While it’s not uncommon for singers or guitarists to venture into illustrious careers outside their original bands, it’s rare for a single group to nurture multiple future superstars.
Many rock musicians departed from their initial successful bands to form other well-received groups, while some went on to establish some of the greatest supergroups in modern music history. However, specific bands, coincidentally among the most renowned and top-selling acts in music history such as the Beatles and Fleetwood Mac, were initially home to various musicians who achieved success with solo hits in the music charts. Here are five distinguished classic rock bands that produced some of the most successful solo artists.
Fleetwood Mac holds a significant spot in this category, spawning five notable solo acts that reached household name status. Initially a blues-inspired group in the late ’60s, Fleetwood Mac witnessed the departure of guitarist Jeremy Spencer in 1971, leading to his successful tracks “Cool Breeze” and “Travellin'” on the U.S. adult contemporary chart in 1979. Following Spencer, Bob Welch, another departing member, found success with smooth soft rock hits like “Sentimental Lady.” The mid-1970s Fleetwood Mac lineup contributed profoundly to the soft rock trend, with all three featured performers attaining solo success in the 1980s. Lindsey Buckingham’s “Trouble” peaked at No. 9 in 1982, Christine McVie’s “Got a Hold on Me” was a Top 10 hit in 1984, and Stevie Nicks, Fleetwood Mac’s standout talent, reached the Billboard Hot 100 a remarkable 14 times with hits like “Edge of Seventeen” and “Stand Back.”
The Beatles, a ’60s sensation, achieved immense popularity, with every member eventually topping the pop chart after the band’s disbandment in 1970. Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison each enjoyed their share of No. 1 hits post-Beatles. John Lennon’s “Instant Karma” and “Imagine” both landed him in the Top 10, while Paul McCartney’s solo success included hits like “Band on the Run” and “Silly Love Songs.” George Harrison’s meditative “My Sweet Lord” became a chart-topping hit, and Ringo Starr found success with songs like “Photograph” and “You’re Sixteen.”
The Eagles, encompassing seven musicians across various lineup changes from 1971 to 1980, saw six of them embark on successful solo endeavors following the group’s dissolution. Don Henley and Glenn Frey, the primary vocalists, became fixtures on the pop and soft rock scene throughout the ’80s. Joe Walsh, previously of the James Gang, experienced solo success with hits like “Rocky Mountain Way,” while Randy Meisner branched out post-Eagles with tracks such as “Hearts on Fire.”