SOLO CAREERS AFTER BEING IN A HUGE BAND

[RJhog (Admin)]

Quite honestly, I'm not exactly sure where I want to go with this topic, so keep an open mind for me.  I was listening to the radio this morning and a Robert Plant solo song came on.  It made me start thinking about folks that moved on from a huge band into the world of solo albums, specifically the aforementioned Robert Plant and his former bandmate Jimmy Page. 

 

They have both had the same amount of time to produce solo material since the breakup of Led Zeppelin, but Plant's actual solo albums far outnumber Page's.  I wonder why?  It's not like Page has been a total hermit.  He's done quite a few collaborations and various other stuff, but only one true solo album.

 

Jimmy Page: Outrider

 

Robert Plant: Pictures At Eleven, The Principle Of Moments, Shaken 'n' Stirred, Now And Zen, Manic Nirvana, Fate Of Nations, Dreamland, Mighty ReArranger, Band Of Joy

 

Any thoughts on why this may be the case?  Is it because it's easier for a vocalist to make solo albums than a guitarist?  I'm just curious what you guys think regarding this.

[Jon]

Don't forget "Death Wish II" for Jimmy Page. I had it when it came out, it's a soundtrack (obviously) and was a bit weird. Not what I expected.

 

Good question though. Maybe he's the type of artist that's more comfortable collaborating with others. Maybe there's something on the internet explaining why.

[Mark Mallard]

People like Phil Collins, Lou Gramm, Mick Jagger, Don Henley, Slash, Eric Burdon, and David Lee Roth come to my mind when taking a look at this topic!

[Scott]

I really like Plants first two solo efforts, after that he went a little left of my center... But, other artists who left successful bands for a solo gig...

Every Beatle ... Enough said!

Sting had some big success, even though he went a different direction musically, he was the songwriting talent in the band

Paul Simon had huge success, he was clearly the core of Simon and Garfinkels success proving that the partnership was not a 50/50 thing. IMO

Dennis DeYoung had some initial success, and ended up releasing the best Styx effort since Paradise Theater when he released 100 Hundred Years From Now. He was/is Styx, and they resemble nothing of they're former selves without him. Jon can say all he wants, truth cannot be altered


I think it comes down to talent. While a groups chemistry can strike gold, there always seems to be the one leader, the one with "it"... Sometimes it's a surprise who that person is, sometimes it's obvious.

[RJhog (Admin)]

Actual conversation:

Scott: "Dennis DeYoung had some initial success, and ended up releasing the best Styx effort since Paradise Theater when he released 100 Hundred Years From Now. He was/is Styx, and they resemble nothing of they're former selves without him."

Jon: "Lawrence Gowan put Styx on the map again with Cyclorama.  This version of Styx will always be the one, true version of the band.  I'm surprised with Styx inactivity in the studio that Gowan has not released solo material.  I'm sure it would be huge, we're talkin Diamond sales potential.  The fact that Cyclorama did so well just proves that Gowan has put Tommy and JY on his back and carried 'em since they finally wised up and got rid of DeYoung".

[Jon]

Yes! I did say that and stand 100% behind what I said since it's the truth, the whole truth and nuttin' but the truth! 

[Jon]

Surprised you didn't mention Donald Fagen. Probably because you're bitter about the new improved TRUE Styx.

[Scott]

Fagen is cool...  I like his Steely Dan work slightly better than his solo stuff (much like Steve Perrys solo work sounds like Journey) it would fit quite nicely on a Steely Dan release...

True Styx?  ...  New and Improved? So far their post DDY output consists of 138 live CD's (half of which they split with REO), 14 live DVD releases (half of which they split with REO), a Covers disc,  and 1 Crap-O-Rama.  Not even a shell of what they once were.

[Jon]

Excuse me. The covers album is TWO discs. 

[Scott]

So...  its even worse than I thought!! 

[Mark Mallard]

I disagree about Dennis DeYoung being the entirety of Styx; I saw them in concert in Nashville back in 2010, and with just Tommy Shaw, James Young, and Chuck Panozzo, they blew out a fantastic show! It was a kicky blast! "Castle Walls" and "Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man") were particularly amazing!

[Scott]

Have you ever heard anything new from them since DDY left?

[Mark Mallard]

Admittedly, no, I have not!