Musicians who were better/worst as a solo act

Musicians who were better solo than with a group/band.
(In no particular order)

Michael Jackson - The Jackson 5
I really like the music of the Jackson 5, however no one can deny the overwhelming success of MJ after going solo. He had hit after hit after hit, and will go down as possibly the greatest solo act of all time.

Diana Ross - The Supremes
A great motown act of the 60's, but Ross was too big a star to share the stage. She butted heads with her fellow Supreme-mates when they were a group and even after they reunited years later. Ross had many hit singles by her lonesome. When you think of Diana Ross you do not necessarily think of the Supremes, but when you think of the Supremes you always think of Diana Ross.

Peter Gabriel - Genesis
I loved Genesis in the 80's. Right up until everyone started thinking it was a good idea to go solo. Gabriel left, Collins left, and that was when I said, "Ya know what, I'm not so into this group anymore."
Thankfully their departure had a silver lining, and that is the success of Peter Gabriel's solo career. Shock The Monkey, Sledgehammer, In Your Eyes, the list goes on and on. He has achieved multi-platinum status on singles and albums that other musicians would pay to have.

Justin Timberlake - 'N Sync
I'll be perfectly honest, I had to look up which boy band Timberlake was apart of. I didn't listen to his music back then, and I hardly listen to any of it now, however that which I have heard, some of it I actually enjoy. JT has grown as an artist and become much more tolerable to the masses. Getting away from 'N Sync and going solo was the best thing for his career.

Van Morrison - Them
How many people have even heard of Morrison's old band, Them? That's what I thought. Because once he left, the real magic began. Brown Eyed Girl was born shortly after the split and Morrison started his launch into Rock and Roll history.

Billy Idol - Generation X
Idol is another musician who hit the ground running as a solo artist. With hits like, Mony Mony, White Wedding, Eyes Without A Face, and Rebel Yell, he was poised to have many years of success with his solo career.

Marvin Gaye - The Moonglows
I would be willing to bet that many people probably don't know that Marvin Gaye was once a part of a doo-wop group called the Moonglows.  That is because Marvin Gaye broke out as an artist when he went on his own.  When we think of the great Marvin Gaye we think of him singing solo, not a small part of a larger group. 

Lou Reed - The Velvet Underground
While with VU, he was already the principal song writer.  Once he went solo in '71, he recorded hits such as Walk On The Wild Side, Ride Sally Ride, & Sally Can't Dance.  Reed is 70 and still performing a small amount and writing music.  He is one of those musicians who will be rockin' the stage until the day he dies.

David Bowie - The Konrads, Riot Squad, Tin Machine, Et Al.
Another super star whose bands you have likely never even heard of. Bowie was always meant to be a single act. Space Oddity, Ziggy Stardust, these are the songs legends are made of.

Peter Frampton - Humble Pie
We might not have ever known his name if he didn't go solo.  Frampton did five albums with Humble Pie before going out on his own.  After a few years he broke out with his hit album, Frampton Comes Alive, which included hits like, Baby I Love Your Way, Do You Feel Like We Do, & Show Me The Way.  A great guitarist, great singer-songwriter, and great solo act.


and now, the reverse...
Worst solo than in a group/band


Gwen Stefani - No Doubt
Some may argue this one with me, but I stand by this statement.  Gwen Stefani was better when she was with No Doubt.  As a band, they put out hit after hit, and gave an amazing live performance.  Solo....she had a couple of okay singles, but she was never as good as she was with the band.  Don't get me wrong, Stefani MAKES that band what it is, but they are better as a team than alone.

All of the Beatles
Every member of the Beatles has done music on their own.  Some achieved better success than others.  But they're the freaking Beatles!  Four of the greatest musical talents of all time.  Okay, maybe not, but definitely three of the best (sorry Ringo).  They were basically the Dream Team of music.  Together they made up the greatest band in history.  Apart, they are just four extremely talented musicians.

Freddie Mercury - Queen
He lived a lackluster solo career without his fellow band members.  Granted, he recorded some music that charted well in the UK, but seriously, that was nothing compared to the legendary success of Queen.

Steve Perry - Journey
Perry actually had the potential to have great success post Journey, with a very successful first solo album.  But life got in the way for Perry and his second solo album, Against The Wall never got finished.  In the mid 90's he finally did finish a second solo album that achieved only mild success.  Just a couple of years later Journey reunited and released the Trial By Fire record, which was a huge success.  Proof that Journey was a band that will stand the test of time, but "Steve Perry Solo Artist" will not.

All of Kiss
They are no Beatles, but the same idea applies.  Kiss was a band that had millions of adoring fans.  Their solo albums did well, but these guys need each other - crazy makeup and all.  They were good alone, but great as a group.  

Mick Jagger - The Rolling Stones
It's the freaking Stones man!  Jagger is good with or without the Stones, but in my opinion, he needed the Stones slightly more than the Stones needed him.

Dave Matthews - The Dave Matthews Band
I love Dave Matthews.  He is one of my favorite musicians of all time.  And alone, sure, he's good, but DMB is better.  It should not have ever been called the Dave Matthews Band - Dave Matthews himself will admit that.  The guys that play with him are masters of their craft.  They bring a sound to this rock band unlike any other. 

Eddie Vedder - Pearl Jam
It was hard for me to put Eddie Vedder on this list.  First, he is my favorite singer of all time.  His voice is just amazing.  Second, his solo albums have been very good and Ukulele Songs was one of my favorite albums by him.  But Pearl Jam made Vedder who he is today.  He could always sing, he could even write some decent music, but he was not a musician until he joined them.  Oh, he was in other bands, but if it had not been for musicians like Jack Irons or Chris Cornell, he might not have found the missing pieces of the puzzle.  Who knows if he would have ever become the name he is today.    

Sting - The Police
I really like Sting, and I even considered putting him on the other list.  But after thinking about the music of the Police and the music of Sting, the solo artist, my favorite music of his was easily when he was with the band.  This could easily be debated though.  The Police released five chart-topping albums and won six Grammy awards.  Of the ten solo albums Sting released, seven of them went platinum or multi-platinum.  Obviously he had a great solo career, but I think the Police had better songs.

David Lee Roth - Van Halen
Roth went solo for a number of years before reuniting with Van Halen in '07.  His solo career achieved some success, but it was nothing compared to the status of Van Halen.  The band had the kind of record sales other musicians can only dream of.  Platinum is a term Van Halen knows well, since almost all of their albums have reached that status, and most went multi-platinum.