Many musicians have broken away from or launched projects outside of what made them famous. From solo careers away from their main bands to even forming entirely new ones, these endeavors have become defining parts of their careers. It is one thing to be part of a successful band, but it is another to remain successful outside of it.
Aftermath of the group
Many musicians often begin new projects once their main group has concluded. One notable example is musician Dave Grohl, who was a member of Nirvana until the death of lead singer Kurt Cobain in 1994. After Nirvana’s end, Grohl went on to form Foo Fighters, a band that went on to win 15 Grammy Awards and become one of the most successful rock groups in modern music.
British musician John Lennon originally formed his band The Quarrymen with his school friends in 1956. This group would later evolve into The Beatles once Paul McCartney and George Harrison joined the picture, and followed later by Ringo Starr. Many listeners are unaware that one of the most influential bands in history had emerged from one of Lennon’s prior works.
Even some solo artists have formed groups with others during the height of their success. Musician Bruno Mars teamed up with Anderson. Paak to form the duo Silk Sonic, which has been active since its inception in 2021. Similarly, music producer Danger Mouse would go on to form the band Broken Bells with musician James Mercer of indie group The Shins, releasing three studio albums together since 2010.
When an artist goes solo
As many bands become popular, the individual members may want to find their own voice separate from their main group. Some of the best examples come from manufactured pop bands like One Direction or NSYNC, where members such as Harry Styles and Justin Timberlake have gone on to become incredibly successful after reaching the heights of their boy-band careers. Even artists who have separated from their groups such as Hayley Williams from Paramore and Beyoncé from Destiny’s Child have also achieved major success, with Beyoncé in particular winning a record-holding 35 Grammy Awards and exploring different musical avenues and genres, releasing the country album “Cowboy Carter” on March 29, 2024.
One of the most interesting facets of a group splitting up comes from The Jackson 5. The group was incredibly popular during the 1960s and 1970s and many only know how their success led to the eventual success of lead vocalist Michael Jackson. The other members of the Jackson 5 also led solo careers when the group began to decline, with the most prominent outside of Michael being his brother Jermaine Jackson. While the rest of his family moved on to CBS and Epic Records, Jermaine stuck with their original label Motown Records. With Motown, he experienced multiple charting singles and performed with many big-name artists working with Whitney Houston on her debut album and with Stevie Wonder when he helped write his song “Let’s Get Serious” for the album of the same name. He even collaborated with his brother Michael on the track “Tell Me I’m Not Dreamin’ (Too Good To Be True),” reaching number one on Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Play chart in 1984.
Given the success of some acts, it is no surprise that their individual members would want to separate from what made them popular to pursue their own endeavors. It allows them to showcase what makes them great as artists themselves rather than as part of a group with a pre-established style. Experimentation on their own or with a group of collaborators can help these artists reach new creative heights.