Solo Career

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Monday Theory:

Pop stars who made their name in a band who then go on to have a solo career (no matter how successful) can never musically surpass their earlier work as part of said band.

EVIDENCE: Sting, Paul Weller, Geri Halliwell, Robbie Williams, Diana Ross, Paul McCartney bar the Frog Song, George Michael, Richard Ashcroft, Rachel Stevens, Iggy Pop.

EXCEPTIONS: Michael Jackson, Gwen Stefani, Dr Dre, The Frog Song.

Of course, Wham! was sort of George Michael's band anyway, but WHATEVS I think this is a fairly good rule of thumb.

Comments

BUT

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

What to do about Ian Brown? Equally bad in or out of the Stone Roses!

b-but

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

neil young
gram parsons maybe
haha nick lowe
ice cube
peter gabriel (ok ok but he is not WORSE surely)

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

BRIAN ENO!

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

scott walker

Re: b-but

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

ALL BOBBINS

[sbp.livejournal.com]

rub theory.

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

ian mackaye

[braisedbywolves.livejournal.com]

Hang on, what group was Rachel Stevens in that was better than her solo work?

[byebyepride.livejournal.com]

dude - S CLUB??

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Don't Stop Movin >>>>> Negotiate With Love

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

Some Girls >>>>> Don't Stop Movin'

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Reach >>>> Some Girls

Oh NO.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

99% of Rachel's solo output >>>>> Reach

Re: Oh NO.

[the-roofdog.livejournal.com]

O dear God yes.

[braisedbywolves.livejournal.com]

Yes, but Some Girls > both of them. I don't really know any other SC7 songs, did they do One For Sorrow?

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Nah that was Steps. Much as Rachel is ace, I liked S Club better. I can't deny it.

[the-roofdog.livejournal.com]

No, sorry, I think this is just a bit rub.

Rachel Stevens ~ the S Club
Paul McCartney solo >>> WINGS (only the band the Beatles could've been)
Iggy Pop not so clear cut either

See also: Van Morrisong, Nick Cave, Bjork, Neil Young, Belinda Carlisle & Jane Wiedlin, Lauryn Hill, Todd Rundgren vs UTOPIA, anyone who ever had anything to do with either a) Crowded House or b) the Eagles. Even the drummers.

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

I'm not denying that lots of these people have fantastic solo careers but I think in general that their output when in a band is better. Although I admit Iggy Pop was another close-run contender for an exception, I still like the Stooges better than Lust For Life.

[the-roofdog.livejournal.com]

Yes you're right, Utopia were great.

But - further damning testimony :

- BERNARD BUTLER
- KEVIN ROWLAND
- RITCHIE BLACKMORE

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

All of the above: BOBBINS

[the-roofdog.livejournal.com]

Madrigals >>> Smoke On The Water


I'm just trying to say something equal in wrongness to yr above Rachel Stevens comments.

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

utopia come after todd rundgren solo! the band he "made his name in" = the NAZZ

[the-roofdog.livejournal.com]

Ah yes. I've never heard t.NAZZ, but I have had the honour of hearing 'RA' by Utopia.

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Of course if enough people disagree with me then THEORY DISPROVED, however I still mantain that pop stars in groups >>>> pop stars 'going solo'.

[jeff-worrell.livejournal.com]

Tin Machine >>> all Bowie after Tin Machine if that helps yr theory any ;)

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Heheh. I love this community.

[sbp.livejournal.com]

No Doubt > Gwen Stefani though.

Undertones > Fergal Sharkey
Them < Van Morrison (probably)
Velvets ~ Lou Reed
Cream > Eric Clapton
Madonna's old band < Madonna


Oh I don't know. Post it on poptimismists.

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

But Madonna wasn't famous in her old band.

This IS on poptimists!

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Also, I *liked* No Doubt but I still think Gweng Solo is better.

[(Anonymous)]

I've a feeling we have less of a general rule with exceptions and more something that reduces or approximates to 'pop stars more often get worse than better as time goes on.'

Also Ringo's Thomas The Tank Engine voiceovers >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> any Beatles music ever.

[(Anonymous)]

dammit, this is martinskidmore and for some reason I am logged out, plus since I am at work and it has thrown away its memory of my password, I would have to remember it to log in, and I can't - so how is it giving me what seems an accurate friends view?