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Rock Artists Gone Solo! (22 of TC’s Faves!)

By Terrie Carr
Slash at WDHA's Rocktoberfesr at Prudential Center

Flying Solo? Not always easy! Terrie Carr here and for the DHA Coffee Break theme this week I’m highlighting artist gone solo, but I didn’t realize I had so many favorites!
From Plant and Clapton to Steve and Joan, here are 20 mega rockers who had the balls to try it alone!

  • David Lee Roth

    We viewed Dave as NUTS for leaving Van Halen, but his solo career was super hot in the 80’s!

  • Eagles Baby!

    Henley, Frey and my fave Joe Walsh (also of the James gang) , all had successful solo careers, but Henley crushed it, dominating the 80’s and early 90’s with brilliant songs and tours.

  • Ronnie James Dio

    His Rainbow days were amazing, he made his mark in Black Sabbath, but when the remarkable Ronnie James Dio went solo his world and our world changed forever! METAL MASTER!!!!!

  • Ozzy Osbourne

    The Sabbath frontman exploded with his solo record “Blizzard Of Ozz” in 1980 and he has been going solo (and Sabbath) ever since!

  • Chris Cornell

    Chris made his mark in Soundgarden, Temple Of The Dog and Audioslave, but his solo releases and tours left fans (me included) breathless….

  • Billy Gibbons

    From Moving Sidewalks to the iconic ZZ Top and Kings Of Chaos, the guitar genius Billy Gibbons has some mega solo tunes out including “My Lucky Card” from “Hardware”…..the KING!

  • Slash

    The GNR ICON has had success with his Snakepit and Conspirators bands with the stamp of pure Slashness on everything he does!

  • Sting

    Formerly of the kings of the 80’s – The Police, Sting had a massive solo career and is still going strong!

  • Phil Collins

    Phil was incredible in Genesis, but his solo stuff is amazing. THIS is my absolute favorite from him….

  • Paul McCartney

    We could literally put every Beatle on the list, but I’m such a Paul/Wings girl, I’m going Paul.
    NOW…..his time with Wings was my fave, but anything Sir Paul does is aces with me! Juniors Farm is a masterpiece…

  • Robert Plant

    Legend, Icon, Golden God…..Love that his solo career was completely different. The GOAT.

  • Joan Jett

    The Runaway’s changed my life!!! And when Joan went solo it changed hers……The Queen of garage rock.

  • Jon Bon Jovi

    Had to get some Jersey love in here! Jon Bon Jovi was in the BIGGEST band in the world when he recorded this solo track for the Young Guns soundtrack…..

  • Steve Perry

    I still cry that Steve is not in Journey! Tough to leave the biggest band in the world at the time but Street Talk was a solid effort for the legendary voice of Journey…and this song IS the 80’s!

  • Sammy Hagar

    Montrose, HSAS, they came before VH, Chickenfoot, The Waborita’s and Sammy’s other bands.
    His solo stuff is STILL my favorite era o his awesome career.

  • Stevie Nicks

    God I LOVE Stevie! When she put out her first solo record Bella Donna in 1981, it changed my life forever.
    She is an icon. And her solo material is my favorite.

  • Eric Clapton

    Cream, Derek and The Dominos, Blind Faith, The Yardbirds…just some of the magic of Clapton.
    His solo career dominated the 70’s and 80’s….

  • Rob Zombie

    He left White Zombie to form ROB ZOMBIE and the rest is history!

  • Lita Ford

    When Queen Lita took her guitar and fled The Runaways, girls were being told to GO HOME! Thank God Lita didn’t listen.

  • Peter Frampton

    From Humble Pie to Frampton’s Camel and then he CAME ALIVE!! Giving us the best live selling album to date, Peter WAS the 70’s and this record is pure live classic magic.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLgeTtYwQ7o

  • Jerry Cantrell

    The Alice In Chains guitarist, harmonizer and gifted songwriter has had incredible solo releases out (Boggy Depot and Degradation Trip) and his third and latest Brighten in magnificent.
    We can’t wait to have him at The Wellmont on 3/11 for a WDHA presents show!

  • Lou Gramm

    One of rock music’s finest voices went solo with “Ready Or Not” in 1987 and it was 80’s perfection.
    Midnight Blue is a classic and went to #5 on the Billboard charts.

Have a solo artist I left out on your mind? Email me at TC@WDHAM.COM
Rock On!

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