50 Rock Stars That Went Solo

When some of rock’s biggest names left their legendary bands, fans wondered if lightning could strike twice. Turns out, it often did. From Beatles to Black Sabbath, these icons didn’t just survive outside their groups — they thrived, reshaping their sound and proving their star power was no fluke.

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For others, they embarked on solo projects while still touring and recording with the groups that made them famous.

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Whether it was Phil Collins stepping out from behind Genesis’ drum kit, Stevie Nicks commanding the stage apart from Fleetwood Mac, or Ozzy Osbourne turning solo success into metal mythology, these 50 rock stars proved there’s life — and plenty of hits — after the band breaks up.

1. Paul McCartney

Solo Career: 1970-1971, 1980-present

Former Bands: The Quarrymen (1957-1960), The Beatles (1960-1970), Wings (1971-1981)

Following The Beatles, McCartney scored 11 U.S. No. 1 albums and over 20 top-10 singles between his solo and Wings catalog, becoming the most commercially successful rock solo artist ever.

2. Phil Collins

Solo Career: 1981-2011, 2015-Present

Former Band: Genesis (1970-1996, 2000, 2006-2007, 2020-2022)

Balancing Genesis and solo work, Collins sold over 100 million records worldwide with chart-dominating hits like “In the Air Tonight” and “Against All Odds.”

3. Rod Stewart

Solo Career: 1969-present

Bands: The Jeff Beck Group (1967-1969), Faces (1969–1975, 1986, 1993, 2015, 2019, 2020, 2021–present)

After The Faces, Stewart’s raspy voice powered a decades-long solo run with 16 top-10 albums in the U.S. and hits from “Maggie May” to “Forever Young.”

4. Eric Clapton

Solo Career: 1970-present

Former Bands: The Yardbirds (1963-1965), John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers (1965-1966), Cream (1966-1968, 1993, 2005), Derek and the Dominos (1970-1971)

The only triple Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee built a 50-year solo career with classics such as “Wonderful Tonight” and “Tears in Heaven,” earning 17 Grammys.

5. Ozzy Osbourne

Solo Career: 1979-1992, 1995-2025

Former Band: Black Sabbath (1968–1977, 1978–1979, 1997–2006, 2011–2017, 2025)

Launching from Black Sabbath, Ozzy’s solo debut Blizzard of Ozz went quadruple platinum and cemented him as metal’s biggest front-man-turned-solo star.

6. Sting

Solo Career: 1985-present

Former Band: The Police (1977–1984, 1992, 2003, 2007–2008)

After The Police, Sting blended rock, jazz, and pop on platinum LPs like The Dream of the Blue Turtles and Ten Summoner’s Tales.

7. Peter Gabriel

Solo Career: 1975-present

Former Band: Genesis (1967-1975, 1982)

Leaving Genesis, Gabriel reinvented himself with innovative art-rock and MTV staples like “Sledgehammer,” selling over 30 million albums.

8. John Lennon

Solo Career: 1970-1980

Former Bands: The Quarrymen (1956-1960), The Beatles (1960-1969), Plastic Ono Band (1969-1974)

Lennon’s solo career produced enduring anthems such as “Imagine” and records like Double Fantasy, both commercial and cultural milestones.

9. George Harrison

Solo Career: 1968-2001

Former Bands: The Quarrymen (1958-1960), The Beatles (1960-1970), Plastic Ono Band (1969-1970), Traveling Wilburys (1988-1991)

His triple-LP All Things Must Pass and single “My Sweet Lord” set a new bar for post-Beatles success.

10. Tom Petty

Solo Career: 1989-2017

Former Bands: Mudcrutch (1971–1975, 2007–2017), Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (1976-2017), Traveling Wilburys (1988-1991)

While fronting The Heartbreakers, Petty’s Full Moon Fever (1989) became a five-times-platinum landmark.

11. Neil Young

Solo Career: 1968-present

Bands: The Squires (1963-1965), Buffalo Springfield (1966-1968, 2010-2012), Crazy Horse, (1969–1970; 1973–1976; 1978–1987, 1990–present), Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (1969–1970, 1973–1974, 1985, 1986–1988, 1991, 1999–2006, 2013)

Young’s restless experimentation yielded classics, spanning folk, rock and even grunge.

12. Stevie Nicks

Solo Career: 1979-present

Former Band: Fleetwood Mac (1974–1990, 1997–2022)

Her 1981 debut Bella Donna topped charts, making her the first woman to have No. 1 albums both solo and with a band.

13. Don Henley

Solo Career: 1980-2015

Band: Eagles (1971–1980, 1994–2016, 2017–present)

The Eagles co-founder went multi-platinum with Building the Perfect Beast and Grammy-winning The End of the Innocence.

14. Robert Plant

Solo Career: 1981-present

Former Band: Band of Joy (1966, 1967–1968, 2010–2011), Led Zeppelin (1968–1980, 1985, 1988, 1995, 2007), Page and Plant (1994-1998, 2001)

His post-Zeppelin solo albums kept him in the rock mainstream, highlighted by the platinum Now and Zen and later Americana collaborations.

15. Steve Winwood

Solo Career: 1977-present

Former Bands: The Spencer Davis Group (1963-1967), Traffic (1967–1969, 1970–1974, 1994, 2004)

The former Traffic leader scored two U.S. No. 1 hits with “Higher Love” and “Roll With It,” along with several platinum albums in the ’80s.

16. Alice Cooper

Solo Career: 1975-present

Bands: Alice Cooper (1964-1975, 2025-present), Hollywood Vampires (2012-present)

Breaking from his namesake band, Cooper’s 1975 Welcome to My Nightmare defined theatrical shock-rock as a solo art.

17. Lou Reed

Solo Career: 1970-2013

Former Band: The Velvet Underground (1964–1970, 1990, 1992–1993, 1996)

The Velvet Underground icon reached his peak with Transformer (1972) and the hit “Walk on the Wild Side.”

18. John Fogerty

Solo Career: 1972-1976, 1985-present

Former Band: Creedence Clearwater Revival (1959–1972, 1974, 1980, 1983)

The former CCR star re-emerged with Centerfield (1985), earning triple-platinum sales and cementing his Americana-rock legacy.

19. Peter Frampton

Solo Career: 1971-present

Former Bands: The Herd (1966-1968), Humble Pie (1969-1971)

His live set Frampton Comes Alive! (1976) became one of the best-selling albums of all time.

20. Mark Knopfler

Solo Career: 1996-present

Former Band: Dire Straits (1977–1988, 1990–1995)

After Dire Straits, Knopfler’s understated guitar and songwriting carried multiple platinum albums and soundtracks.

21. Joe Walsh

Solo Career: 1973-present

Bands: James Gang (1968–1971, 1991, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2022), Eagles (1975–1980, 1994–2016, 2017–present)

Combining humor and virtuosity, Walsh earned solo hits like “Life’s Been Good,” while staying a rock-radio fixture.

22. Glenn Frey

Solo Career: 1981-2016

Former Band: Eagles (1971–1980, 1994–2016)

With 1980s smashes “The Heat Is On” and “You Belong to the City,” Frey carved a major solo pop-rock niche.

23. Ringo Starr

Solo Career: 1970-present

Former Band: The Beatles (1962-1970), Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band (1989-present)

Scored early-’70s No. 1s “Photograph” and “You’re Sixteen,” sustaining a long recording run with his All-Starr Band.

24. Pete Townshend

Solo Career: 1969-present

Band: The Who (1964–1983, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1996–present)

The Who mastermind delivered great solo works like Empty Glass and White City.

25. Roger Daltrey

Solo Career: 1973-present

Bands: The Who (1964–1983, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1996–present), No Plan B (2009-present)

Balanced acting and rock with top-10 hits such as “Without Your Love.”

26. Billy Idol

Solo Career: 1981-present

Former Bands: Chelsea (1976), Generation X (1976–1981, 1993)

Former punk front-man turned into an MTV superstar, thanks to Rebel Yell and Whiplash Smile.

27. Bryan Ferry

Solo Career: 1973-1978, 1984-present

Former Band: Roxy Music (1970–1976, 1978–1983, 2001–2011, 2022)

His suave art-rock translated into solo hits like “Slave to Love”

28. Sammy Hagar

Solo Career: (1976–1987, 1997-2008, 2013–present)

Former Bands: Montrose (1973-1975), Van Halen (1985–1996, 2003–2005), Chickenfoot (2008-2012, 2016), The Circle (2014-2024)

Before and after Van Halen, Hagar has been known for several successful solo records, primarily during the 1980s.

29. David Lee Roth

Solo Career: 1984-2006, 2020-present

Former Band: Van Halen (1974–1985, 1996, 2006–2020)

Van Halen’s flamboyant front-man scored multi-platinum success with Eat ’Em and Smile (1986).

30. Peter Cetera

Solo Career: 1981-2019

Former Band: Chicago (1967-1985)

The Chicago bassist-singer topped charts with “Glory of Love.”

31. Morrissey

Solo Career: 1987-present

Former Band: The Smiths (1982-1987)

The Smiths’ singer became a U.K. institution with multiple No. 1 solo albums and cult appeal in the U.S.

32. Debbie Harry

Solo Career: 1981-present

Band: (1974–1982, 1997–present)

Blondie’s icon crossed into solo dance-rock with KooKoo and later pop collaborations.

33. Bruce Dickinson

Solo Career: 1989-present

Bands: Samson (1979-1981), Iron Maiden (1981–1993, 1999–present)

The Iron Maiden vocalist earned critical praise for Tattooed Millionaire and Accident of Birth

34. Ian Gillan

Solo Career: 1975-present

Bands: Episode Six (1965-1969), Deep Purple (1969–1973, 1984–1989, 1992–present), Ian Gillan Band/Gillan (1975-1982), Black Sabbath (1982-1984)

Deep Purple’s front-man charted solo with Mr. Universe and fronted the Gillan band to U.K. success.

35. Jeff Beck

Solo Career: 1974-2023

Former Bands: The Yardbirds (1965-1966), The Jeff Beck Group (1967-1969, 1970-1972), Beck, Bogert & Appice (1972-1974)

Transitioned from group work to acclaimed instrumental fusion on Blow by Blow and Wired.

36. Jon Bon Jovi

Solo Career: 1990-present

Bands: Scandal (1983), Bon Jovi (1983-present)

Balanced band fame with platinum solo ventures like Blaze of Glory (1990), the soundtrack for Young Guns II.

37. David Byrne

Solo Career: 1979-1981, 1989-present

Former Band: Talking Heads (1975–1991, 2002)

Talking Heads’ leader found solo acclaim mixing worldbeat and art-pop on Uh-Oh and Rei Momo.

38. Paul Rodgers

Solo Career: 1983-present

Former Bands: Free (1968–1971, 1972–1973), Bad Company (1973–1982, 1998–1999, 2001–2002, 2008–2019), The Firm (1984-1986), The Law (1991-1992), Queen (2004-2009)

Free and Bad Company singer’s blues-rock solo albums kept his powerful voice on classic-rock radio.

39. Stephen Stills

Solo Career: 1970-present

Former Bands: The Au Go Go Singers (1964-1965), Buffalo Springfield (1966–1968, 2010–2012), Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (1968–1970, 1973–2015), Manassas (1971-1973)

His 1970 self-titled debut went gold and remains a singer-songwriter landmark.

40. Graham Nash

Solo Career: 1971-present

Former Bands: The Hollies (1962-1968, 1981-1983), Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (1968–1970, 1973–2015)

Earned Top 40 success with Songs for Beginners (1971).

41. David Crosby

Solo Career: 1971-2023

Former Bands: The Byrds  (1964–1967, 1972–1973, 1989–1991, 2000), Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (1968–1970, 1973–2015), Crosby & Nash (1970-2015)

Maintained critical respect with If I Could Only Remember My Name and late-career Grammy nods.

42. Ric Ocasek

Solo Career: 1983-2019

Former Band: The Cars (1976–1988, 2010–2011, 2018)

The Cars’ main writer delivered solo Top 20s like “Emotion in Motion.”

43. Ace Frehley

Solo Career: 1978, 1982-2025

Former Bands: KISS (1973–1982, 1996–2002), Frehley’s Comet (1984-1988, 2017, 2018)

Former KISS guitarist’s 1978 solo debut went platinum, while later albums charted consistently.

44. Lindsey Buckingham

Solo Career: 1973-1974, 1981-present

Former Band: Fleetwood Mac (1974-1987, 1997-2018)

Merged intricate guitar work with pop themes on Law and Order and Out of the Cradle.

45. Christine McVie

Solo Career: 1969-1970, 1984-2022

Former Bands: Chicken Shack (1968-1969), Fleetwood Mac (1970–1995, 1997–1998, 2014–2022)

Her 1984 solo record spawned the hit “Got a Hold on Me.”

46. Mick Jagger

Solo Career: 1970-1972, 1985-present

Band: The Rolling Stones (1962-present)

Achieved platinum with She’s the Boss (1985) and continued intermittent solo releases.

47. Steven Tyler

Solo Career: 1998-present

Former Band: The Strangeurs/Chain Reaction (1964-1968), Aerosmith (1970-present)

Explored country-music sounds on We’re All Somebody from Somewhere (2016) after decades fronting Aerosmith.

48. Joe Perry

Solo Career: 1978-1984, 2005-present

Bands: Aerosmith (1970-present), The Joe Perry Project (1979-1984, 2009-2010, 2022-present), Hollywood Vampires (2012-present)

Perry has released blues-driven solo albums and earned critical praise for Joe Perry Project.

49. Roger Hodgson

Solo Career: 1984-present

Former Band: Supertramp (1970–1983)

Supertramp’s voice went gold with In the Eye of the Storm and a steady touring legacy.

50. Jon Anderson

Solo Career: 1968, 1976-present

Former Bands: Mabel Greer’s Toyshop (1968), Yes (1968–1980, 1983–1988, 1990–2004, 2017), Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe (1988-1990), Yes Featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Rick Wakeman (2010-2018)

Yes vocalist’s Olias of Sunhillow became a cult-favorite concept album.