Share Tweet Pin Email By Iris Goldsztajn 11:29am PST, Jan 29, 2026 _ Bands are amazing in and of themselves, but we often have these music groups to thank for launching the careers of some of the best solo artists of all time - Beyoncé, anyone? Michael Jackson? Stevie Nicks? Exactly. Keep reading for our favorite ex-band members who went on to have super successful solo careers...

MORE: Follow Wonderwall on MSN for more top news Paul McCartney Obviously, Sir Paul McCartney is on the list after first making a name for himself as a part of the legendary band The Beatles. The singer went on to give us beautiful solo songs, as well as unforgettable duets with the likes of Stevie Wonder, Rihanna and Michael Jackson. Zayn Malik One Direction was perhaps the most successful band of the 2010s. Post-split, Harry Styles and Zayn Malik went on to have the most prominent solo careers (so far). Though Malik - who goes simply by ZAYN - stays away from touring, he has performed hit singles including "PILLOWTALK" and "Dusk Till Dawn" with Sia. John Lennon John Lennon, who died in 1980, enjoyed a prominent career post-Beatles, with hits including "Imagine" and "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)." Michael Jackson As hard as it feels to remember, there was a time before Michael Jackson, the solo artist. As part of The Jackson 5, the King of Pop became famous at age 11, per History. Harry Styles Harry Styles' success post-One Direction has been nothing short of extraordinary, attracting many new fans. Armed with a new look and a new sound, the British heartthrob has hit singles like "As It Was" and "Watermelon Sugar." Diana Ross Before Diana Ross embarked on her solo career, her name had already taken center stage in The Supremes' evolution. The group was later billed as Diana Ross and The Supremes, a change that, according to Britannica, subtly foreshadowed her future success as a solo artist. Lisa Lisa's career may not have surged in the immediate post-BLACKPINK era, but it undeniably flourished during her time with the group. She and several of her bandmates continue to thrive as solo artists while remaining active members of BLACKPINK - a balancing act worth admiring. Morrissey Morrissey earned himself an army of fans as leader of the moody rock band The Smiths - and lost himself a whole bunch of them by airing some deeply controversial opinions. Still, the Brit has enjoyed a thriving solo career. JENNIE Like Lisa, Rosé and JISOO, JENNIE releases successful solo music while still being a member of beloved K-Pop girl band BLACKPINK. What can't she do?! Beyoncé Beyoncé is pretty much the blueprint for finding success in AND out of a band. Rising to prominence in the '90s as part of Destiny's Child, she's gone on to become one of the most important musicians of the 21st century. Rosé Rosé is yet another member of the active band BLACKPINK to release her own music. Lauryn Hill Lauryn Hill became a household name as part of The Fugees, but has been a huge solo artist ever since the late '90s, per the Academy of Achievement. Sting Sting was the charismatic frontman for The Police, but has been a giant of the music industry in his own right since 1985, when he first went solo, according to his website. Paul Simon Simon & Garfunkel were the beloved duo who gave us songs like "Mrs. Robinson" and "Bridge Over Troubled Water," but as one half of the group, Paul Simon has gone on to enjoy a beautiful solo career as well. Did you know "You Can Call Me Al" and "Slip Sliding Away" were his doing? Darius Rucker Darius Rucker was part of Hootie & the Blowfish. As a solo artist, he has transitioned to country music - and has done amazingly well, too. Dr. Dre Dr. Dre has been famous since the '80s, when he was part of the rap group N.W.A alongside Eazy-E and Ice Cube. Per Britannica, he went solo as a performer in 1992, which is also when he embarked on his eminent career as a music producer. Fergie Ironically, the Black Eyed Peas were originally formed sans Fergie, but it's arguably the charming frontwoman who went on to enjoy the most successful solo career. "Fergalicious" and "London Bridge" were formative songs for millennials - for better or for worse. Justin Timberlake *NSYNC is legendary, and Justin Timberlake is legendary. The singer and actor pulled off the rare feat of achieving equal success both as part of a band and as a solo artist. He's probably not crying a river about it. Phil Collins While many younger people might see Phil Collins only as Lily Collins' dad, their parents well know what a legend the man is. He was originally a drummer and singer for the band Genesis, before blessing us with timeless hits like "In the Air Tonight." Lou Reed Originally a member of iconic band The Velvet Underground, Lou Reed went on to record songs like "Walk on the Wild Side" and "Perfect Day" as a solo artist. Tyler Hubbard Country die-hards know this already, but Tyler Hubbard was once one half of musical duo Florida Georgia Line (the Georgia half, in