10 Band Member Solo Careers That Didn't Go as Planned
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VOICE OVER: Phoebe de Jeu
WRITTEN BY: George Pacheco
Not every musician finds success after leaving their group. Join us as we explore those moments when band members stepped into the spotlight solo, only to find the path wasn't as golden as expected. From boy band breakouts to rock legends, these artists discovered that sometimes the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. We'll look at careers from NSYNC, Van Halen, Aerosmith, The Spice Girls, Destiny's Child, and more! Which solo artist do you think deserved more success? Let us know in the comments!
Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’ll be discussing those times band members bet on themselves…and lost.
Fresh off the set of “The White Lotus,” Blackpink member LISA has been making a name for herself outside the girl group’s domain. Blackpink rode the Korean Wave into global superstardom, becoming one of the most influential K-pop groups in recent years. But LISA’s 2025 solo project, Alter Ego, received rather mixed reviews. Though superfans rallied behind it, critics mostly pointed out a lack of cohesion and identity. The Guardian gave it 2 out of 5 stars, and Pitchfork scored it 5.2 out of 10—writing that it, “presents LISA as the most generic embodiment of a pop star.” Blackpink was the first K-pop group to headline Coachella in 2023, and LISA took the stage alone in 2025—receiving mixed reviews and complaints that her performance was unpolished. So while many are excited to see where each girl’s career could go, perhaps it’s the cohesion of the group that truly keeps LISA at her best.
The debut solo album from Michelle Williams was something of a big fish in a small pond situation. This was because Williams chose to create something personal and went gospel with her sound. Critics and gospel fans actually appreciated the move, but it certainly wasn’t the sort of polished pop that defined Williams’ latter years with Destiny’s Child. Future solo efforts by Williams continued to do poorly on Billboard, but well within Christian and gospel markets. “Unexpected” was a return to form for Williams in 2008, and its follow-up, “Journey to Freedom” did even better for the singer. So the case here isn’t so much that Michelle Williams’ solo career tanked as much as it pivoted away from Beyoncé level stardom.
The solo careers of the various Pussycat Dolls saw a lot of band formations and sound collaborations, but only Nicole Scherzinger seemed to emerge as a viable breakout star. There was a lot of back-and-forth with regards to the production of her debut album, however, essentially requiring a refresh with 2011’s “Killer Love.” That album underperformed on the U.S. Billboard charts, and received mixed reviews from critics. Scherzinger’s follow-up, did even worse, failing to capitalize upon the good will “Killer Love” had received from some international markets. The ex-Pussycat Doll instead pivoted to movie soundtrack work, film and television.
It’s fairly telling that none of the Backstreet Boys have been able to make any sort of real headway with regard to their solo careers. Nick Carter tried, as did AJ McLean, but these boy band legends just seem to work better together than apart. McLean’s solo career in particular was a blink-and-you-missed-it affair, with “Have It All” being released in 2010, and not really being discussed much since. McLean, to his credit, seemed to be fairly proud of what he accomplished on the record, but 2010 was a long time ago. He’s released some individual songs but there’s been little to no talk of any sort of AJ McLean renaissance on the horizon at the time of this writing.
Musical success can often be a double edged sword. A band’s achievements can also often arrive with stressors and distractions that result in splintered lineups and embittered friendships. Joe Perry first left the Aerosmith camp back in 1979, feeling creatively stifled and seeing the hard rock writing on the wall with Van Halen’s debut album. The Joe Perry Project didn’t exactly achieve the success hoped by the Aerosmith axe man, however, and Perry rejoined Aerosmith within a five year span. Future solo albums would continue to occasionally emerge from Perry, including one in 2005 and another in 2009, but it seems as if fans only really want to hear him up on stage with Steven Tyler.
This generationally charismatic frontman certainly meant business when it came to forming his first solo band after departing Van Halen. David Lee Roth hired the best musicians he could find, and the resulting EP, “Crazy from the Heat” was certified platinum. Its follow-up, “Eat ‘Em and Smile,” achieved similar accolades, but the bloom was soon off Roth’s (Yankee) rose with subsequent efforts. “Skyscraper” and “A Little Ain’t Enough” had to fight against waning commercial interest in highly polished stadium rock, and Roth soon explored other creative outlets. He eventually reunited with Van Halen, and toured with them until Eddie’s death in 2020.
The case of Mel B’s solo career is one that’s sort of similar to the Backstreet Boys. Here, however, every member of The Spice Girls released solo records after the dissolution of the group. Some, like Geri Halliwell, did better than others, while the career of Mel B just didn’t seem to do as well as expected. Mel B’s debut LP, entitled “Hot,” struggled to find an audience, and its follow-up, 2005’s “L.A. State of Mind,” did even worse. Mel B’s solo career has essentially stopped here, with “L.A. State of Mind” reportedly selling less than 1500 copies overall.
There’s a profound difference between seeking out other creative avenues and following the pervasive trends of the day. The Methods of Mayhem project from Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee was a clear attempt to capitalize on the nu-metal and rap/rock trends of the late nineties and early millennium. Lee continued down this road with this 2002 solo album, “Never a Dull Moment,” while “Tommyland: The Ride” from 2005 featured a bevy of post-grunge collaborators on deck. These included Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger and Joel Madden from the pop-punk group Good Charlotte. These solo efforts proved, beyond any doubt, that Tommy Lee should just stick to his day job behind the drum kit.
The Monkees had to struggle mightily to step out from their creative shadow as “The Pre-Fab Four.” The members eventually railed against their put-together nature as a commercially successful pop group, filming the experimental psych movie “Head” as one way to seek legitimacy. The members of The Monkees all experimented with solo careers, as well, with Michael Nesmith possibly seeing the most critical acclaim. Davy Jones, meanwhile, capitalized upon his natural good looks and charisma with a revitalized solo career of his own. Jones had already released a self-titled LP in 1965, but he struggled during his post-Monkees work, thanks to a contract that didn’t allow control over his song or producer choices.
Before we unveil our last pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
It isn’t always a lack of trying or talent that derails one’s solo career. A lot of factors can come into play, from not being able to acquire the right songs that showcase a singer’s style, to other behind-the-scenes factors. JC Chasez has, particularly in recent years, been highlighted as the best natural singer from the boy group NSYNC. Modern era, retroactive fan support doesn’t exactly change the fact that Chasez’s solo career didn’t take off in the same way as his bandmate, Justin Timberlake’s. Chasez’s LP, “Schizophrenic,” has received cult status today among pop fans, but it was poorly promoted back in 2004 and today stands as a “what if” scenario of alt-reality NSYNC success.
Which pop or rock star’s solo career do you feel deserves more love in the modern day? Let us know in the comments!
LISA
BlackpinkFresh off the set of “The White Lotus,” Blackpink member LISA has been making a name for herself outside the girl group’s domain. Blackpink rode the Korean Wave into global superstardom, becoming one of the most influential K-pop groups in recent years. But LISA’s 2025 solo project, Alter Ego, received rather mixed reviews. Though superfans rallied behind it, critics mostly pointed out a lack of cohesion and identity. The Guardian gave it 2 out of 5 stars, and Pitchfork scored it 5.2 out of 10—writing that it, “presents LISA as the most generic embodiment of a pop star.” Blackpink was the first K-pop group to headline Coachella in 2023, and LISA took the stage alone in 2025—receiving mixed reviews and complaints that her performance was unpolished. So while many are excited to see where each girl’s career could go, perhaps it’s the cohesion of the group that truly keeps LISA at her best.
Michelle Williams
Destiny’s ChildThe debut solo album from Michelle Williams was something of a big fish in a small pond situation. This was because Williams chose to create something personal and went gospel with her sound. Critics and gospel fans actually appreciated the move, but it certainly wasn’t the sort of polished pop that defined Williams’ latter years with Destiny’s Child. Future solo efforts by Williams continued to do poorly on Billboard, but well within Christian and gospel markets. “Unexpected” was a return to form for Williams in 2008, and its follow-up, “Journey to Freedom” did even better for the singer. So the case here isn’t so much that Michelle Williams’ solo career tanked as much as it pivoted away from Beyoncé level stardom.
Nicole Scherzinger
Pussycat DollsThe solo careers of the various Pussycat Dolls saw a lot of band formations and sound collaborations, but only Nicole Scherzinger seemed to emerge as a viable breakout star. There was a lot of back-and-forth with regards to the production of her debut album, however, essentially requiring a refresh with 2011’s “Killer Love.” That album underperformed on the U.S. Billboard charts, and received mixed reviews from critics. Scherzinger’s follow-up, did even worse, failing to capitalize upon the good will “Killer Love” had received from some international markets. The ex-Pussycat Doll instead pivoted to movie soundtrack work, film and television.
AJ McLean
Backstreet BoysIt’s fairly telling that none of the Backstreet Boys have been able to make any sort of real headway with regard to their solo careers. Nick Carter tried, as did AJ McLean, but these boy band legends just seem to work better together than apart. McLean’s solo career in particular was a blink-and-you-missed-it affair, with “Have It All” being released in 2010, and not really being discussed much since. McLean, to his credit, seemed to be fairly proud of what he accomplished on the record, but 2010 was a long time ago. He’s released some individual songs but there’s been little to no talk of any sort of AJ McLean renaissance on the horizon at the time of this writing.
Joe Perry
AerosmithMusical success can often be a double edged sword. A band’s achievements can also often arrive with stressors and distractions that result in splintered lineups and embittered friendships. Joe Perry first left the Aerosmith camp back in 1979, feeling creatively stifled and seeing the hard rock writing on the wall with Van Halen’s debut album. The Joe Perry Project didn’t exactly achieve the success hoped by the Aerosmith axe man, however, and Perry rejoined Aerosmith within a five year span. Future solo albums would continue to occasionally emerge from Perry, including one in 2005 and another in 2009, but it seems as if fans only really want to hear him up on stage with Steven Tyler.
David Lee Roth
Van HalenThis generationally charismatic frontman certainly meant business when it came to forming his first solo band after departing Van Halen. David Lee Roth hired the best musicians he could find, and the resulting EP, “Crazy from the Heat” was certified platinum. Its follow-up, “Eat ‘Em and Smile,” achieved similar accolades, but the bloom was soon off Roth’s (Yankee) rose with subsequent efforts. “Skyscraper” and “A Little Ain’t Enough” had to fight against waning commercial interest in highly polished stadium rock, and Roth soon explored other creative outlets. He eventually reunited with Van Halen, and toured with them until Eddie’s death in 2020.
Mel B
The Spice GirlsThe case of Mel B’s solo career is one that’s sort of similar to the Backstreet Boys. Here, however, every member of The Spice Girls released solo records after the dissolution of the group. Some, like Geri Halliwell, did better than others, while the career of Mel B just didn’t seem to do as well as expected. Mel B’s debut LP, entitled “Hot,” struggled to find an audience, and its follow-up, 2005’s “L.A. State of Mind,” did even worse. Mel B’s solo career has essentially stopped here, with “L.A. State of Mind” reportedly selling less than 1500 copies overall.
Tommy Lee
Mötley CrüeThere’s a profound difference between seeking out other creative avenues and following the pervasive trends of the day. The Methods of Mayhem project from Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee was a clear attempt to capitalize on the nu-metal and rap/rock trends of the late nineties and early millennium. Lee continued down this road with this 2002 solo album, “Never a Dull Moment,” while “Tommyland: The Ride” from 2005 featured a bevy of post-grunge collaborators on deck. These included Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger and Joel Madden from the pop-punk group Good Charlotte. These solo efforts proved, beyond any doubt, that Tommy Lee should just stick to his day job behind the drum kit.
Davy Jones
The MonkeesThe Monkees had to struggle mightily to step out from their creative shadow as “The Pre-Fab Four.” The members eventually railed against their put-together nature as a commercially successful pop group, filming the experimental psych movie “Head” as one way to seek legitimacy. The members of The Monkees all experimented with solo careers, as well, with Michael Nesmith possibly seeing the most critical acclaim. Davy Jones, meanwhile, capitalized upon his natural good looks and charisma with a revitalized solo career of his own. Jones had already released a self-titled LP in 1965, but he struggled during his post-Monkees work, thanks to a contract that didn’t allow control over his song or producer choices.
Before we unveil our last pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Nick Lachey, 98 Degrees
His Debut Being Titled “SoulO” Tells You Everything You Need to KnowMark Owen, Take That
Because We Already Have Robbie Williams at HomePat Monahan, Train
Wait, Pat Monahan Had a Solo Album?!Grace Slick, Jefferson Airplane
Pop Hooks, Sure, but No Psych to Be Found When Grace Went SoloScott Stapp, Creed
More of the Same Was What Fans Received When Stapp Went Solo#1: JC Chasez
NSYNCIt isn’t always a lack of trying or talent that derails one’s solo career. A lot of factors can come into play, from not being able to acquire the right songs that showcase a singer’s style, to other behind-the-scenes factors. JC Chasez has, particularly in recent years, been highlighted as the best natural singer from the boy group NSYNC. Modern era, retroactive fan support doesn’t exactly change the fact that Chasez’s solo career didn’t take off in the same way as his bandmate, Justin Timberlake’s. Chasez’s LP, “Schizophrenic,” has received cult status today among pop fans, but it was poorly promoted back in 2004 and today stands as a “what if” scenario of alt-reality NSYNC success.
Which pop or rock star’s solo career do you feel deserves more love in the modern day? Let us know in the comments!
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