10 Rock Stars With Multiple Influential Bands

10 Musicians Who Were in Multiple Great Bands

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at ten musicians who managed to carve out big success for themselves with more than one influential band.

Maynard James Keenan

One of the most impressive things about Maynard James Keenan’s work over the years is how he maintains a distinct identity for each of his musical projects. He first rose to prominence as the singer and lyricist of Tool, whose progressive metal sound, philosophical themes and ambitious albums made them legends of the 1990s. From there, Keenan founded A Perfect Circle, exploring a more melodic alternative rock direction. He later formed Puscifer, a genre-blending project that incorporates rock and electronic music. Sure, his voice and lyrics remain a constant, but the sheer versatility on display from Keenan is staggering.

Mike Patton

One band was never going to be enough for a musician of Mike Patton’s abilities. He burst onto the scene as the frontman of Faith No More, the trailblazing alternative metal act that served as the perfect vessel for his remarkable vocal talents. He then dived deeper into experimentation with Mr. Bungle and their constant genre-hopping. He also went on to form Fantômas, Tomahawk and Peeping Tom, each showcasing different aspects of his musical interests and range. Faith No More remained the most commercially successful, but each band adds something unique to the Mike Patton story.

Tom Morello

When Rage Against the Machine broke into the mainstream in the 1990s, they represented a very different type of band. The anger and politically-charged lyricism of frontman Zach De La Rocha paired perfectly with the metal-infused riffs of Tom Morello. It was a fresh and exciting sound, but for Morello, it was only the beginning. He would later branch off with his Rage bandmates to form Audioslave with Chris Cornell on vocals, resulting in multiple platinum-selling albums and enduring rock radio staples. Morello has also performed with Prophets of Rage, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, and numerous solo projects, cementing his reputation as one of modern rock's most distinctive axemen.

Damon Albarn

Few artists of the last three decades have pulled off the type of career pivot that Blur front-man Damon Albarn managed. Despite his first band’s huge success in the UK, they were largely unable to break into the US market. In a truly unexpected twist, Albarn would not achieve true international success until he embarked on a very bizarre side project in the early 2000s, forming the animated band Gorillaz. The band were a far cry from the Britpop that Albarn made his name with, mixing electronic music, funk, hip-hop, and more to create an infectious sound. Several of their albums are now regarded as classics, making Albarn the owner of one of music’s most successful second chapters.

Ronnie James Dio

Filling the shoes of the great Ozzy Osbourne is no easy feat. Yet, when the legendary frontman was fired from Black Sabbath due to his substance abuse issues, the metal band somehow found an incredible solution. Ronnie James Dio had already made his name with Rainbow, and his soaring vocals and fantastical lyricism ended up bringing new life to the group. The subsequent album, “Heaven and Hell”, was a success, although he left shortly after their second LP together, “The Mob Rules”. His stint with Sabbath then gave way to the formation of his own band, Dio, who have a strong following to this day.

Chris Cornell

The powerful vocals of the late, great Chris Cornell made him one of the most memorable vocalists of the 1990s and beyond. He first gained acclaim as the frontman of Soundgarden, whose blend of heavy metal and grunge helped define Seattle's music explosion at the end of the 80s. After Soundgarden initially disbanded, Cornell became the lead singer of Audioslave, joining former members of Rage Against the Machine to carve out even more commercial and critical success. Cornell is the type of singer who was always going to branch out into a range of different genres, and it’s pretty clear that he was a major success in this regard.

Dave Mustaine

Although he was only on board with Metallica for their earliest years, the impact that Dave Mustaine had on the group’s direction was significant. Or at least that’s what he’s been telling the world for forty years. The early demos that featured Mustaine on lead-guitar did indeed showcase all of the energy and grit that would eventually make it onto the band’s debut LP. However, Mustaine would be dismissed from the band due to substance abuse problems and personal conflicts. He would go on to form Megadeth shortly after, carving out a truly massive legacy of his own. Though it took years for him to make peace with Metallica and what happened, the fact that he did so well for himself was a remarkable feat.

Paul McCartney

You might have heard of Paul McCartney’s first band, The Beatles - the sensational Liverpool quartet who redefined pop, rock, and experimental music in the 1960s. All four members achieved success to varying degrees when the group broke up in 1970, but it was McCartney who dove headfirst into another long-term band. Wings were formed alongside his wife Linda McCartney and guitarist Denny Laine, going on to become one of the biggest bands of the 1970s. McCartney’s solo career would also produce some of the highest-selling hits of the century, proving that he was more than capable of standing on his own two feet.

Dave Grohl

Given that he was known primarily as the drummer sitting behind Kurt Cobain in Nirvana, watching Dave Grohl become such a major success in his later years has been a real treat. Following Kurt Cobain's tragic death, Grohl reinvented himself by founding the Foo Fighters, recording their debut album almost entirely by himself. Little did he know that, upon recruiting a full band to join him, they would go on to become one of the defining rock bands of the next twenty years. To this day, Grohl has arguably become something of a spokesman for the genre of rock and roll, and it’s clear that he has the resume to back it up.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Ronnie Wood

Legendary For His Work with The Rolling Stones and The Faces

Jack White

Started With The White Stripes Before Branching Out Several Times

Corey Taylor

Slipknot and Stone Sour Both Made Him an Icon

Steve Winwood

Sustained a Solo Career Alongside the Spencer Davis Group, Traffic and Blind Faith.

Matt Cameron

Veteran Drummer For Soundgarden, Temple of the Dog and Pearl Jam.

Eric Clapton

Beyond his prowess on the guitar, perhaps the most impressive thing about Eric Clapton is how he managed to carve out a run of success with several bands, while having an equally fruitful solo career. The Yardbirds, John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, Cream, Blind Faith, and Derek and the Dominos. All had Clapton in their lineup, and all achieved some degree of critical or commercial success. Over the years, Clapton has showcased his versatility and innate ability to find his way onto the charts. People talk about his ‘all-timer’ status as a guitarist, but he also deserves credit for his immense longevity.

But who do you think is the most versatile musician of them all? Let us know in the comments below.