Worst failed solo careers?

Only read the first page...Has Sussanna Hoffs been mentioned?

 

Mick Ronson been mentioned yet?
Though I do LOVE the title of his first solo LP.

How about Steve Marriot? Great great great voice, great guitar player, bad career/life choices. So sad.

 

I'm not sure if she promoted any of her albums. She deserved a better solo career. She has one of the best voices in rock music.

 

Glenn Hughes ....but he's really trying to make up for it.

 

Barry Goudreau from Boston

 

John Maus of the Walker Brothers - shocking to think he had even less success than nominal Walkers drummer Gary Leeds (who DID have a big hit in Japan), especially considering Maos was a competent singer and songwriter.

 

When someone now asks me about the 80’s I will link them to this music video. Thank you.

 

I think you nailed it right there.

 

What were you expecting? He had songs. After 1978 Scholz put Boston on an album every eight years (at best) pace. Scholz didn't want Goudreau's songs. Goudreau and other members were encouraged to go solo why Scholz was dickering with the record label. Then Scholz didn't want Goudreau back. All things concerned, Goudreau did all right. A couple of the solo projects got some attention.

 

Phil Collins
Peter Gabriel
Sting
Rod Stewart
Van Morrison
George Michael
Michael Jackson
Ozzy Osborne
Robert Plant


Wait I read the question wrong

I meant Andy Summers

 

His “Heavy Metal (Takin a Ride)” peaked at #43 on the Hot 100 so he doesn’t qualify as per the OP’s criteria.

I submit the talented but hitless Richie Furay.

 

I accept your alternative!

 

The BYRON BAND – with Robin George (2008)

 

The BYRON BAND – with Robin George (2008)

 

Your profile pic "(si si) je suis un rock star" is not too shabby either to show what the 80s were.

 

Would it be out of line to suggest Pete Townshend?

Yes, Empty Glass had "Let My Love Open The Door."

But reading his autobio, he makes it clear that once his career proceeded from '82 onward, sales never really managed to match his label's expectations, and it was essentially diminshing returns as he progressed from White City, onto Iron Man, and finally, Psychoderelict. It seems ATCO expected him to have a Phil Collins-sized career. But he more or less remained an esoteric fan favorite for hardcore Who fans.

 

Freddie Mercury

I always wished he had done a solo album in the 70s, since I think it would have been much better than Mr. Bad Guy, which was plagued by the gay club sound.

Thankfully though we got Barcelona, which was much better...and quite frankly the best thing he did in the 80s imo.

 

Mr. Bad Guy has its charms, but it does tend to sound more like a set of tech demos rather than a completed album. It's a prime example of the '80s techniques leaving an album sounding "sparse." Shame too, as Made in Heaven proved that the songs were there, if only they had some more lively arrangements to their credit.

More to the topic of this thread, it's amazing how badly it did. I seem to recall hearing that the label spent far more than they ever recouped on this one. Around the time of the reissue of Barcelona (highly recommended), Jim Beach made it sound like the reason Freddie used synths on the original album was down to concern over how well it would do. I presume that's after the flop of the first solo album.

And yes, a '70s FM solo album would have been something, I'm sure.

 

I can't be bothered to read 31 pages.
Anyone mention Hugh Cornwell of the Stranglers? Plays small UK venues and is pretty good, but the rest of the band kept the name and the arenas.

 

Reminds me of Roger Waters in the 80s! When "A Momentary Lapse of Reason" Diet Pink Floyd toured stadiums and Roger Waters toured clubs and smaller venues the same year.

Now he's a much bigger name in his own right!

 

There is a search function:

 

Thread title makes me think of Paul King. King (the band) had a string of early/mid 80's hits in the UK . Paul left the band, went to the USA and did a solo album which, unfortunately, was so bad he ended up being a presenter for MTV and never made any more music

 

I don't know about that. I saw Rog supporting The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking in the local 18,000 seat hockey arena, aka the Spectrum. I was full except for production that prevented seats from being sold behind the stage.

 

Two amazingly successful artists in top bands, but who failed spectacularly on their debut albums--most blame is on their label (Columbia) that didn't support their efforts (still...their debut LPs have become huge cult favorites today).

Columbia can be forgiven as these groundbreaking LPs were so unusual and different from what they'd hoped for....they just didn't know what to do with them. Gene of course was overshadowed by the Byrds new release---that hit the stores at the same time as Gene's.

Selling only several hundreds of LPs on both of their initial releases...they get rave reviews today (both reissued and very cool). I have the vinyl first pressings of both...my treasures:
(and two of my all time favorite album covers too~)