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Coffee break: Solo (career) disasters

Posted at 8:59 AM on May 31, 2011 by Jim McGuinn (29 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break

Today I had the honor of filling in for both Steve and Jill, as Jill was travelling back from the Sasquatch Festival, and Steve became sick and it was too late to come up to come up with other options... thus, the solo morning show today! Couple that with a few computer, um, issues, and I'd have to say the 6am hour was well, not the most brilliant in the history of the Current. But we got thru - and now I'm thinking a fun topic for the Coffee Break might be Solo Disasters - you know, those artists that left a good thing, but probably should have stayed with the band that got them to the dance. Hit me with your best below and we'll put together a fun Coffee Break for the last day of May, 2011.

Comments (29)

This is kind of a double-edged sword because I want to say Sting (commercially not a disaster, of course) but I don't want to hear any of his solo stuff, except maybe Fortress Around Your Heart.

Posted by wellst | May 31, 2011 9:06 AM

David Lee Roth - Gigolo

Steve Perry

Posted by Chris | May 31, 2011 9:07 AM

Scott Stapp from Creed

Posted by christopher | May 31, 2011 9:13 AM

Beth, Peter Criss

Mick Jagger [oh wait, Goddess In the Doorway got five stars from Rolling Stone!!!!!]

Slash's Snakepit


Posted by lou | May 31, 2011 9:15 AM

Anything from 'Scream,' Chris Cornell's terrible collaboration with Timbaland. That record is simply an embarrassment for music fans everywhere.

Posted by Erik T. | May 31, 2011 9:15 AM

Gwen Stefani - What you waiting for?

I think that might be a good one since I feel like I've been waiting for her to make a song of much worth since No Doubt.

Posted by Christine | May 31, 2011 9:15 AM

Sid Vicious "My Way"

Posted by Katherine | May 31, 2011 9:15 AM

GN'R -- anything off "Chinese Democracy"

Posted by (JL) | May 31, 2011 9:16 AM

Billy Corgan - Anything off of "The Future Embrace". This is when Billy and I had our falling out. Before this album, I was still a huge fan. After? Sigh.... it will never be the same.

Posted by Rachel | May 31, 2011 9:16 AM

Dee Dee Ramone's rap/hip hop disaster...

Posted by tim | May 31, 2011 9:16 AM

Dream a little dream of me - mama cass

Posted by loran | May 31, 2011 9:17 AM

Art Garfunkel!!!

Posted by lou | May 31, 2011 9:17 AM

Paul McCartney - "Wings". Probably had success but still it was Wings.

Posted by Patrick | May 31, 2011 9:19 AM

I think the blue ribbon has to go to David Lee Roth but ...

Richard Ashcroft / The Verve

His solo stuff isn't disaster per se ... but the band should have stayed together.

Posted by Jess | May 31, 2011 9:21 AM

train in vain - Annie Lennox

Posted by loran | May 31, 2011 9:21 AM

Ace Frehley
Suzanna Hoffs
Jane Wiedlen
Boy George
George Michael

Posted by ken | May 31, 2011 9:29 AM

Jim Steinman, the "genius" beind Meat Loaf ,made a solo album called Bad For Good. I've never heard it, but it has quite a reputation...

Posted by andy | May 31, 2011 9:30 AM

A little late, but...

Morris Day - "Oak Tree" or "Fishnet". Morris just isn't the same without The Time.

Posted by tmpletz | May 31, 2011 9:35 AM

Scott Weiland's first attempt at non-STP music was pretty good (12 Bar Blues), but his second solo release, "'Happy' In Galoshes", was a mess. The single release, I think, was "Missing Cleveland".

The most interesting bit of all is that Weiland was clean enough to release a solo album on TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS.

Posted by Andy | May 31, 2011 9:37 AM

Michael Jackson just called, he said, "PLEASE make it stop!!!!!!"

Posted by kyle | May 31, 2011 9:46 AM

This coffee break is definitely testing my patience. Sting!, Paul McCartney!

Thanks for reminding why I don't listen to commercial radio.

Travistan - Travis Morrison from Dismemberment plan

Tom Morello and the Nightwatchmen project.

Posted by Shawn | May 31, 2011 9:53 AM

Feargal Sharkey- A Good Heart
Jean Beauvoir (ex of Plasmatics)- Feel the Heat

Posted by dave in nc | May 31, 2011 9:54 AM

Billy Corgan. Hands down.

And whoever put George Michael--really? I admit he's made some missteps along the way, but George Michael is still bigger and better than Wham! ever was!

Posted by Shannon | May 31, 2011 9:55 AM

Didn't Mary Lucia just play Just a Gigolo on No Apologies recently?

Posted by Gray | May 31, 2011 9:56 AM

Most awkward Coffee Break ever

Posted by juanita | May 31, 2011 9:59 AM

OK, I see you prefaced your playing of Sting with the fact that he was commercially successful, but his awesomeness from his Police days keep me from calling him a full fledged disaster.

Also, even a decade of Pitchfork fueled music snobbery can't make me hate "Fields Of Gold" as much as I may want to.

He had quite a few strong solo career tracks in fact. My favorite was that "Shape Of My Heart" song that was used in a few movie soundtracks in the 90's.

As for your other picks Jim, spot on. The DLR song at the end nearly made me wish I was temporarily deaf. Please never play it again :)

Posted by Dylan | May 31, 2011 10:00 AM

That was hilarious!!! Chris Cornell was extremely bad! Was he joking or was he just kidding himself? I've never heard a cover quite as awful as his take on Michael Jackson's "Billy Jean".
Thanks for the laughs this morning!

Posted by Rachel Ahrndt | May 31, 2011 10:05 AM

The thief by minus the bear. Everybody needs some omnicord every once in a while.

Posted by nick langer | June 1, 2011 9:19 AM

This is kind of unfair. I was disappointed to hear Sting put on this list yesterday. He may be cheesy, he may often have lyrical blunders, granted. But Ten Summoner's Tales is a great record, with impeccable musicianship.

Posted by Joey | June 1, 2011 10:24 AM

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