3 Rock Stars Who Were a Part of Two Successful Bands

You could consider yourself lucky if you managed to become a part of even one successful band, let alone two. However, it has been done. Several artists have managed to leave one rock band and join (or found) an equally as successful one. It’s no easy feat. The three artists below should be applauded for their musical resilience.

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Paul McCartney

Paul McCartney is a natural inclusion on this list. Both the Beatles and Wings were massively successful bands. Though the Beatles had a clear leg up on the second rock band of McCartney’s career, Wings did well enough to sustain him.

The Beatles were (and are) a cultural institution. No band has managed to eclipse their fame to this day. However, Wings gave McCartney room to breathe. The freedom of not being under the Beatles banner gave McCartney a newfound creative streak. After earning unprecedented fame, McCartney earned a reputation as one of the most innovative and autonomous artists around.

[RELATED: Paul Is the Walrus: Paul McCartney Will Voice a Bass-Playing Walrus Character in Upcoming Animated Film]

Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton was the guitar virtuoso in both Yardbirds and Cream. Both rock bands had relatively short-lived careers, but they were nonetheless impactful.

The Yardbirds were a breeding ground for unparalleled guitarists. On top of Clapton’s talents, the band also had the pleasure of playing with both Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page. Clapton gave this outfit his knowledge of the blues. They eventually turned away from that sound, alienating Clapton and his staunch opinions. Clapton’s time with Cream was equally as iconic. Though his solo career would eventually blow both bands out of the water, fans would be remiss if they didn’t acknowledge Clapton’s beginnings.

Steve Howe

Steve Howe’s career has been a series of flips back and forth between bands. Howe lent his talents to both Yes and Asia. While Howe helped found the latter, he merely jumped into the already established career of Yes. He did, however, take the rock band to new heights, making him an indispensable member. Unlike the other two inclusions on this list, Howe went back and forth between the two outfits he is associated with.

Prog rock was deeply affected by both Yes and Asia–and by extension, Howe. The sub-genre wouldn’t be the same without Howe and his two-band run.

[RELATED: Remember When Asia Topped the ‘Billboard’ 200 with Their Self-Titled Debut, Which Became 1982’s Best-Selling Album]

(Photo by Stephen Lovekin/FilmMagic)