6 Rock Frontmen Who Sounded Completely Different Outside Their Bands

These rock frontmen sounded completely different once they left the bands that helped solidify their careers. Whether they tiptoed into another lane of rock or abandoned it completely, these rock stars proved they had more to offer than meets the eye.

Robert Plant

As Led Zeppelin’s frontman, Robert Plant was a high-flying, banshee-like vocalist who leaned into rock’s heavy roots. Outside of the band, Plant has explored a much softer sound. He’s ventured into Americana with the help of artists like Alison Krauss, creating a stark contrast between what we know him for and what he’s capable of.

Thom Yorke

It’s hard to tell whether Thom Yorke sounds different on his own or if he’s delving further into the sound he established as a rock frontman. At any rate, his solo work differs from his time with Radiohead. As a solo artist, Yorke has delved even further into electronic tinges and experimentation. Listening to Radiohead, it’s hard to imagine anyone could be more exploratory, but Yorke’s solo career proves that there is still more terrain to trek.

Paul Simon

Paul Simon has explored many sounds. His time alongside Art Garfunkel was largely folk-influenced, but his solo career has seen him stretch his wings far and wide, including trying on some soft rock tones. Elsewhere, he’s done jazz, African-inspired beats, and pop fusion. He’s one of the most adventurous frontmen in classic rock.

Phil Collins

Phil Collins’ solo rock career has elements of the sound he made as the frontman of Genesis, but he still took on a whole new light. He infused his rock with R&B, soul, and dance-music flourishes. He broke free of the mold Genesis had formed around him. His side solo project gave him a freedom that being a part of a band could not.

Darius Rucker

Darius Rucker did a complete genre flip once Hootie And The Blowfish went on hiatus. He leaped into country music and became a certifiable icon in that space. Seldom has anyone jumped genres so effortlessly and completely. By blazing this trail, Rucker created a new avenue for artists. Suddenly, genre lines didn’t matter much, even if you made your name with a very specific sound.

David Byrne

You can’t really pin one specific sound on David Byrne. He’s an artist who, by definition, is here to innovate and explore new sides of his musicality. But there are noticeable differences between his work with Talking Heads and his solo material. Alone, he favors world music. In that iconic band, he’s firmly an art rock artist.

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