3 Iconic Musicians That Left and Came Back Better Than Ever

Everybody needs a break from time to time. Breaks and/or hiatuses are frankly crucial when participating in a creative endeavor. Not only does it allow an artist to recharge and avoid burnout, but it also allows them to find new perspectives, ideas, and methods. It’s all part of the game. Hence, some of the biggest musicians have disappeared and returned better than ever.

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There is arguably no better story than a comeback story. Outlined by adversity and triumph, comeback stories show the resilience of their protagonists. Well, those stories are far from just fiction, and some musicians have proven that true. That being said, here are three iconic musicians who left the scene only to come back better than ever.

Bob Dylan

Throughout the 1980s, Bob Dylan struggled immensely with his identity as a musician. None of the albums he released garnered the success of his works from the 60s and 70s, and as a result, his mainstream appeal took a hit. Consequently, Bob Dylan stepped away from producing original work after he released his 1990 album, Under The Red Sky.

However, seven years later in 1997, Bob Dylan released one of the greatest albums of his career, Time Out Of Mind. The album marked a major comeback for Dylan, as he seemingly found his footing in modern music. In 1998, the album won three Grammy awards, including the Grammy for Album of the Year.

Tina Turner

While Tina Turner‘s career in the 60s and 70s was successful, it also marked a time of great adversity and pain for the singer, as she was married to the abusive Ike Turner. Tina divorced Ike in 1978, subsequently, she went off on her own both in life and in her music career. However, the musician’s solo career did not amount to much, as she was dropped by her record label and stepped away from music in 1979.

Turner had been through far worse in her life, so luckily, she was able to get back up on the saddle and show the world she still had it. And she did just that, as she released her hit album, Private Dancer, in 1984. The album peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, and hosted the No. 1 hit single “What’s Love Got To Do With It”.

David Bowie

In 2003, David Bowie released the album Reality. Unfortunately, shortly after that release, David Bowie suffered a heart attack during the Reality Tour. Consequently, he disappeared from the public eye for 10 years. Then, in 2013, David Bowie made a grand return with the release of his acclaimed album The Next Day.

Upon its release, the album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, marking his highest chart placement at the time. Furthermore, it garnered David Bowie two Grammy awards, including the Grammy for Best Rock Album of the Year.

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