List of musicians changed career with better success...


Hi I followed musicians from certain bands that were much higher class and caliber than the band they used to play and here’s my nominees:

1. Mike Stern -- Blood Sweat and Tears reached his prime as virtuoso fusion guitarist and set up quite a few interesting projects
2. John Paul Jones -- Led Zeppelin. He can play various instruments and created great projects especially one with Diamanda Galas which is far more creative than his carreer in Led Zeppelin.
3. Andy Summers -- Police became jazz guitarist and created great albums in 90’s
4. Gary Brooker -- Procol Harum -- pianist and vocal of Procol Harum. His solo albums are more interesting than ones with Procol Harum
5. Colin James Hay -- Men At Work -- multi-instrumentalist, bassist and vocal released very few albums that are definitely beyond the class of Man At Work
6. Steve Stevens -- guitarist who performed with Billy Idol created great solo albums...
7. Finally among the Beatles, I believe the most successful solo career that goes beyond the Beatles I believe belongs to George Harrison.

Welcome to chip-in...
czarivey
David Sylvian solo albums are almost all with Japan members so it seems he never left Japan only changed everything to his name. Japan as band had a few mishaps releasing some pop rock cuap. 
tostadosunidos,
Clapton's "Cream" career is the best and his solo album live "Rainbow Concert" revealed his best qualities. Also "Slowhand" album can get kinda similar attention. 
Diana Ross had larger commercial success, but with Supremes the material was substantially more creative and interesting. She downgraded her music to become more pop and make more money.
@czarivey thank you for clearing my brain. I "discovered" Japan long after falling in love with Sylvian and never paid attention that his bandmates are still with him and that I actually hunt down their solo efforts as well. Thanks again!!!
@bondmanp No, I do not have Japan first three albums, but I really love how Sylvian is evolving. Just hope he wont "evolve" as far as Bjork did! ;-(
Love Peter Gabriel, have all his albums in heavy rotation! I was talking about Phil Collins whom I love as part of Genesis but not as a solo money-making machine.
David Sylvian solo albums are almost all with Japan members
Hmmm, well Steve Jansen is his brother so is he not allowed to work with him without it being Japan? Frankly it was the influence of other musicians such as Sakamoto, Fripp and Czukay that helped take him in a different direction from Japan

Also no former Japan members on any of David's most recent five albums (RIP Mick Karn) 

Anyway do go see him live if you get a chance, one of the best shows I've ever been to
Robert Gordon did fair as a punk rocker, but his career improved once he embraced Rockabilly. 
+1
I saw him perform with my one of my fav rockabilly bands back in the day in Detroit, the Twistin' Tarantulas. One of the best live shows I'd ever seen.