Some well-known rock stars have never released solo albums. Dave Grohl and Tony Iommi are two musicians who prefer to stay with their bands instead of going solo. Grohl played nearly every instrument on the Foo Fighters’ debut album in 1995. Although it was credited to the band, it wasn’t a solo project. Over time, Foo Fighters became a full band, with Pat Smear, a former Nirvana touring member, joining them.
In 2022, Grohl talked about the common rock cliché of lead singers wanting to go solo and clashing with their bands. He stated, “The lead singer that wants to go solo and is at a creative war with his own band — and some lead singers do exactly that.” However, Grohl made it clear that he enjoys being part of Foo Fighters and would never leave.
Tony Iommi had a solo project that was later released as a Black Sabbath album in 1986. His album, *Seventh Star*, hit stores as the latest from the band. He returned to solo work with the album *Iommi* in 2000 but has only worked on solo projects occasionally since then.
These cases are interesting, especially since many lead songwriters have the talent to create solo material but choose to stay with their bands. For some, being part of a group gives them all the creative satisfaction they need. Many founding members have spent years pouring their creativity into the bands they helped build.
Others might feel uneasy about leading a recording session alone, even if they have the skills to make their bands successful. Like Grohl, they prefer to remain part of the collective, showing that in rock music, the strength of the band can often be more appealing than a solo career.
