As Jack White announces his second solo album , we'd like your opinions on the most painful and successful solo careers

Going it alone: what are the best, and worst, solo efforts from band members

Yesterday, Jack White announced the forthcoming release of his second solo album, Lazaretto, premiering new track High Ball Stepper on YouTube. This is the second solo album from the former White Stripes front man after 2012's Blunderbuss.

White is among a growing number of rock stars who have broken free from their band members to have a crack at a solo career. The Strokes' Julius Casablancas released Phrazes for the Young, while the guitarist for the same band, Albert Hammond Jr., put out two albums in 2006 and 2008 respectively.

Thom Yorke of Radiohead turned to skittering beats and electronic sounds before the rest of the band did, with The Eraser. Meanwhile, Jonny Greenwood was off soundtracking films and dabbling in classical arrangements.

When Girls Aloud split up, three of the band put out individual music. Cheryl loved it her when you called her name; Nicola Roberts worked with Diplo to produce a wonderful collection of intelligent pop; and Nadine Coyle … well, Nadine sold about three copies of her CD in a motorway service station branch of Tesco.

Of course, this isn't a new phenomenon. You might have heard of John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Or, say, Bjork, Ian Brown, Beyoncé? Sting, Morrissey, Michael Jackson, Gwen Stefani, Lauryn Hill and Phil Collins are just a few other examples. But why is it that for some, stepping into the singular spotlight proves an unadulterated success, and yet plenty of others have launched singles which stall at number 180 in the charts, and are never seen again?



Victoria Beckham, for instance, realised post-Spice Girls that she was better at designing dresses than duetting with Dane Bowers, but in complete contrast, Justin Timberlake's solo career has far outshined his boy band alma mater, 'N Sync. But who can remember – or even knew about in the first place – JC Chasez's offensively named Schizophrenic album? The pop dream burst for all of the Backstreet Boys as soon as they separated, and All Saints' solo efforts were in the main, hellish.



Which musicians from bands have broken away, either on hiatus or after a band has split permanently, to embark on solo careers – and who has succeeded and who has failed dismally?

Let us know your opinions in the comments section below.

