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3 Rockers From the 1970s Who Ended up Joining Famous Bands
Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney and Sammy Hagar are highlighted in a retrospective piece as 1970s rock musicians who moved between solo careers and celebrated bands. The article traces how each artist balanced independent work with group membership during a pivotal decade for rock music, illustrating how collaboration shaped some of the era's most enduring music.
Clapton bounced between The Yardbirds, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Cream and Blind Faith before releasing his 1970 solo debut and then forming Derek and the Dominos. McCartney went solo after The Beatles split around 1970, releasing McCartney and Ram, before founding Wings, whose 1973 album Band on the Run became a major hit. Hagar left Montrose to pursue a solo career from 1976 before joining Van Halen as lead singer in 1985, a role he held until 1996 and briefly again in the early 2000s.
In short
- Clapton, McCartney and Hagar moved between solo work and bands in the 1970s
- McCartney formed Wings after The Beatles split in 1970
- Hagar later joined Van Halen as frontman in 1985
Explained simply
Rock music in the 1970s was shaped by musicians moving between bands and solo work. A band’s sound depended on its members, so a change in line-up could lead to new music and new projects.
Eric Clapton played in several British blues and rock groups before releasing solo records and forming Derek and the Dominos. After The Beatles split, Paul McCartney made solo albums and then formed Wings, which became a successful band in its own right.
Sammy Hagar left the American band Montrose for a solo career, then joined Van Halen as its lead singer in 1985. These paths show how well-known musicians could move between working independently and making music as part of a group.
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