Top 10 Musicians Who Outgrew Their Bands.....

(And Not Necessarily in a Good Way)

As the Rolling Stones celebrate their 63rd year together, we revisit bands where a key member simply outgrew their band and moved on.

But that doesn't mean that the history books necessarily looked kindly on the artist. Below is our Top 10 list, with our opinion of the subject's decision-making process.

1. Sting

1983's Synchronicity by The Police was one of the greatest albums of all time. After that tour ended, Sting stepped away from the band to focus on his solo career. When speaking on his days with The Police, Sting continues to be dismissive, comparing it to a time spent in college.

Good Decision or Bad Decision? Bad Decision. I don't care what you say, or what single you want to cite, pompous Sting never had another good song once he left The Police. Not one.

2. Danny Elfman

Danny Elfman is a legitimate genius and Oingo Boingo had largely run its course by the time the band broke up. Oingo Boingo's 8th album Boingo was a self-reflective triumph.

Good Decision or Bad Decision? Good Decision. Danny Elfman is arguably the greatest Movie Soundtrack Composer of his generation and, outside of John Williams, maybe of all time.

3. Gwen Stefani

After 2001's Rock Steady album, No Doubt has mostly not existed. After being one of the most popular Alternative bands of the 90's, Stefani made it clear that she wanted to be anywhere but with her bandmates. In her defense, it is hard being in a band with your ex.

Good Decision of Bad Decision? Bad Decision. Besides the plastic surgery and selling out on The Voice, Stefani went from an enigmatic girl-next-door to a Plastic TV Doll.

4. Clint Mansell

Pop Will Eat Itself was never much more than a cult favorite and when they broke up in 1996, most of the interest in the band dissipated.

Good Decision or Bad Decision? Good Decision. When it comes to Film Scores, Mansell is second only to Danny Elfman. 1998's Pi (Soundtrack) was the perfect compliment to Darren Aronofsky's movie of the same name. Mansell hasn't slowed down since, while Pop Wil Eat Itself continues to....exist? I think.

5. Michael Jackson

I didn't realize it, but Michael Jackson made 15 albums with the Jackson 5, and then subsequently, The Jacksons. Man, that Joe Jackson was a tyrant.

Good Decision or Bad Decision? Bad Decision. How can I say such a thing when Michael Jackson was arguably the greatest Male Solo Artist of All Time? Because he's dead. And before he died, he had, minimally, over a decade's worth of terrible personal decisions. I can't help but think that he might be alive today if he had a better support system and/or kept making music with his older brothers, at least occasionally. Yes, I am very aware of the Leaving Neverland Documentary, we didn't like Michael Jackson long before the masses turned on him.

6. Beyoncé

On the other end of the Parent-as-Manager Spectrum, Mathew Knowles molded his daughter and her friends into a pop supergroup. By the time Destiny's Child split up, it was clear that Beyoncé was a superstar in waiting.

Good Decision or Bad Decision: Great Decision! According to Wikipedia, she is "widely regarded as one of the most culturally significant figures of the 21st Century." I mean, what can I say beyond that?

7. Henry Rollins

Henry Rollins was the lead singer of Black Flag during its, arguably, most influential era.

Good Decision or Bad Decision? Good Decision. Greg Ginn ran Black Flag right into the ground and Henry Rollins became Generation X's renaissance man. The smartest thing Henry Rollins did in his entire life was to get a million miles away from Greg Ginn.

8. Morrissey

When Morrissey was with the Smiths, he was the darling of the college radio scene. When the band broke up, it's safe to say they all had enough of each other and needed to move on.

Good Decision or Bad Decision? Bad Decision. The charming "Neutral Humansexual" revealed himself to be quite an unpleasant character. That's why you get a steady stream of articles like: How Morrissey Ruined Morrissey & Musicians That Hate Morrissey. If you don't want to click on that second link, I'll just give you the punchline. Who hates Morrissey the most? The "Rest of the Smiths."

9. Mike Patton

People forget that when Mike Patton joined Faith No More, they already had a cult following and Patton was only 20 years old. When Faith No More broke up the first time, I think Patton just felt restricted within the band format, he's more of a chameleon.

Good Decision or Bad Decision? Neutral. Listen, Faith No More is one of my favorite bands, but when they released Sol Invictus in 2015, I never thought they were back for good. I think of Mike Patton as a musical shark, always moving forward. I had nothing but respect for Patton.... until this year's collaboration with the Avett Brothers. That collaboration made my ears bleed. Hopefully that's just a misstep and not the beginning of a downward trajectory.

10. Omar Rodríguez-López and Cedric Bixler-Zavala

Just when At The Drive In was about to make it big, they splintered right down the middle.

Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and Cedric Bixler-Zavala went on to form the Mars Volta and Jim Ward, Paul Hinojos, and Tony Hajjar formed the more accessible Sparta.

Good Decision or Bad Decision? Good Decision.

Bixler-Zavala and Rodriguez-Lopez formed the most prog-tastic band of the 21st century. Sparta made a brief ripple, then kind of faded away. Maybe everyone just didn't like Jim Ward?

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Honorable Mentions:

• Eminem (Good) - Everyone forgets that D12 came before Eminem and he tried to help out his fellow Detroit Rappers after he blew up. D12 was no Wu-Tang Clan

• Mark Wahlberg (Good) - Mark Wahlberg was in New Kids on the Block for about 5 minutes. Luckily he moved into a movie career. NKOTB is still touring. (We have active disdain for the New Kids).

• George Harrison (Neutral) - All Things Must Pass was universally accepted as one of the greatest Rock Albums in history. But I think most fans wished that the Beatles had gotten back together by 1976. Sadly, after John Lennon's assassination in 1980, it was a moot point.

• Bill Carter (Bad) - The Screaming Blue Messiahs were a college radio favorite in the late- 80's / early 90's and then disappeared.

Gone with faintly a trace, the only musical trail was a few obscure singles from a half-dozen years back.

Did Bill Carter outgrow his band?

Or outgrow music as a career?