10 Singers Who Left Their Bands To Become Superstar Solo Acts

It's sad that Zayn left and all, but there is still hope, Directioners.

Via dailymail.co.uk

Okay, yes. As you've seen all over the internet and Buzzfeed, a certain member of One Direction has decided to leave the group.

Mourn as you will, but having learned from years of pop stardom past, all is not lost.

There are plenty of singers who have left their band and been just as successful or even more so as a solo star.

In no particular order, let's have a look at a few.

Michael Jackson

michaeljackson.com / Via michaeljackson.com

After shedding his child star roots with family band The Jackson Five, Michael became the the King of Pop, the biggest, baddest (who's bad?) pop star on the planet and inspiration to millions of budding musicians around the world.

Robbie Williams

Via MTV.com

When the world was full of boy bands, Robbie Williams was the designated bad boy of THE 90s boy band, Take That. Since then, he had several solo hits in the early noughties, not to mention the 2014 track "The Days" with Avicii.

Gwen Stefani

Via 1053kissfm.com

Punk-rock front-woman of No Doubt, she became a successful pop star in her own right after leaving no doubt that she was leaving No Doubt.

(Come on. You know I had to.)

Sting

Sting.com / Via cdn.sting.com

The Police frontman from the late 70s-early 80s, Sting's done sort of okay for himself since leaving The Police, right?

George Michael

Via smoothtv.com.au

Formerly of Wham!. You may not remember him in his hey-day, but we all sing a bit of George Michael's Last Christmas at Christmas time, right? Yeah - THAT guy. He was in a super famous pop group called Wham! who were determined that you not leave without saying goodbye. You must, MUST, wake them up before you go go.

Nicole Scherzinger

Via wallpapersdb.org

The Pussycat Dolls frontwoman was destined for a solo career, as she was pretty much the lead in the band with a bunch of backing singers, don't you think? And she's done great!

Will.I.Am

David Venni / Photograph: David Venni/BBC/Wall / Via theguardian.com

Will.I.Am sort of sung and rapped and had his voice electronically altered in the Black Eyed Peas to excellent effect... and he still does that as his own artist today!

Justin Timberlake

Nwa / WENN.com / Via content.hollywire.com

Girls of the noughties, feel your pain, Directioners. We experienced the loss of our beloved 'N Sync when they... well... lost their sync. And it was wretched. But then the world was blessed with the return of sexy when Justin Timberlake went solo!

And finally...

Beyonce

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Freaking Beyonce

Bow down, bitches. There's no denying that Queen B really came into her own after departing Destiny's Child. It was her destiny.

Oh come on, why aren't you laughing?

So dry your eyes, Directioners. One day Zayn may just be added to the list.