100 Artists who just "walked away"

.. you know, they just sorta 'resigned'.

As opposed to 'got dropped'.

(I was going to add 'or couldn't handle it mentally' but that could mean everyone on some small level)

... So:

100. Syd Barrett
99. Lewis Taylor
98. The Sundays

97. Bill Withers

96. Mark Hollis

97, really?

96 was one hell of a long fade-out.

re 97 yes, just look up "Bill Withers retired" e.g. for details.

95. The Left Banke
94. The Four Tops
93. Billy Bragg

92. Pete Quaife
91. Thelonious Monk

90. Captain Beefheart

89. http://relevantsound.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/article-1042504-023be8170000044d-47_468x3291.jpg

88. http://991.com/newgallery/Cast-Walkaway---Clear-62616.jpg

NOT FAST ENOUGH

95. The Left Banke
94. The Four Tops
93. Billy Bragg

I admit it took a moment, but I got it.

87. jarobi

95. The Left Banke
94. The Four Tops
93. Billy Bragg

I admit it took a moment, but I got it.

They were dropped. It was Renée who walked.

They "walked away" in the stretched sense of doing the song.

86. rick astley

85. Pete La Roca

There's not that many of these, I don't think, but here's definitely one:

84. Fred Neil

83. Kendra Smith

:(

i sure hope david roback isn't following suit

82. Bill Berry

Ugh at that Cast sleeve. I can't believe you camped out to get no.00007.

81. Kate Bush

Has she retired?

not officially I don't think, but we're four years into a gap-following-a-twelve-year-gap now

I'd surprised if she didn't record again though

89 is [nabisco] [.] or just someone who resembles him?

hahaha awesome

He is a bloke called Howard who used to manage a bank then started singing in the bank's annoying TV adverts and now given the state of the financial sector he's probably on the dole

he also guest-starred on The Office, I believe

Yes he did, but I don't think he sang.

In 2005, Brown released a cover of the Barry White song You're the First, the Last, My Everything as a charity single. It peaked at number 13 in the UK singles chart.

In April 2008 it was announced that Brown would not be starring in any more Halifax adverts, with him instead taking a role in its public relations department.

88. Lauryn Hill

80. Jeremy Spencer

79. Deanna Durbin

78. Artie Shaw

77. Robert Wyatt

(sorry)

77. Cat Stevens

http://www.virginmedia.com/images/ridgeley-431.jpg

76. Lee Mavers

75. Noddy Holder

74. Kevin Shields

Sterling Morrison

(surprised we got this far without him...)

What about Lou going off to work in his Dad's accountancy firm?

72. Jeff Mangum

71 roy montgomery

70 shuggie otis

69. Art Ledger

68. David Ackles

So what's the deal with Gillian Welch? Is it writer's block?

67. Bill Wyman

xpost she plays out pretty regularly and David Rawlings just released a record?

Do you people need help with something??

66. Greg Norton

65. Peter Baumann

64. Christine McVie

63. rolling stones

62. Solex

Hope she comes back soon tho

61. Joni Mitchell's only made one record since she "walked away." Is she done?

60. Alan Ravenstein

59. Mary Margaret O' Hara

58. d'angelo

57. henry grimes, sort of

In the late 1960s, Grimes career came to a halt after his move to California. It was commonly assumed Grimes had died; he was listed as such in several jazz reference works. Then Marshall Marrotte, a social worker and jazz fan, set out to discover Grimes's fate once and for all. In 2003, he found Grimes alive but nearly destitute, without a bass to play, renting a tiny apartment in Los Angeles, California, writing poetry and doing odd jobs to support himself. He had fallen out of touch with the jazz world and was unaware Albert Ayler had died, but was eager to perform again.

Ravenstine didn't walk, he flew (he's a commercial airline pilot)

xxxpost

dang, Alan Ravenstein is a airline pilot!? that is ... kind of scary! but awesome.

He was flying for northwest, last i heard (a long time ago.) I'm still waiting to hear "This is captain Ravenstein" on a flight, holy fuck that would be cool. Maybe he chose that vocation because of all of the dials in the cockpit. Or the shortwave radio noise.

Since Henry Grimes is here, I'm gonna put
56. Mark Weinstein
Played trombone for Eddie Palmieri, quit to get a PhD in philosophy, became a professor, got tenure, now has gone back to playing flute. Read about it here:
http://jazzfluteweinstein.blogspot.com/2009/03/old-days.html

yeah, would be nuts to have the dude who played the synths on 30 seconds over tokyo flying your plane ...

He didn't though, did he?

55. eric gravatt (weather report drummer)

Don't forget this thread: rock stars who went back work.

i think he might be playing here and there now, but he was a prison guard for years and years

xp

He didn't though, did he?

My mistake, it was "Final Solution" he didn't play on.

one that grieves me greatly:

54. Guy Kyser (of Thin White Rope)

richard hell has pretty much walked away from music. though i guess he re-did his vocals on that Destiny Street thing this year.

And he had the guitars redone too!

The guitars didn't need fixed, his voice did

Iris Dement has recently performed, but did boycott performing for years.

Didn't need, didn't need. He is the artist, you are merely ilx poster.

53. John Deacon

52.Bruce Willis

I don't get why Kate Bush is some sort of foot-dragging recluse, but Peter Gabriel isn't. Because she doesn't tour, you mean? It's been about 8 years between Gabriel records, and his next one is a friggin orchestral covers album (supposedly). When is a gap more than that? Leonard Cohen just walked away, but then walked back.

I mean, Phil Collins recently walked away, didn't he? But that followed "farewell" solo tours and a Genesis reunion.

51. Sonny Bono

I thought Joni kind of went out with a bang, with her "the music industry stinks" statement. (And that vindictive album, see Taming The Tiger)

Iris Dement has recently performed, but did boycott performing for years.
Not only that, her last album (mainly covers) was released in 2004. The one before that came out in 1996.

50. Doris Day

52. Richie Manic

Until just the past couple of years, Sly Stone would have been a good example of this phenomena.

seems that mentally he's still a little bit "walked away" ... has he released any new music? I can't remember ....

no artist cited in particular, but are "got old and irrelevant" or "only had one record in 'em" the same as "walked away" ?

Sly didn't really walk away - he kept producing stuff (albeit sporadically) through the 80s and 90s. Biggest gap between new music/appearances was like 10 years or something.

I don't get why Kate Bush is some sort of foot-dragging recluse, but Peter Gabriel isn't

Because I don't care so much about Peter Gabriel.

Don't give up, yo.

51. Jacuqes Coursil
Played on a few ESP and BYG records in the 60s; after 1969's Way Ahead, he got two PhDs and was a professor at Cornell. In 2006 he put out Minimal Brass, his first record in 37 years.

fuck, I mean Jacques.

50. Bobbie Gentry

Can't believe I'm in with this one as this band means next to nothing to me:

49. Phish

48. Tracy Ullman

Honorary mentions (as in walked away for a good long time):
Linda Thompson
Vashti Bunyan
Dusty Springfield

47. Miki Berenyi
46. Alan Myers
45. Anne Briggs

Honorary mentions (as in walked away for a good long time):

James Williamson

44. Marcel Duchamp

http://img1.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n11/n58595.jpg

43. Big Black

42. eddie murphy

41. Bill Fay
40. Linda Perhacs

39. France Gall

http://11.media.tumblr.com/UB4aEvyFQoa6schjURcgv72vo1_400.jpg

38. KLF

37. Roky Erickson

36. Kurt Ralske (Ultra Vivid Scene)

I don't get why Kate Bush is some sort of foot-dragging recluse, but Peter Gabriel isn't. Because she doesn't tour, you mean?

Bush has said that her last album will indeed be her last one. Peter Gabriel is hardly very profilic these days, but he does make music, with a new album probably due out in 2010.

35. Agneta Fältskog

In an interview with Weekend Australian, published in December 2005, Bush stated that Aerial was not meant to be her last work and that she wished to continue writing and recording music.

Geir unless you can document what you said I am choosing to believe this instead and sticking my fingers in my ears going "lalalala not listening".

Does Craig David count?

x-post Well. All the better if that is true, because it would be a shame to quit when she was capable of creating a work as good as "Aerial".

Chavez?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/69/The_Shaggs.JPG

Nah new vivian girls out next year i hear

52. Richie Manic
― larry craig memorial gloryhole (Shakey Mo Collier)

an apt answer, shly.

Bush has said that her last album will indeed be her last one.

Every artist's last album is their last one ... until it's not. I'll believe her when she's dead, and even then these days ...

Anne Briggs OTM.

Pete Best?
Bill Wyman?

Was gonna say Ric Ocasek, then saw he released a new album in 2005. Who knew?

Christine McVie

Jackson Frank

Vic Godard? I know he's been back a few times, but missing again now.....

Andy Sturmer

I hardly think Phish counts as a) they went into it as a "hiatus" and pretty much always acknowledged it as such and b) each of the members worked on numerous solo projects during their time apart.

Vic Godard's been playing a bunch and posting to myspace. He's around.

I don't get why Kate Bush is some sort of foot-dragging recluse, but Peter Gabriel isn't. Because she doesn't tour, you mean? It's been about 8 years between Gabriel records, and his next one is a friggin orchestral covers album (supposedly). When is a gap more than that? Leonard Cohen just walked away, but then walked back.

― Josh in Chicago, Friday, December 18, 2009 1:53 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

well, not touring is more reclusive than yes touring

Enh.... Gabriel may have put albums on hiatus but hasn't totally disappeared - he did the song for the Wall-E soundtrack.

Wall-E? Why did I not know about this?

Wall-E? Why did I not know about this?

It's a good song too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6wgicmUAfw

hey, that *is* pretty good

gabriel has an album of covers (including 'book of love' which was already released on a soundtrack) coming out next year and allegedly an album of originals to follow at some point.

allegedly an album of originals to follow at some point.

Anyway, while we're on the subject of Peters, Peter Garrett, who left for a political position. But even Midnight Oil reunites once in a while.

One of them runs a saucy bikini company these days!

Has Mo Tucker walked away?

BTW, there are obv. dozens of prominent artists that don't tour.

30. Reni

29. Florian Schneider

28. Unwound

27. at least half of the Dog Faced Hermans

So the moral of this thread is, the more money you make the harder it is to just flat out walk away. Right?

Billy Ocean: "Billy Ocean was a major star in the mid 80s but he gave it all away and retired. Ocean was a happy house-body for 15 years but in 2007 decided to give it another go. Last year he released ‘Because I Love You’, his first album in 15 years."

Still, 15 years away with no express intention of returning equals "walking away," I think.

26. Chris Dean (The Redskins)

Billy Ocean just returned though. As did also Rick Springfield a few years ago.

Kim Wilde (reminded of this watching a Beeb prog about christmas TOTP)

88. Lauryn Hill

Touring .au as guest vocalist for Sly & Robbie next year (supporting Wyclef!)

38. KLF

lasted less than 18 months between their retirement and their next single


If Kim Wilde is 25 then

24. The Wrekked Train

Surely he would've been towed away.

23. Gary Clail

22. Sarah Carter (the rest of the Carter Family kept playing and expanded into a huge musical family, but OG sister Sarah quit and never came back)

Does Kurt Cobain count?

38. KLF

lasted less than 18 months between their retirement and their next single

Well, yeah, but I'm not sure if producing a novelty song that was released in Israel and Palestine only really counts as coming back from retirement. In the 17 years since they officially retired they've released three songs (one of which was a remix of "What Time Is Love?") and had (as far as I know) one short gig, so I think it's fair to say they "walked away". At the least you can say they walked away after "Fuck the Millennium", which was 12 years ago.

21. Dif Juz. I seem to recall even the 4AD head saying "they just stopped bothering and I dont know why" or something like that.

^good one. colourbox and ar kane too

jim otm!

KLF /tried/ to make K Sera Sera a big deal though, asking for it to be played twice daily at Glasto before giving up and going the Israel newspaper stunt. And they've done HEAPS of records or other music separately in the last 17 years -- though the Kalevala single that sounded like Cauty was on it was the second-best track of the whole bunch

20. John Deacon

19. Shields, Kevin

Added for emphasis.
But doesn't really count considering the band is "back together".
But does count provided they still essentially are. Sort of.

Already had him at No.53.

20. Robert Fripp
19. Godspeed You! Black Emperor

xp

Well in that case... Bilinda Butcher.

Who has the single-most serene, near ethereal voice in all of rock-music, and it's a shame we might not ever possibly hear it again.

But doesn't really count considering the band is "back together".

Doesn't really count because he kept recording through the 90s, then toured with Prml Scrm for a few years, then reformed MBV for touring. He may have "walked away", but once he got some milk and rolling papers from the corner, he walked back and kept noodling in the studio.

18. Greg Norton
17. Grace Slick
16. Andy Hummel
15. The Zombies
14. Randy Holden (but he came back a little while ago I believe)

13. Shirley Collins

20. Robert Fripp

?? I didnt think Crimson had totally given it a rest, I thought there'd been some miscommunication when Belew did his Power Trio touring and gave it priority but Im sure Fripp is still quite busy in various ways.

Not the least of which is that ABSOLUTELY DREADFUL cover of "these boots are made for walking" he let his wife embarrass herself with, jesus.

Yeah, according to Wikipedia Fripp certainly hasn't "walked away".

I realize he's still active but there will certainly be no more Crimson tours as far as I can tell from reading the diary. He's always describing himself as "a retired working musician" or some such.

12. Bill Bruford

11. Mark Linkous? :(

10. rimbaud

11. Mark Linkous? :(

no

9. Aphex Twin

Aphex Twin?? His latest releases are from 2007.

8. Marcel Duchamp

Just because he isn't as prolific as during the 90s doesn't mean he's "walked away".

(x-post)

7. derrick may

Andy Hummel stated in interviews he would have liked to play again with Big Star if the moment was right and would have done a few weeks ago had Chilton not died a few days prior to their SXSW show.

6. Most people who've been in the Fall except for Mark E Smith

5. Belfegore

http://prod-assets.mog.com/pictures/artists/0000/0006/1248/pictures/57701.gif

4. Ron Elliot

Fripp's diary doesn't say in so many words, but gives the strong impression that with Guitar Craft "finished," he's cleared the decks for 1) writing and 2) litigating the fuck out of the record labels that have screwed him and Crimson for years.

Belew somewhere said that he expects Fripp to regroup wrt KC after litigation is underway. Also RF is still working on a record with Jacko Jackzyck and Mel Collins. As far as touring goes, I get the impression that he's done doing anything other than short stints on the road.

37. Roky Erickson

Roky's around. He played the Øyafestivalen festival in 2007, and just released an album with Okkervil River.

6. Most people who've been in the Fall except for Mark E Smith

LOL

Tony France and it breaks my fucking heart

7. derrick may

doing a 5-hour set two blocks from my office next Sunday

the Papa Sprain guy

Larry "Mr. Fingers" heard (I think)

Todd "June & the Exit Wounds" Fletcher

Emmit Rhodes

Ultramarine

Wendy Smith (Prefab Sprout chanteuse)

Lots and lots of techno DJs/producers from the late 80's/ear;y 90s

early. Though the 90s were eary too.

What to make of Matt Johnson? For all of Wikipedia's alleged activity, the guy's pretty much off the grid, isn't he?

David Bowie

Matt Johnson
Matt Johnson signed a solo contract with Jive Records Matt left the label after being unhappy with the music direction. Most recently, Matt has been working with record producer Jay Reynolds and is set to release a single in 2010 with record label Tristar Records. He has an official website and is also a wedding singer.

This is according toWikipedia.

^^him or the The The guy?

David Bowie

Dude made albums for 30-something years!

And then he just walked awy

awy awy awy

awy

awy

The The guy. Dunno who that Jive turkey is.

Recently, the The The guy made a soundtrack to his brother's movie. (haven't heard it myself)

The The The guy has just put out a new instrumental soundtrack album, I revived this thread to talk about it but as usual with my posts nobody was paying attention.

xp

The The The Johnson walked away from major-label involvement and running a "band", yeah. Seems to have been (ended up being) something of a cover for pootling about and doing stuff he was interested in, but he definitely said "ah fuck this" in the middle of a concerted reissue and promo campaign, due to Sony cockery.

Dunno who that Jive turkey is.

appropos of nothing, but i hope that phrase comes back into style.

MC 900 Ft. Jesus

Can't believe I'm the first to mention Elizabeth Fraser.

Still dabbles, but yeah.

98. The Sundays

I heard somewhere once that the last show The Sundays ever played consisted of all four members walking out onstage without any instruments, but instead with big garbage bins full of spray paint cans that they passed out to those in the audience with the instructions they should express themselves all over the walls of the auditorium. This sounds a little aggro based on what I know of The Sundays' personal demeanors, but I really want to believe that it's true.

I know it's only been 13 years since the last album, but it seems twice that long easily. :(

Can't believe I'm the first to mention Elizabeth Fraser.

We're all in denial.

Bill Carter of the Screaming Blue Messiahs

5. Anne Bredon

4. Tom Lehrer

3. chuckii booker

2. Danielle Dax

#1. Mase

http://www.hiphopstarship.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/mase-grin.jpg

#1. Mas$e

<3 #1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAJV6Zvqvy4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uN4b1jUN5lc

Shep Pettibone
Dave Edmunds

iirc 20+ years ago there was a (female) ilx poster everyone was actively terrified of, but whom i never actually saw post

her name will come to me eventually

Steve Eliovson

Rodriguez

Naida Cole, classical pianist who recorded discs for Decca and Deutsche Grammophon then quit to become a medical doctor

Jean Sibelius

Bradford Cox

Su Tissue

rihanna

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxucr5TSxDg

iirc 20+ years ago there was a (female) ilx poster everyone was actively terrified of, but whom i never actually saw post

her name will come to me eventually

― mookieproof, Thursday, February 13, 2025 10:48 PM

Marissa Marchant?

Can't be her, she did post here a whole bunch of times, including one time in which she posted about once every 15 minutes for several hours.

Doing a search and reading the thread, sounds like she fits the bill. Though folks are more bemused than terrified. "I kick Norah Jone's ass and she just won several grammys. She can barely sing or play the piano. Either can any of the them compared to me. I now perform for only fifty thousand dollars, because we

watching that Police video last night made me wonder how many bands at the tippy top height of their fame just...walked away. The Police were HUUUUUUUUge. (i know i know they did a one year reunion thing...kinda ruined the beauty of the thing. they just couldn't go the Minor Threat route. funny that Police and Minor Threat basically stopped around the same time.)

(and i'm not counting bands where someone died...)

either MM or Becky Lucas xps

xp Roxy Music? Barring eventual reunions, they pretty much hit their high point with the Avalon tour and then dissolved.

The Jam, The Smiths, Japan, none of them as big as The Police of course

jeez, yeah, the smiths. feel like they just would have kept getting bigger and bigger. the jam just turned into something else. something different. i loved the jam when i was a kid but i have no idea how much impact they made in the states. the buzzcocks too!

feel like the buzzcocks could have melded PS's synth-love with some pop punk and taken over the u.s. in the 80s. as much as i love his first two solo albums they didn't have that same power of prime buzzcocks. but few bands can match them at their best.

Rodriguez

his taking every international tour or live album or film soundtrack licensing offer he got between his second studio album and the documentary prob disqualifies him

not being booked for gigs in the US but taking everything you could get elsewhere is kinda the opposite of walking away, regardless of whether it was necessary to take other work in order to buy, eg., food

Becky Lucas! otm

Todd Terje