These music legends reached the top of their profession...then ghosted us. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most notable musicians who walked away from the limelight.
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00:00Guys, you know you better watch out!
00:04Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most notable musicians
00:08who walked away from the limelight.
00:10Living in the limelight, the universe of dreams.
00:17Number 20. Michael Stipe
00:19Cause everybody hurts!
00:24It's almost never a good idea to drop out of school and start a band.
00:27Luckily, it worked out for Michael Stipe, whose band would eventually become the world-famous
00:32R.E.M.
00:33But just as Stipe was losing his religion, so too did he lose his interest in music.
00:38The band announced in 2011 that they were breaking up, although no official reason was
00:43given.
00:44Later, guitarist Peter Buck told Rolling Stone that Stipe approached him during the
00:47making of Collapse Into Now and said, quote,
00:50"...I need to be away from this for a long time."
00:52And that's exactly what he's done.
00:54Aside from a brief performance to celebrate their induction into the Songwriters Hall
00:58of Fame, R.E.M. has remained quiet ever since.
01:01That's being the spotlight, losing my religion.
01:07Number 19. Jeff Mangum
01:09Do you know the band Neutral Milk Hotel?
01:11Is that an antacid?
01:14Some musicians love the spotlight, and others absolutely hate it.
01:18Belonging to the latter category is Jeff Mangum of Neutral Milk Hotel.
01:22The band is famous for the cult classic In the Aeroplane Over the Sea,
01:26but in A Great Paradox, the success of the album directly led to the dissolution of the band.
01:31The increased fame and pressure took a negative toll on Mangum,
01:34and his mental health began to suffer.
01:37He became a recluse and vanished from the public eye,
01:39and Neutral Milk Hotel disbanded at the height of their fame.
01:43And aside from a brief reunion tour and a handful of solo albums,
01:47Mangum continues to live a quiet and reclusive life.
01:50With Mangum's bellowing voice and open-hearted lyrics,
01:53In the Aeroplane Over the Sea wasn't and isn't for everybody.
01:57And its creator is more than fine with that.
02:01Number 18. Tom Scholz
02:07You don't see too many engineers slash musicians, but Tom Scholz is one of them.
02:12He is a professional engineer, and was earning his master's degree at MIT
02:16when he began toying with music.
02:18He built his own basement recording studio and started the band Boston,
02:21which made its first studio album in Scholz's dingy and often flooded studio.
02:26Included in the recordings was More Than a Feeling,
02:29which peaked at number five in the United States.
02:32However, the band went on to have a very sporadic schedule,
02:35releasing only six albums over 37 years.
02:38They have not toured since 2017.
02:41And while Scholz has hinted at new music, both he and the band have laid low since.
02:46That's, that's when I put it there.
02:49You put it there? Really?
02:51I can tell because it's got masking paper on the edges.
02:53Number 17. Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson
02:56So are you at peace? Are you comfortable and you are at peace with the way Rush ended?
03:00One of the most famous Canadian rock bands, Rush are trailblazers of progressive rock
03:05and sold out arenas around the world for many decades.
03:08But sometimes you gotta know when to throw in the towel.
03:11The band announced in the mid-2010s that they would no longer be touring,
03:15largely due to their advancing ages and various physical ailments.
03:18And tragedy struck in 2020, when drummer Neil Peart died of a brain tumor.
03:23Not wanting to continue without him, both Lee and Lifeson proclaimed that Rush was over.
03:28The two reunited in 2022 for the Taylor Hawkins tribute concert,
03:32but both have reiterated that it did not signal a return to performing live.
03:36As of now, both are effectively retired.
03:40And it just didn't sit right for me to do a farewell tour and try to
03:44capitalize on that word. It just didn't work for me.
03:48Number 16. Daft Punk
03:54It was obvious that Daft Punk wasn't about the fame. Beginning in the late 90s,
03:58the two musicians who created Daft Punk hid themselves behind robot personas and
04:02rarely spoke to the media. According to Thomas Bangalter, the point of the masks was to
04:07ensure anonymity, deflect media hounding into their personal lives,
04:11and craft a fun public image for the band. Daft Punk had a great career and was a major
04:16influence in the French house genre, but the band called it a day in 2021.
04:21Bangalter finally ditched the mask and spoke to the media in 2023,
04:25and Guy-Manuel de Homme et Christo later collaborated with Travis Scott,
04:28producing a song called Modern Jam.
04:31Number 15. Robert Fripp
04:45One of the most prolific musicians of our time, Robert Fripp has contributed to over
04:49700 releases. But he is perhaps best known for founding and playing in the legendary
04:55Prague rock band King Crimson. And fun fact, he also helped compose the startup
04:59tune of Windows Vista. So add that to his accomplishments. But after a very long and
05:04very prosperous career, Fripp put down the guitar in 2021, and King Crimson officially
05:10ceased all activity. They had been touring and making music for 53 years. After a year
05:16of speculation, Fripp confirmed in 2022 that King Crimson was done, and therefore,
05:21so was his time as the lead guitarist of a major rock band.
05:30Number 14. Gautier
05:41You couldn't go anywhere in 2011 without hearing somebody that I used to know. The song was a
05:46worldwide sensation, and became one of the best-selling digital singles ever with more
05:50than 20 million copies sold. And soon after that, Gautier, aka Wally DeBacker, wiped his hands and
05:57said, yep, that's enough for me. He released a few more singles and remained somewhat active
06:01with another band called The Basics. He also later started his own group called Ondialine Orchestra.
06:06Basically, it sounds like he's doing what he wants rather than capitalizing on his mainstream
06:10success. Randomly drop one of the biggest hits of the decade, quit, refuse to elaborate. You
06:16gotta respect that. Number 13. Carlos Dangler
06:22While studying philosophy at New York University,
06:28Carlos Dangler met Daniel Kessler and was asked if he played an instrument.
06:32And that's how he became the bassist and keyboardist for Interpol. Dangler played on
06:37the band's first four studio albums, but as we later learned, he actually hated playing the
06:41bass guitar. It was not his first instrument of choice, and to compound the growing frustration,
06:47Dangler hated touring with the band and had grown tired of the lifestyle.
06:50After leaving Interpol, Dangler went back to school and briefly took up acting.
06:55He now composes ambient music and has released three New Age albums as of 2023.
07:07Number 12. Andre 3000
07:13This rapper embodies the phrase, leave them wanting more. Widely regarded as one of the
07:18best rappers ever, Andre 3000 found widespread success as one half of OutKast. The duo came out
07:24of nowhere, changed the face of rap with their eclectic style, and left, all within a span of
07:29just 15 years. The group disbanded back in 2007, and that was about it for Andre 3000.
07:35The rapper took mostly to doing features and dabbled in acting before releasing an esoteric
07:40New Age jazz album in 2023. It wasn't exactly the comeback people were expecting. Andre's
07:46reclusive nature is persistently frustrating for rap fans, as he has repeatedly stated that he
07:52hates being famous and suffers from social anxiety. When you say normalcy, what do you mean by that?
07:57Walk with your family and not have people follow you and chase you and
08:01you can't take your kid to the park and play.
08:04Number 11. Steve Perry
08:11With one of the most distinctive voices in the biz, Steve Perry is often considered one
08:16of rock's greatest singers. He found great success with Journey, and the band scored
08:20six Top 10 singles in the United States. However, the group went on hiatus in 1987,
08:26and Perry left the public eye for several years. And while he has sporadically returned to music,
08:31including a studio album that reached number six in 2018, he's remained relatively quiet for
08:37decades. Journey reunited in the 90s, but Perry left the band for good after injuring his hip.
08:42Most of his recent work has been Christmas material, and he remains intensely private.
08:55Number 10. John Frusciante
08:57Frusciante is well known as the on-again, off-again lead guitarist of the Red Hot Chili
09:00Peppers. He was always a musician first and celebrity second. When the band hit it big
09:05with Blood Sugar Sex Magic in 1991, Frusciante struggled with his newfound fame and quit the
09:10band. While away from the spotlight, he spiraled into a deep depression, developed a serious
09:14heroin addiction, and started writing screenplays and short stories. He eventually attended rehab
09:19and returned to the band, but left again in 2009 to pursue a solo career in electronic music.
09:24He returned yet again in February of 2019. Only time will tell if this time's for keeps.
09:30Number 9. Meg White
09:32Meg White of the White Stripes is an extremely divisive drummer, known for her minimalist style.
09:37Her career began as a lark as she was fooling around on her husband Jack White's drum kit
09:41when he decided that he liked her playing. They started a band and began performing in
09:45Michigan's underground rock scene before striking it big with White Blood Cells and Elephant.
09:50However, White has always been shy and reserved, and she suffered from anxiety attacks over the
09:55band's hectic touring schedule. The White Stripes officially disbanded in 2011 after two years
10:00without releasing anything new, and White left fame and music behind to live a quiet life in Detroit.
10:05Number 8. John Deacon
10:07Freddie Mercury gets all the attention, but John Deacon was an integral part of Queen.
10:12Serving as the band's bassist and managing the group's finances, Deacon also composed
10:16such popular songs as Another One Bites the Dust, You're My Best Friend, and I Want to Break Free.
10:21Unfortunately, Deacon was hit hard by Mercury's tragic death and subsequently lost interest in
10:26continuing to perform with Queen. He decided to retire and has stayed out of the spotlight ever
10:31since, not even attending Queen's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001.
10:35While he still oversees the band's finances, Brian May and Roger Taylor have admitted that
10:39they barely speak to Deacon. Number 7. Cat Stevens
10:43Known as one of the greatest folk artists of all time, Stevens was inducted into the Rock and
10:48Roll Hall of Fame in 2014 for his contributions to music. Stevens was at his peak in the early
10:541970s with the multi-platinum albums T for the Tillerman and Teaser and the Firecat,
10:58which include such legendary songs as Peace Train and Father and Son.
11:07Stevens had been developing an interest in world religions throughout the 70s,
11:10and after receiving the Quran as a birthday gift, he converted to Islam in 1977 and took
11:15the name Yusuf Islam. Yusuf used his heavy royalty payments for philanthropic purposes,
11:20like founding the Islamia Primary School in London and setting up various charities.
11:25Number 6. Grace Slick
11:27Slick was one of the most influential artists to come out of the San Francisco psychedelic scene,
11:31singing with the likes of Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship. To this day, her deep
11:36haunting vocals remain a cornerstone of 60s psychedelia. Following a brief Jefferson Airplane
11:41reunion in 1989, Slick retired from the music scene altogether, as she believes that, quote,
11:47all rock and rollers over the age of 50 look stupid and should retire. According to her,
11:51rock and roll serves primarily as an outlet for young and frustrated individuals,
11:55not aging, rich celebrities. Slick retreated from the public spotlight and focused on painting,
12:00drawing, and writing her autobiography.
12:03Number 5. Syd Barrett
12:05Barrett was originally the primary musician behind Pink Floyd, serving as their vocalist,
12:09lead guitarist, and principal songwriter for their debut album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn.
12:14His playing style proved enormously influential, and the album reached number 6 in the UK.
12:19Unfortunately, Barrett suffered severe mental health problems, reportedly related to his use
12:24of LSD and possibly schizophrenia. His behavior radically changed throughout the 60s, and his
12:29bandmates barely recognized him as the man they once knew. Barrett was released from the band in
12:331968, and following two solo albums, retreated from the public eye completely. He moved back
12:39in with his mother, and spent his years painting and gardening before dying of pancreatic cancer
12:44in 2006. Number 4. Shirley Temple
12:47Temple isn't necessarily a musician in the traditional sense, but she's one of the most
12:51popular singers and dancers in film history. Temple was arguably the biggest movie star in
12:56the world in the mid-to-late 1930s, owing to her work in movies like Bright Eyes, Curly Top,
13:01and Heidi. Temple's creative output slowed throughout her teenage years, and she retired
13:05completely at just 22. After a brief stint on television, Temple entered into a diplomatic
13:10career in 1969. She served as the United States Ambassador to Ghana, the first female Chief of
13:16Protocol, and the Ambassador to Czechoslovakia. She also served on the board of directors of
13:20various organizations including Disney and Bank of America. Number 3. Captain Beefheart
13:26Known for his idiosyncratic style of music, Captain Beefheart recorded 13 albums of avant-garde
13:31free jazz and rock between 1964 and 1982. Due to the puzzling and non-commercial nature of his
13:38music, Beefheart never attained mainstream popularity, yet he's often considered a
13:42universal influence within the experimental rock scene. Following Ice Cream for Crow in 1982,
13:47Beefheart retired from music, became a recluse, and dedicated himself to painting.
13:52His abstract expressionist paintings were actually well-received, some sold for nearly
13:56$25,000, and his artwork has become the subject of academic essays. Number 2. Lauryn Hill
14:03Hill is undeniably one of the most influential hip-hop artists of all time, known primarily for
14:09the Fugees' six-times-platinum album The Score and her solo work in The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.
14:14The latter album broke sales records, won five Grammy Awards, and helped bring Ne-Yo's soul into
14:20the mainstream. It has since sold nearly 20 million copies, and is often regarded as one of the
14:26greatest and most influential albums of the 1990s. Unfortunately, the fame proved too much for Hill
14:31to handle, and she largely retreated from the public eye, deciding instead to focus on her
14:36spirituality. She's released music sporadically throughout the intervening years, but nothing even
14:40close to the extent of her 90s output. Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel and
14:46ring the bell to get notified about our latest videos. You have the option to be notified for
14:50occasional videos or all of them. If you're on your phone, make sure you go into your settings
14:55and switch on notifications. Number 1. Bill Withers
15:00Despite his career spanning just 15 years, Withers managed to leave an indelible mark
15:05on music history. He's been inducted into the Songwriters, Rock and Roll, and Grammy Halls of
15:10Fame, and won three Grammy Awards throughout his career. Today, he's largely remembered for his
15:14singles Ain't No Sunshine, Lean on Me, and Just the Two of Us. Unfortunately, Withers often clashed
15:19with Columbia executives, who wished to control his sound to sell more records. Feeling disillusioned
15:25with the industry, Withers left music behind in 1985, and reportedly never missed it. He passed
15:30away on March 30, 2020, from heart complications at the age of 81.
15:36Which musician do you miss the most? Let us know in the comments below.
15:40I was still singing good, but I wasn't connecting with it.
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