To wonder why some good musicians and singers just...disappear one day?

[MrsWinnibago]

I like that La Roux...and Marina and the Diamonds...where did they go?

Just googled though and found that La Roux has in fact got a new album out...maybe the question should be why does it take some artists so long between albums?

that's a daft question too...it's a lot of work I suppose!

www.billyocean.com/cdn/optimised/cdn/images/billy_live_big-224x224.jpg

Remember Billy Ocean? He's still touring.

Well if you are into eighties bands, they have been riding the wave of eighties nostalgia the last few years with the 'Rewind' tours, festivals etc. Must be bloody hard tho to transition from being a big star to... Nothing. Very hard on the soul ( and the wallet )

I went to a 80's concert thingy a couple of years ago.

Belinda Carlisle, Jason Donovan, Shirley and Pepsi, Bronski Beat and I think Midge Ure did their thing.

Scarlet at least the 80s bands were around when people bought money in any great numbers so actually made money from making records.

Now because people steal their music online, there is no money to be made from recording.

In the cases that have been mentioned they were artists signed to majors very early in their career and then had a big-ish hit or two. Were all over the braodsheet magazines and sold on style as much as substance.

They didn't really have fans as such, just people who bought the album, played it for a few months, but felt no connection with the artist or felt the need to seek out the b-sides off the album or any desire to dig out earlier or obscurer material. I mean, who has been ticking off the days since the last La ROux record and frantically checking to see if she is going to do a tour in the autumn?

Five years later, they don't look as fresh, the opinion formers have moved on. No one gives a fuck and there's no fan-base to sustain them through the lean period.

Really like Nenah Cherry and Finlay Quaye (had a fantastic start). What happened to Macy Grey and David Grey (not related I think). David Grey's White Ladder was so good.

I know what happened to Betty Boo though.

Do tell, Bambambini.

Oh, and David Grey has a new album out... the stuff I heard didn't sound so different...

Doesn't Betty Boo write songs for other artists now? Like Cathy Dennis who has written some huge pop songs.

Yes squoosh, Cathy Dennis is a song-writer. I think she co-wrote 'Can't Get You Out Of My Head' with the extravagantly-dressed one out of Mud. The money is in song-writing or being Simon Cowell and trading people's souls.

Betty Boo got an Ivor Novello for writing Hearsay's "Pure And Simple". She's still involved in the music industry.

I think artists stop being the flavour of the month. it's getting harder and harder to get a loyal following.

people thinking they are good doesn't always equate to sales

unbelievable truth. formerly 'the unbelievable truth'. andy yorke (sings better than thom, i've heard), jason moulster and nigel powell. sometimes with jim crosskey.

beautiful music. find it and listen.

and idlewild. want a rock band? there's never been a better one. rod jones is a rock god. want a folk group? these are excellent. yes, same band.

sometimes the world is just unreasonable.

Badly drawn boy anyone?

Ha ha, I clicked on this thread to ask about ttd, glad I did.

Now, can anyone tell me what happened to Elvis? I heard he was a fireman in Wales.

Rob dougan (Rob D) wrote all the cool music from the Matrix sound tracks and his Furious Angels album is the absolute all time favourite album of both my husband and I... We have been waiting eagerly for his second album for 10 years... Guess you can't rush genius.

Badly Drawn Boy was still touring fairly recently I think. Im sure I remember reading about his having a strop at one of his gigs.

Ooh and where did The Streets go?

I'm not trying to pull you, even though I would like to...

Kirjava, Leo from The Streets was on the last series of The Voice!

Finlay Quaye and Macey Gray was to do with drugs, I think.

David Gray - he is still recording. But to be fair, White Ladder wasn't his first album, he'd been touring and putting out music for years and he writes his own songs so I imagine he's probably financially secure and has kicked it back a bit.

Even mid-range pop stars settle down and have babies and shizz and constantly touring isn't particularly conducive to that sort of life. You have to be big huge stadium stars to make touring your entire family with you an option.

And yy, a lot of former 'stars' are actually bloody brilliant writers and choose to earn their living that way.

I'm going to see David Grey play at a small festival here in Ireland next weekend.

Simon cowell takes care of them

I was reading an article about Nenah Cherry a wee while, ago, she lives in Sweden now, and is still arty/recording.

Whatever happened to The Wondestuff?

Lauryn Hill is touring this year.

What happened to Travis?

Was Leo from streets a contestant or judge on the voice?