The Do's and Don'ts of Going Solo

It's an age-old story; band finds success, band's momentum dwindles, lead singer departs for greener pastures in the form of a solo career.  But why is it that some solo ventures—like Morrissey's post-Smiths output, or Beyonce after leaving Destiny's Child—seem to strike gold, while others (like, for instance, Van Halen's David Lee Roth) simply fizzle out of existence?  Head over to All Songs Considered to check out Steven Thompson's examination of what exactly makes a successful solo career.