(guest blogged by Howie Klein)

You know what happens when a band breaks up and the members start doing solo projects. Usually they're not as good, to put it mildly, as the original band.

The Smiths were on my label and they were an awesome band. I had some real anguish about Morrissey going out on his own. But how many years has it been? And he's still doing some of his BEST WORK EVER. Tonight's song is "First of the Gang To Die," although there are over a dozen incredible Morrissey solo songs that are better than anything that most songwriters ever get close to in a whole career.

And tonight's contest-- tell me your favorite solo artist who left a band and did great work. The winner will be someone who does more than just mentions Peter Gabriel or that drummer from his band. The winner will give us some good rationale why his or her answer merits the rare (not for sale) Bob Dylan Victoria's Secret LOVESICK compilation CD. Answers to downwithtyranny@aol.com