From Chart-Toppers to Ghost Towns: 10 ’70s Musicians Who Vanished After Their Moment in the Spotlight – What Happened?

The 1970s was an era of explosive creativity and artists who became household names. From rock anthems to soulful ballads, the soundscape was electrifying, defining a generation.

Yet, for every superstar who endured, others, at the height of their fame, seemed to simply… disappear. One moment, they graced magazine covers; the next, they were whispers in the wind. The music industry can be fickle, and sometimes, a career abruptly ends.

We’re embarking on a fascinating journey into the stories of 11 talented musicians from that iconic decade. After reaching stratospheric fame, they seemingly vanished overnight. What compelled these artists to step out of the relentless spotlight? Was it choice, tragedy, or the industry’s ebb and flow? Let’s uncover the truths behind the sudden silence of the first six legends on our list.

Billy Joel – “Vienna” (1977) — Billy Joel ends record-breaking residency at Madison Square Garden, Photo by nypost.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

1. **Billy Joel**Billy Joel, the Piano Man, might seem an odd fit for a list of disappeared ’70s icons. His classic hits still resonate, and he remains publicly visible, engaging in podcast interviews and performing at high-profile events. He’s a regular on the Hamptons social scene and does Q&A sessions with college students.

However, a closer look reveals a startling truth about his musical output and performance schedule. Joel’s last album of original material, *River of Dreams*, came out over 19 years ago. That’s nearly two decades without new songs, a significant departure for an artist once so prolific. For many musicians, such a long hiatus signals an end to an active recording career.

Furthermore, Joel hasn’t played a single “real” concert since 2010, and has no known plans to return to the road. The context gives him a “Barrett Scale” score of 0.5. Cancelling a memoir and getting off the road are classic signs of recluse-dom, but his public visibility keeps him from being a “true recluse.” His choice to step back from recording and extensive touring undeniably marks a significant “disappearance” from his active musical role.

2. **Grace Slick**Grace Slick, the mesmerizing voice behind Jefferson Airplane, was an undeniable icon of the late ’60s and ’70s psychedelic rock scene. Her powerful vocals on “White Rabbit” and “Somebody to Love” defined an era, establishing her as one of rock’s most influential female artists. Her stage presence was legendary.

Slick famously stated, “All rock-and-rollers over the age of 50 look stupid and should retire.” Now 72, Grace Slick has largely lived by her word, leaving the music world behind to pursue visual art since a short Jefferson Airplane reunion tour ended in 1989. This marked a profound shift in her creative focus. She maintains some public engagement through her art shows and media interviews.

The context gives her a Barrett Scale of 1, noting, “Refusing to tour for 23 years is no small accomplishment, considering all the money she could have made in that time.” Her “last real LP was Jefferson Airplane’s 1989 reunion album.” Her consistent refusal to actively participate in the music industry, despite her public art life, marks a clear “disappearance” from her musical career.

3. **Joni Mitchell**Joni Mitchell, the revered Canadian singer-songwriter, began hinting at retirement as early as the late 1960s. Throughout the 1970s, she crafted groundbreaking albums like *Blue* and *Court and Spark*, cementing her status as one of music’s most profound and influential voices. Her introspective lyrics captivated listeners worldwide.

By the end of the 1990s, her 1998 LP, *Taming The Tiger*, was explicitly billed as her last album. This proved a false alarm; she returned with *Both Sides Now* in 2000, followed by an orchestral LP in 2002, and *Shine* in 2007. However, since *Shine*, things have been very quiet on the musical front.

Her most significant public activity was a notorious 2010 interview where she discussed Morgellons syndrome and criticized Bob Dylan. The context assigns her a Barrett Scale of 4, noting “Giving the occasional weird interview is a textbook recluse move.” Despite attending public events, her “complete lack of concert appearances or new music in recent years” signifies a sustained disappearance from active musical engagement.

4. **The Everly Brothers**The Everly Brothers, Don and Phil, were titans of harmony, shaping rock and roll and country music from the late 1950s well into the 1970s. With timeless hits like “Bye Bye Love,” they influenced countless artists across genres. Their harmonies were instantly recognizable, defining an era.

By 2003, the brothers were largely retired. Paul Simon famously lured them back for a Simon and Garfunkel reunion tour, where they “met in the parking lot before the first gig.” This brief yet “transcendent” return sparked excitement among fans, but hopes for a sustained comeback were short-lived.

Their own planned tours of England in 2005 and America in 2006 were abruptly canceled. Don and Phil Everly haven’t played together since, sealing their retreat from the collaborative stage. The context rates them at a Barrett Scale of 4, noting, “The Everly Brothers lead very private lives, and it’s extremely difficult to get them to agree to an interview.” They’ve opted not to tour, confirming their “disappearance” from active musical engagement.

5. **David Bowie**David Bowie, the chameleon of rock whose artistic transformations and groundbreaking music defined the ’70s and beyond, executed a disappearance that was as swift and unexpected as his creative shifts. From Ziggy Stardust to the Berlin Trilogy, Bowie constantly reinvented himself, leaving an indelible mark on music and culture.

After a consistent career through the world tour for his 2003 album *Reality*, Bowie’s public presence abruptly ceased. That tour was cut short by emergency heart surgery in 2004. He made a few guest appearances after that, but a planned comeback show in New York in 2007 was called off without much notice.

Bowie’s near-silence fueled speculation, though he told the New York Times in June 2010, “I’m not thinking of touring. I’m fine.” This statement largely defines his retirement from active music. The context assigns him a Barrett Scale of 6, observing that Bowie “has apparently ceased all recording and concert activity, and he largely avoids the press.” While not a true recluse, his profound withdrawal from the music front was undeniable.

6. **Sly Stone**Sly Stone, the brilliant, albeit troubled, leader of Sly and the Family Stone, was a monumental figure in ’70s funk and soul. With hits like “Everyday People,” his band pioneered a sound that blended funk, soul, rock, and psychedelic influences, breaking racial and musical barriers. His infectious grooves made them one of the most important groups of their time.

For many years, Sly Stone battled for the title of rock’s most notorious recluse. His profound disappearance began after severe drug problems throughout the 1970s. By the mid-1980s, his once-thriving career had ground to a halt, and he faded almost entirely from the public radar.

A brief glimmer of his return occurred in 1993, when Stone shocked everyone by appearing at Sly and the Family Stone’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but he disappeared again immediately afterward. Another appearance came in 2006, during a tribute at the Grammys, where he wasn’t “looking or sounding his best.”

Last year, a report circulated that Stone was virtually homeless and living in a van, though his team denied it. The context gives him a high Barrett Scale of 7, describing his recent live appearances as “bizarre, unpredictable and erratic.” The few interviews he gave suggested that “one of rock’s great talents is in a sad, diminished state,” highlighting the tragic trajectory of an artist who once commanded the stage.

Beyond the Limelight: Examining Five More Iconic ’70s Musicians Who Disappeared from Public View, Revealing the Diverse Reasons Behind Their Sudden Departures and Lasting Legacies. Now, let’s delve deeper into the enigmatic lives of five more ’70s musical powerhouses who, despite their monumental fame, opted for paths far removed from the relentless glare of the spotlight. Their stories are as diverse as their music, each offering a unique perspective on the pressures and realities of life as a rock star. What drove these legends to step back, and what can we learn from their extraordinary departures?

7. **John Frusciante**For fans of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, John Frusciante’s name immediately conjures images of electrifying guitar riffs and profound musicality. His two stints with the band, particularly from 1998 through 2007, saw him become a widely recognized and celebrated figure in the music world. During these periods, Frusciante was quite accessible, engaging readily with the press and the public. His influence on the band’s sound and their numerous hits cemented his status as a modern guitar hero.

However, after leaving the Red Hot Chili Peppers for the second time, Frusciante quickly became a much more elusive figure. His departure from the band signaled a shift in his public persona, leading him to join the ranks of rock’s more private individuals. While he may have stepped back from mainstream visibility, this didn’t mean a complete cessation of his creative output. Intriguingly, he continued to release music, albeit material that veered into extremely uncommercial territory, indicating a deliberate move away from the pressures of chart success.

A telling moment in his retreat was his notable absence from his own induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. For an artist to skip such a significant career milestone speaks volumes about their desire to avoid the spotlight. Despite this, he has not completely vanished, with a photograph emerging of him at a Johnny Ramone tribute event in Los Angeles. The context assigns him a Barrett Scale score of 3, observing that while he’s not a complete hermit, his disinterest in public accolades and conventional music industry engagement firmly places him in the ‘Rock Recluse Club.’ He simply wants to pursue his own path, far from the madding crowd.

“Izzy Stradlin 2012” by Dineshraj Goomany from London, United Kingdom is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

8. **Izzy Stradlin**Even during Guns N’ Roses’ meteoric rise to fame in the late 1980s, guitarist Izzy Stradlin stood apart as a figure shrouded in a degree of mystery. While everyone recognized his pivotal role in crafting the band’s iconic hits, he consistently shied away from the press, preferring to let more flamboyant personalities like Axl Rose, Slash, and Duff McKagan handle the media circus. This quiet demeanor hinted at a predisposition for a more private existence, even at the height of his career.

Stradlin’s official departure from Guns N’ Roses in 1991, amidst the epic Use Your Illusion tour, marked the beginning of a long solo career. While he continued to release new material, with his last few albums being iTunes-only releases, his profile remained significantly lower than his former bandmates’. He maintained a pattern of keeping fans guessing, occasionally re-emerging for unexpected appearances, such as joining Guns N’ Roses on stage at a New York gig in 2006, followed by a series of shows in Europe. These sporadic appearances only added to his enigmatic reputation.

Consistent with his reclusive tendencies, Stradlin was conspicuously absent when Guns N’ Roses were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This no-show, alongside Axl Rose, underscored his deliberate distance from the traditional celebratory aspects of the music industry. The context gives him a Barrett Scale score of 5, attributing points for his Hall of Fame snub, his consistent avoidance of the press, and a bonus for a lifetime of maintaining an elusive presence, even while occasionally putting out new solo material.

“Meg White” by John Griffiths is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

9. **Meg White**Meg White, the other half of the acclaimed duo The White Stripes, was a fascinating study in quiet power. From the band’s inception, she consistently embraced a background role, allowing her ex-husband, Jack White, to be the primary spokesperson and public face of the band. This dynamic created a unique mystique around her, as her minimalist drumming and understated presence were integral to the band’s raw, distinctive sound.

However, things took a more challenging turn during the band’s 2007 tour when a string of dates had to be canceled due to Meg’s acute anxiety. This public acknowledgment of her struggles provided a glimpse into the personal toll that fame and touring can take. Following this, the White Stripes entered a period of silence, with Jack White focusing on his numerous side projects for two and a half years. Their last public performance was a poignant reunion on *Late Night with Conan O’Brien* in February 2009.

The band formally announced their split in February 2011, and since then, Meg’s disappearance has been remarkably absolute. While her husband, Jackson Smith (Patti Smith’s son), remains a visible figure in the music scene, Meg has almost entirely receded from public life. Jack White, in contrast, continues to perform White Stripes classics at his solo gigs, keeping the flame of their music alive. The context assigns Meg White a Barrett Scale score of 6, recognizing the profound and sustained nature of her withdrawal from public scrutiny, making her one of the more complete disappearances on this list.

10. **Agnetha Fältskog**As one-quarter of the legendary Swedish pop group ABBA, Agnetha Fältskog achieved global superstardom, contributing her angelic vocals to some of the most enduring hits of the 1970s. The enduring popularity of ABBA’s catalog and the global success of the *Mamma Mia!* musical ensure a continuous stream of income for the four members, effectively removing any financial incentive for them to actively pursue new musical endeavors. With the group consisting of two divorced couples, a reunion tour, despite rumored billion-dollar offers, remains a distant dream.

Among the four members, Agnetha Fältskog is widely known for maintaining the lowest profile, leading an intensely private life and reportedly rarely venturing outside of Stockholm. Her reluctance for public appearances is well-documented, making her an elusive figure even decades after ABBA’s peak. This preference for solitude contrasts sharply with the public demands often placed on global music icons.

A rare public sighting occurred at the premiere of the *Mamma Mia!* movie in 2008, yet even then, her engagement was minimal; she notably posed for photos on a balcony with the movie’s cast, distinctly apart from her three former bandmates. Furthermore, her absence was keenly felt when ABBA was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010. The context gives Agnetha a Barrett Scale score of 6, acknowledging her rare public sightings, her decision to skip the Hall of Fame induction, and her apparent deep-seated reluctance to travel widely or engage with the public, despite having released a solo LP in 2004.