These Boy Band Members Tried To Go Solo And Failed Miserably

AJ McLean of Backstreet Boys fame had several "debut" moments as a solo performer, first with an album in 2010, then as a country singer in 2018. His group's collaboration with country duo Florida Georgia Line inspired McLean's country single "Back Porch Bottle Service," but critics and listeners alike reacted in horror. 

Steve Gazibara, founder of the country music and lifestyle website Whiskey Riff, said of McLean's attempt at country: "My puppy recently ate three socks and puked them all out like a machine in succession. The sounds of those socks coming back out are how I would describe this song." McLean defended the controversy around his move to country music, saying his goal is to "disrupt country."

Compared to the success of the Backstreet Boys, Nick Carter's solo venture was unfortunate. He first split from the group in 2002 and released Now or Never, which garnered a Gold certification, but never reached the heights of his former boy band's pop stardom. 

Critics and fans weren't receptive to the singer's attempts at a solo career. Slant's music editor Sal Cinquemani called Carter "a former pin-up boy band member with nowhere to go."

Justin Timberlake's rapid emergence as a solo superstar post-*NSYNC fame made it incredibly challenging for the other members to follow suit. Out of all the members, only JC Chasez, Timberlake's co-lead singer, gave it a shot. The results of Chasez's solo endeavor were underwhelming; he didn't perform commercially well, especially when compared to his former group or bandmate.

Chasez's solo album, Schizophrenic, sold a disappointing 121,000 copies total and received lukewarm reviews. Billboard chalked up Chasez's failed solo career to how he "lacked the all-inclusive personality and jack-of-all-trades showmanship" of Timberlake. 

The name Jeff Timmons isn't recognizable on its own, but Timmons was another member of the Nick Lachey-led boy band 98 Degrees. Following the group's disbandment, Timmons ventured solo and released Whisper That Way in 2004.

The music was reminiscent of early '90s romantic pop, but somehow ended up sounding more dated than his former band's music. The album easily faded away in the mainstream, but did reach a niche audience by peaking at No. 23 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. 

O-Town's Ashley Parker Angel was arguably the most recognizable member of the Orlando-based boy band. For a group originating from a reality show, the guys achieved considerable success.

After O-Town dissolved, Angel attempted to break out with a solo album titled Soundtrack to Your Life. A feasible solo singing career wasn't his destiny, however, as the album flopped. Critics panned it, with writer Mike Joseph of PopMatters calling it "completely faceless and boring." Angel later entered the world of theater and appeared on Broadway. 

Brian Littrell's break from the Backstreet Boys pushed him toward an unexpected direction: Christian music. In 2006 he released Welcome Home, a straight-up Christian pop album, but it didn't garner much attention. This record was likely a passion project for the singer; in an interview, he explained it was something he always wanted to do: 

I've been writing Christian music for a long time, and now I have the opportunity to share some of those songs with others. I'm a family guy making music for the family. This really is like a dream come true.