Stips also took part in the group's successful American tour in 1976, but left afterwards to form Stars & Stips which released Nevergreens in 1976, and the group Sweet d'Buster with fellow intermittent Golden Earring bandmember, saxophonist Bertus Borgers.

Between 1977 and 1981 Stips produced three albums by the popular band Gruppo Sportivo: Ten Mistakes (1977), Back To 78 (1978) and Pop!

He also produced the first solo album by Gruppo Sportivo's frontman and main songwriter Hans Vandenburg: Buddy Odor Is A Gas!

In 1979, Stips left Sweet d'Buster and formed Transister, which released one album: Zig Zag.

STIPS released two albums in collaboration with Freek de Jonge, Gemeen Goed (1997) and Rapsodia (1998).