Peter Hartlaub of San Francisco Chronicle called the solo side project "the biggest longshot bet in mainstream music".
[1] The New York Times described the side project as "a break from the other band members, a chance to toy with different genres and recording methods, a fling with no long-term commitment".
as a brand for experimental and novelty covers that could not be released under their own name; more enduringly, lead singer Frankie Valli's solo career began as a side project.
[4] One example of musical side projects is Kiss's decision in 1978 to have each member of the band, Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss, simultaneously release solo albums.
A side project can also be a band that takes on an "alter ego", usually in order to play a different style of music that their fans are not used to.