What's the difference? I've never understood, for example, why "Bon Jovi" is the band and "Bruce Springsteen" isn't just a band called "Springsteen". Bruce has a great band, why not give them credit all the time.

Why "George Thorogood and the Destroyers"? Why not "The Destroyers"?

etc....

Is the recording different? Are the vocals turned up on solo artists?

What the hell?

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band

I'm confused.

I think usually it's because the person is the songwriter of the band. As is the case with Bruce, or Dave Matthews.

Springsteen releases both solo albums and albums w/ the E. Street Band. Probably has to do somewhat with input to the songwriting process. He probably gets more input from the band on the E. Street records, whereas on the "solo" albums it is all him, and he just uses whatever backup musicians he wants. Plus when he releases an album with the E. Street band, it is likely to be a sound more familiar with fans, but you never know what his solo albums will be like.

But then it gets confused with someone like John Mellencamp, who had pretty much the same backup band for most of the 80s & 90s.

Uh... 2 or more other dudes.

The answer is usually that some singers with huge egos simply hire bands and tour under their own names. The band members are not partners, just employees.

In a real band, the members are partners.

However, this does not apply to Bon Jovi, and didn't used to apply to Van Halen.