Is there a rock musician who got fired from their band who wound up being bigger than that band?

Not nearly as big as Jimi or Ozzy, and a chick to boot . . .

Before The Runaways became famous, this was their lead singer . . .

. . . she steadfastly refused to sleep with the manager, and you know how that ends.

Eight years later, after a name change (her first name) resurfaces in The Bangles, and off to fame and fortune they go:

Micki, later Michael Steele.