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The Black Crowes

From Alfawiki
The Black Crowes
Company typeRock band
IndustryMusic
Founded1984 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Headquarters
Atlanta
,
United States
ProductsStudio albums, live albums, singles
Number of employees
6

The Black Crowes are a rock ensemble from the United States, established in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1984. Their body of work comprises ten studio records, four live albums, and multiple singles that charted successfully. In 1989, producer George Drakoulias facilitated their signing with Def American Recordings, leading to the release of their debut album, Shake Your Money Maker, in 1990. Their sophomore effort, The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion (1992), achieved the number one position on the Billboard 200 chart. Later releases including Amorica (1994), Three Snakes and One Charm (1996), By Your Side (1999), and Lions (2001) experienced moderate commercial performance but did not reach the heights of their initial successes. After pausing activities between 2002 and 2005, the band reunited for touring and subsequently launched Warpaint in 2008, which peaked at number five on the Billboard listings.

In August 2010, they unveiled Croweology, a double album featuring greatest hits and acoustic versions, followed by a tour celebrating their 20th anniversary before entering another hiatus. After touring again in 2013, they announced a disbandment in 2015 but reassembled toward the end of 2019 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Shake Your Money Maker. At this point, only brothers Chris and Rich Robinson remained from the original formation.

As of August 2023, the lineup consists of the Robinson siblings, long-serving bassist Sven Pipien, alongside newer members Nico Bereciartua on lead guitar, Cully Symington on drums, and Erik Deutsch handling keyboards. Their most recent release, Happiness Bastards, arrived in March 2024 and earned a Grammy nod for Best Rock Album. In 2025, they received their inaugural nomination for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Having sold upwards of 30 million albums worldwide, The Black Crowes hold the number 92 spot on VH1's list of the 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock. The band was hailed as "The Most Rock 'n' Roll Rock 'n' Roll Band in the World" by Melody Maker and was voted 'Best New American Band' by readers of Rolling Stone magazine in 1990.

Formation: 1984–1989

Initially formed under the name "Mr. Crowe's Garden" in 1984 in Atlanta, Georgia, the band took inspiration from Leonard Leslie Brooke's children's book titled Johnny Crow's Garden. Drawing influence from regional groups such as R.E.M. as well as psychedelic pop from the 1960s and Southern rock traditions, they developed into a revivalist act centered on blues rock styles reminiscent of the 1970s. The founding core consisted of brothers Chris and Rich Robinson, who began collaborating while attending Walton High School.

Their first professional recording session occurred in 1987 with A&M Records, coordinated by manager Dave Macias alongside A&M representative Aaron Jacoves; these sessions took place in Carrboro, North Carolina. Drumming duties were initially handled by Jeff Sullivan before Steve Gorman joined later that year. Despite receiving an offer for a recording contract under the name "Dog Gone" through R.E.M.'s manager Jefferson Holt, the group chose not to accept.

By 1988, performing as a four-piece ensemble, they played venues such as "Drums" and CBGB in New York City. The following year saw them solidify into a five-member band featuring the Robinson brothers, Gorman, Johnny Colt, and Jeff Cease. Signing with Def American under producer George Drakoulias introduced them to new musical influences including The Faces and Humble Pie. This period inspired covers of songs by the Rolling Stones and led Rich Robinson to experiment with open-G guitar tunings. Subsequently, they transitioned from "Mr. Crowe's Garden" to "The Black Crowes," after considering alternative names like "The Heartless Crowes" and "The Stone Mountain Crowes."

Peak popularity: 1990–1995

The Black Crowes launched their first album, Shake Your Money Maker, in 1990. The record, propelled by hits such as "Hard to Handle", "She Talks to Angels", and "Jealous Again", earned multi-platinum status and surpassed five million sales. Both their rendition of Otis Redding's "Hard to Handle" and the acoustic track "She Talks to Angels" secured positions within the top 30 of the Billboard Hot 100 in 1991. Initially, the band supported ZZ Top on a Miller Beer-sponsored tour but was removed following Chris Robinson's outspoken criticism of the sponsor. They then embarked on their own headlining tour and participated in the Monsters of Rock European tour, opening for Metallica, AC/DC, Mötley Crüe, and Queensrÿche.

In 1991, aiming to broaden their musical texture beyond Chuck Leavell’s piano and organ inputs, they recruited keyboardist Eddie Harsch, who became a full-time member during the 1992 "High as the Moon" tour.

With Marc Ford from blues-rock band Burning Tree replacing guitarist Jeff Cease, The Black Crowes released their sophomore album, The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion, in 1992. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart and featured four singles—"Remedy," "Sting Me," "Thorn in My Pride," and "Hotel Illness"—each reaching the top spot on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart. Additionally, "Remedy" and "Thorn in My Pride" appeared on the Hot 100.

By 1994, now a sextet, The Black Crowes unveiled Amorica, following the shelving of the unreleased Tall album. This release attained Gold certification with sales exceeding 500,000 copies. Its provocative cover displayed a close-up image of a woman’s crotch clad in a U.S. flag thong with visible pubic hair, sourced from a 1976 issue of Hustler. Due to retailer objections, an alternative cover featuring only the flag triangle against a solid black background was issued simultaneously.

Middle period: 1996–2001

Released in July 1996, Three Snakes and One Charm marked the band’s next phase. Their supporting tour included participation in the 1997 Furthur Festival alongside artists such as Ratdog and Bruce Hornsby. During this era, they recorded an album titled Band, which was ultimately abandoned. Guitarist Marc Ford was dismissed, and bassist Johnny Colt departed, dissolving the lineup that had recorded their previous three albums. Unreleased material from both Tall and Band later circulated among fans and was officially compiled on The Lost Crowes (2006).

After regrouping with bassist Sven Pipien, they recorded By Your Side, released in January 1999. This record marked a shift away from earlier experimental approaches toward more streamlined, soul-inspired compositions. Guitarist Audley Freed, formerly of Cry of Love, joined before recording began but did not participate in the sessions.

In October 1999, The Black Crowes teamed up with Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page for performances in New York, Los Angeles, and Worcester, Massachusetts. These concerts were captured on the live album Live at the Greek, issued by TVT Records. Due to contractual restrictions with Columbia Records, none of The Black Crowes' own songs performed with Page were included on this release. The collaboration extended into a summer 2000 tour featuring Page and The Who, during which Sven Pipien was replaced by Greg Rzab. Following this tour, lead singer Chris Robinson married actress Kate Hudson, after which the band returned to studio work for their sixth studio project.

In May 2001, Lions was released under Virgin mogul Richard Branson's V2 label; it reached number 20 on the charts. To promote it, The Black Crowes joined the month-long Tour of Brotherly Love alongside Oasis and Spacehog during May and June 2001. They then embarked on their "Listen Massive" headline tour across Europe and Japan before concluding with a series of 36 concerts in the United States. The group effectively disbanded in January 2002 following drummer Steve Gorman’s exit and an announced hiatus.

Hiatus and Reunion Period: 2002–2005

In August 2002, a live album capturing performances from two 2001 concerts at Boston's Orpheum Theatre was issued. By 2004, select members came together to collaborate with Gov't Mule on "Sometimes Salvation" during the Jammy Awards. Throughout the break, Chris Robinson produced two solo albums: New Earth Mud (2002) and This Magnificent Distance (2004). Concurrently, Rich Robinson established Hookah Brown and unveiled his solo work Paper in 2004.

At the start of 2005, the Robinson brothers reunited with Eddie Harsch, reinstating Marc Ford and Sven Pipien into the lineup. Drummer Bill Dobrow temporarily filled in for original member Steve Gorman, who returned during a four-night series at Atlanta's Tabernacle. Following this revival, the band embarked on an extensive tour throughout 2005, which included opening for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and a five-night residency at San Francisco's The Fillmore. The second night of this Fillmore run was recorded and subsequently released in 2006 as Freak 'n' Roll into the Fog across DVD, Blu-ray, and CD formats.

Lineup Changes and Renewed Achievements: 2006–2009

In late 2006, departures of Eddie Harsch and Marc Ford led to their replacements by Rob Clores and Paul Stacey. By August 2007, Clores was succeeded by keyboardist Adam MacDougall. Guitarist Luther Dickinson from North Mississippi Allstars joined for the production of Warpaint, officially taking over Stacey’s role as guitarist while Stacey continued as producer.

On July 10, 2007, Live at the Roxy, featuring predominantly acoustic performances by Chris and Rich Robinson from 2006, was released.

Warpaint, marking the band's first studio album following their reunion, debuted on March 3, 2008 to widespread critical praise and climbed to number five on the Billboard 200 chart—their highest entry since The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion. The group commenced an international tour that began with Australia's East Coast Blues & Roots Festival, followed by tours across Australia, New Zealand (their first since 1992), Europe, and concluded with a U.S. tour capped by another five-night engagement at The Fillmore. During that year, they initiated a copyright infringement lawsuit against country artist Gretchen Wilson, alleging unauthorized use of "Jealous Again".

April 2009 saw the release of Warpaint Live, a two-disc live album featuring a full rendition of Warpaint alongside classic tracks and covers from their March 20, 2008 show at Los Angeles' Wiltern Theater; a DVD documenting this concert was released in June. Later in 2009, their eighth studio album Before the Frost...Until the Freeze appeared alongside a companion digital release titled ...Until the Freeze. The double vinyl edition presented all songs in an alternate sequence. These recordings took place over five days at Levon Helm's Studio in Woodstock, New York, blending fresh compositions with live cover material. This body of work expanded their roots rock foundation to incorporate elements of country, bluegrass, and even disco on tracks like "I Ain't Hidin'". Additionally, a DVD capturing these sessions under the title Cabin Fever was made available.

"Final" years: 2010–2015

On April 21, 2010, the Black Crowes revealed plans to release their double, fully acoustic album Croweology on August 3, accompanied by tour dates for the "Say Goodnight to the Bad Guys" tour. Each concert featured two distinct 90-minute segments: one acoustic and one electric. Following this period, the band entered another phase of "indefinite" hiatus. On November 26, 2010, they issued a special Record Store Day Black Friday 10" vinyl picture disc titled Say Goodnight to The Bad Guys/Remedy (acoustic live), complete with a download card, in support of independent record retailers. That same year, the group was honored with induction into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, where they performed Georgia on My Mind alongside Chuck Leavell.

After concluding their U.S. tour at The Fillmore in December 2010, the Black Crowes embarked on nine European shows under the "Goodnight to the Bad Guys" banner in July 2011. These performances included festival appearances across Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, and Belgium, maintaining the format of separate acoustic and electric sets. The final quartet of concerts featured two nights in London—the latter including an encore with Jimmy Page—and two performances at Amsterdam's Paradiso venue.

On December 25, 2012, the band announced a UK tour consisting of five shows scheduled for March 2013, followed by a 21-date North American tour spanning April to May. Guitar duties and backing vocals were handled by Jackie Greene, who stepped in for Luther Dickinson.

Their fourth live album, Wiser for the Time, was released on March 19, 2013, available as a digital download and a four-LP vinyl set. The recordings originated from their New York City concerts in 2010. On April 23, 2013, the Black Crowes returned to Atlanta’s The Tabernacle before a sold-out audience. In July that year, they toured alongside the Tedeschi Trucks Band. Although they resumed hiatus status in December, they reunited briefly for a benefit performance in Boston in February 2014.

On January 15, 2015, Rich Robinson declared the definitive dissolution of the band due to disagreements with his brother Chris Robinson concerning control over the group. Drummer Steve Gorman later remarked that earlier conversations had included intentions to organize a tour prior to their split.

Post breakup: 2015–2018

Following the band's final disbandment, individual members engaged in various musical projects—some initiated before the separation.

Chris Robinson carried on with his ensemble, the Chris Robinson Brotherhood, established in 2011 alongside Adam MacDougall. They released the studio album Any Way You Love, We Know How You Feel in 2016 and followed it with an EP titled If You Lived Here, You Would Be Home By Now within the same year. Their subsequent release was Barefoot in the Head in 2017. Additionally, they issued four live albums: Betty's Blends Volumes 1, 2, and 3, as well as Betty's Midwestern Magic Blends. Robinson also performed solo acoustic sets that included selections from Black Crowes’ repertoire.

In 2018, Robinson launched As the Crow Flies—a project dedicated to performing Black Crowes songs without attempting to replicate or surpass the original band's legacy. This lineup features former Crowes members Audley Freed and Adam MacDougall along with Andy Hess, Marcus King, and Tony Leone.

Rich Robinson furthered his solo endeavors by releasing Flux in 2016. Later that year he formed The Magpie Salute, incorporating ex-Black Crowes members Marc Ford and Sven Pipien. Their setlist combines original compositions with Black Crowes material, covers, and solo works from both Robinson and Ford. The group issued a live album in 2017 followed by studio albums High Water I (2018) and High Water II (2019).

Drummer Steve Gorman remains active with Trigger Hippy, a band he co-founded in 2009; Jackie Greene departed from this group in 2015 to concentrate on his solo career. Gorman published his autobiography entitled Hard to Handle in September 2019.

Former keyboardist Eddie Harsch died on November 4, 2016, at age fifty-nine.

Third reunion: 2019–present

Towards the end of 2019, Chris and Rich Robinson revealed on The Howard Stern Show that they had settled their past disputes and intended to embark on a 2020 tour celebrating the 30th anniversary of Shake Your Money Maker. This reunion featured solely the Robinson brothers from the original ensemble, accompanied by a fresh backing band consisting of guitarist Isaiah Mitchell, bassist Tim Lefebvre, keyboardist Joel Robinow, and drummer Raj Ojha. Their first performance with this lineup took place at The Bowery Ballroom in New York City on November 11, 2019, where they played the entire Shake Your Money Maker album live. Prior to this, Chris had experimented with new band members through his As the Crow Flies project.

The planned tour was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequently postponed to summer and fall of 2021. In May 2021, Sven Pipien rejoined on bass, while Brian Griffin was introduced as the new drummer. By June of that year, the group had composed over twenty tracks intended for an upcoming album but decided to postpone recording until after completing their tour.

On January 8, 2021, The Black Crowes issued a multi-format 30th Anniversary re-release of Shake Your Money Maker, which included the previously unreleased song "Charming Mess".

In May 2022, they presented 1972, an EP featuring covers of songs originally released that year. Then, on March 17, 2023, they delivered Shake Your Money Maker Live, a double live album capturing a full performance of the original album alongside additional hits and a cover of a Rolling Stones track.

The band’s Grammy-nominated album Happiness Bastards was released on March 15, 2024. Alongside Chris and Rich Robinson, this lineup featured Sven Pipien, Nico Bereciartua, Erik Deutsch, and Brian Griffin—who left prior to the album’s release.

In 2025, The Black Crowes earned their inaugural nomination for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The nominees included Chris Robinson, Steve Gorman, Eddie Harsch, Marc Ford, Johnny Colt, Jeff Cease, and Rich Robinson.

Band members

Current members

  • Chris Robinson – lead vocals, harmonica, acoustic guitar, percussion (1984–2002, 2005–2015, 2019–present)
  • Rich Robinson – guitar, backing vocals (1984–2002, 2005–2015, 2019–present)
  • Sven Pipien – bass guitar, backing vocals (1997–2000, 2005–2015, 2021–present)

Current touring musicians

  • Erik Deutsch – keyboards (2022–present)
  • Nico Bereciartua – guitar (2023–present)
  • Cully Symington – drums (2023–present)
  • Mackenzie Adams – backing vocals (2021–present)
  • Lesley Grant – backing vocals (2021–present)

Discography

Studio albums

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