Biography
The Black Crowes are an American rock band formed in 1984 in Atlanta, Georgia, by brothers Chris Robinson (vocals) and Rich Robinson (guitar) while attending Walton High School in Marietta, a suburb of Atlanta. Initially named Mr. Crowe's Garden after Leonard Leslie Brooke's children's book Johnny Crow's Garden, the band drew influences from local acts like R.E.M., 1960s psychedelic pop, and classic Southern rock, evolving into a revivalist blues rock outfit inspired by 1970s bands. They recorded demos in the late 1980s, declined an early deal from R.E.M.'s manager, and in 1989 signed with Def American Recordings under producer George Drakoulias, who introduced them to The Faces and Humble Pie, prompting a name change to The Black Crowes and a shift to covering the Rolling Stones.[1][2][3]
Their 1990 debut album Shake Your Money Maker marked their breakthrough, peaking at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 with hits like the Otis Redding cover 'Hard to Handle' and 'She Talks to Angels,' blending Southern R&B crunch with cock-strutting attitude amid a landscape dominated by hair metal. The band experienced frequent lineup changes but achieved success with albums like The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion (1992, No. 1 debut), toured with legends like ZZ Top (from which they were fired for Chris's anti-corporate rant), AC/DC, and Aerosmith, and released ten studio albums total, selling over 35 million records. Internal conflicts, including brotherly feuds, hiatuses (2002-2005, 2011-2019), addiction, and bad deals defined their path, yet they reunited multiple times, releasing Happiness Bastards in 2024 and earning a 2025 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nomination.[1][3][5]
Known for their jam band style rooted in southern rock, blues, and hard rock (Spotify genres: southern rock, jam band, rock; popularity 61), The Black Crowes' legacy endures through high-turnover lineups always centered on the Robinsons, prolific output, epic tours (e.g., with Jimmy Page), and revival of raw rock energy.[1][5][6]
Fun Facts
- Fired from ZZ Top's Miller Beer-sponsored tour in 1991 after Chris Robinson's onstage tirade against the corporate sponsor.[1]
- Originally named Mr. Crowe's Garden, suggested by a girl at a party; they added an 'e' for fun.[1][2]
- Declined a 1987 record deal from R.E.M.'s manager Jefferson Holt under 'Dog Gone' label.[1]
- As of 2023-2024 lineup includes new members Nico Bereciartua (guitar), Cully Symington (drums), Erik Deutsch (keyboards); Happiness Bastards Grammy-nominated.[1]
Members
- Jeff Cease (from 1989 until 1992)
- Johnny Colt (from 1989 until 1999)
- Steve Gorman (from 1989 until 2002)
- Chris Robinson (from 1989)
- Rich Robinson (from 1989)
- Marc Ford (from 1992 until 1999)
- Eddie Harsch (from 1992 until 2006-08)
- Sven Pipien (from 1999 until 2001)
- Audley Freed (from 1999 until 2002)
- Greg Rzab (from 2001 until 2002)
- Andy Hess (from 2002 until 2002)
- Bill Dobrow (from 2005 until 2005)
- Marc Ford (from 2005 until 2006-09)
- Steve Gorman (from 2005)
- Sven Pipien (from 2005)
- Luther Dickinson (from 2007-11-27)
- Adam MacDougall (from 2007 until 2011)
- Adam MacDougall (from 2013)
Original Members
- Chris Robinson
- Rich Robinson
- Steve Gorman
- Sven Pipien
- Luther Dickinson
- Adam MacDougall
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- George Drakoulias - Producer who signed them and shaped their sound (Shake Your Money Maker (1990)) [1989-1990]
- The Faces - Stylistic influence introduced by Drakoulias (Influenced early covers and style shift) [1989]
- Humble Pie - Stylistic influence introduced by Drakoulias (Influenced early covers and style shift) [1989]
- Rolling Stones - Key stylistic influence, covered songs (Mr. Crowe's Garden era covers, open-G tunings) [1989]
Key Collaborators
- Sven Pipien - Longtime bassist, current lineup (Multiple albums since 1999, Happiness Bastards (2024)) [1999-present]
- Steve Gorman - Founding drummer (joined 1987) (Shake Your Money Maker (1990), multiple albums) [1987-2001, 2005-2011]
- Marc Ford - Lead guitarist (The Southern Harmony (1992), rejoined 2005) [1991-1997, 2005-2006]
- Eddie Harsch - Keyboardist (The Southern Harmony (1992)) [1991-2006]
- Luther Dickinson - Guitarist on Warpaint (Warpaint (2008)) [2007-2009]
- Jimmy Page - Guest/tour collaborator (Live tours) [1990s]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Shake Your Money Maker | 1990-02-13 | Album |
| The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion | 1992-05-12 | Album |
| Live at the Greek | 2025-03-14 | Album |
| Amorica. | 1994-01-01 | Album |
| Happiness Bastards | 2024-03-15 | Album |
| I Am Sam (Original Soundtrack) | 2002-01-08 | Album |
| Shake Your Money Maker (30th Anniversary Deluxe) | 2021-02-26 | Album |
| Croweology | 2010-08-03 | Album |
| By Your Side | 1998-01-01 | Album |
| Before the Frost... Until the Freeze | 2009-08-31 | Album |
| The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion (Super Deluxe) | 2023-12-01 | Album |
| Warpaint | 2008-03-04 | Album |
| Three Snakes And One Charm | 1996-01-01 | Album |
| Freak 'N' Roll...Into the Fog: The Black Crowes All Join Hands (The Fillmore, San Francisco) | 2017-03-24 | Album |
| Shake Your Money Maker (Live) | 2023-03-17 | Album |
Top Tracks
- Hard To Handle (Shake Your Money Maker)
- She Talks To Angels (Shake Your Money Maker)
- Remedy (The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion)
- Twice As Hard (Shake Your Money Maker)
- Jealous Again (Shake Your Money Maker)
- Seeing Things (Shake Your Money Maker)
- Thorn In My Pride (The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion)
- Wiser Time (Amorica.)
- Sister Luck (Shake Your Money Maker)
- Wilted Rose (feat. Lainey Wilson) (Happiness Bastards)
External Links
Tags: #blues-rock, #hard-rock, #jam-band
References
Heard on WWOZ
THE BLACK CROWES has been played 2 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 26, 2025 | 19:27 | hard to handle | Music of Mass Distractionw/ Black Mold | |
| Dec 22, 2025 | 14:32 | BACK DOOR SANTAfrom SINGLE | Blues Eclecticw/ Andrew Grafe |