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The Black Crowes is an American Southern rock band from Atlanta, Georgia. Originally formed by brothers Chris (lead vocals) and Rich Robinson (guitar) in 1984 as Mr Crowe's Garden, the group went through a series of early personnel changes before settling on a lineup including guitarist Jeff Cease, bassist Johnny Colt and drummer Steve Gorman in 1989. The current lineup of the band, which reformed in November 2019 after breaking up for a third time in 2015, includes the Robinson brothers, longtime bassist Sven Pipien, [1] and new members Nico Bereciartua (guitar), Cully Symington (drums) and Erik Deutsch (keyboards).
History
1984–2002
Brothers Chris and Rich Robinson formed Mr. Crowe's Garden in 1984, working with a succession of six bassists and three drummers during the band's formative years. [2] Early members included Keith Joyner (bass), [3] Jeff Sullivan (drums), [4] and Ted Selke (bass). [5] By 1989, the group had been renamed the Black Crowes and featured rhythm guitarist Jeff Cease, bassist Johnny Colt and drummer Steve Gorman. [6] [7] After the release of the group's debut album Shake Your Money Maker, Cease was replaced by former Burning Tree guitarist Marc Ford in November 1991. [8] Eddie Harsch was added as the band's first keyboardist the following year. [9] After three more studio albums, Ford was dismissed in August 1997 due to a heroin addiction, before Colt left shortly thereafter in October. [10]
Colt was replaced by Sven Pipien for By Your Side, on which both lead and rhythm guitars were performed by Rich Robinson. [11] Audley Freed joined as a touring guitarist for shows starting in June 1998. [12] In May 2000, Pipien was replaced by Greg Rzab, debuting on a tour with former Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page following the release of Live at the Greek. [13] Rzab had left by the end of the year, and Rich Robinson played bass on the 2001 release Lions. [14] Andy Hess took over Rzab's vacated position once the album was recorded, debuting in February 2001. [15] After a final tour which spawned a live release simply titled Live, [16] Gorman left the Black Crowes in December 2001 and the remaining members announced the band's "indefinite hiatus" the following month. [17]
2005 onward
After a three-year hiatus, the Black Crowes reformed in March 2005 with a lineup of Chris and Rich Robinson, former members Marc Ford and Sven Pipien, and new drummer Bill Dobrow. [18] Within two months, Gorman had returned as the band's drummer. [19] After a tour which spawned the live release Freak 'n' Roll... Into the Fog, Harsch left in August 2006 due to "health reasons" and was replaced by Rob Clores. [20] Just over a week later, Ford also left the band citing "health reasons", with Paul Stacey taking his place for upcoming tour dates. [21] Clores was dismissed and replaced by Adam MacDougall in July 2007, [22] and in November Luther Dickinson joined as second guitarist, after having performed on Warpaint. [23] After a final tour, the band went on "indefinite hiatus" again in July 2011. [24]
The Black Crowes announced its return again on Christmas Day 2012 with Jackie Greene taking Dickinson's place in the band for tour dates starting the following March. [25] The tour was followed by a period of extended inactivity before Rich Robinson formally announced in January 2015 that the Black Crowes had broken up due to a disagreement between him and brother Chris regarding ownership of the band. [26]
However, in November 2019 after several weeks of rumors, it was announced that the Black Crowes had reunited for a planned 2020 tour in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of Shake Your Money Maker, with a new lineup including the Robinson brothers, rhythm guitarist Isaiah Mitchell, bassist Tim Lefebvre, drummer Raj Ojha and keyboardist Joel Robinow. [27] This lineup would completely change before the tour was completed, except Chris and Rich Robinson who remain the only original members.
As of August 2023, the Black Crowes lineup is:
- Chris Robinson – lead vocals, harmonica, guitar
- Rich Robinson – guitar, backing vocals
- Nico Bereciartua – guitar, backing vocals (touring only)
- Sven Pipien – bass, backing vocals
- Cully Symington – drums, percussion (touring only)
- Erik Deutsch – keyboards, backing vocals (touring only)
Members
Current
| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Robinson |
|
|
all Black Crowes releases | |
| Rich Robinson |
| |||
| Sven Pipien |
|
|
| |
| Erik Deutsch | 2022–present (session/touring) |
|
none | |
| Nico Bereciartua | 2023–present (session/touring) | guitar | ||
| Cully Symington |
|
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Former
| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Gorman |
|
|
all Black Crowes releases to date except 1972 (2022) and Happiness Bastards | |
|
Johnny Colt (Charles Brandt) |
1989–1997 | bass |
| |
| Jeff Cease | 1989–1991 | guitar | Shake Your Money Maker (1990) | |
| Marc Ford |
|
|
| |
|
Eddie Harsch (Edward Hawrysch) |
|
|
all Black Crowes releases from The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion (1992) to The Lost Crowes (2006) | |
| Audley Freed | 1998–2002 (initially a touring member only) | guitar | ||
| Greg Rzab | 2000 | bass | Live at Jones Beach (EP/2000) w/Jimmy Page | |
| Andy Hess | 2001–2002 | Live (2002) | ||
| Bill Dobrow | 2005 | drums | none – live performances only | |
| Rob Clores | 2006–2007 | keyboards | ||
| Paul Stacey | 2006–2007 (touring only) | guitar | ||
| Adam MacDougall |
|
|
all Black Crowes releases from Warpaint (2008) to Wiser for the Time (2013) | |
| Luther Dickinson | 2007–2011 |
| ||
| Jackie Greene | 2012–2015 |
|
none – live performances only | |
| Raj Kumar Ojha | 2019–2020 (touring only) | drums | ||
| Tim Lefebvre | bass | |||
| Isaiah Mitchell | 2019–2023 (session/touring) | guitar |
| |
| Joel Robinow | 2019–2022 (session/touring) |
| ||
| Brian Griffin | 2021–2023 (session/touring) | drums |
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Timeline
Lineups
| Period | Members | Releases |
|---|---|---|
| Late 1989 – November 1991 |
|
|
| November 1991 – August 1997 |
|
|
| August – October 1997 |
|
none |
| December 1997 – June 1998 |
|
|
| June 1998 – May 2000 |
|
|
| May – December 2000 |
|
none |
| January – February 2001 |
|
|
| February – December 2001 |
|
|
| December 2001 – January 2002 |
|
none |
| Band inactive January 2002 – March 2005 | ||
| March – May 2005 |
|
none |
| May 2005 – August 2006 |
|
|
| August – September 2006 |
|
none |
| September 2006 – July 2007 |
| |
| July – November 2007 |
| |
| November 2007 – July 2011 |
|
|
| Band inactive July 2011 – December 2012 | ||
| December 2012 – January 2015 |
|
none |
| Band inactive January 2015 – November 2019 | ||
| November 2019 – 2021 |
|
none |
| 2021–2022 |
|
|
| 2022–2023 |
|
|
| 2023 |
|
|
| 2023-Present |
|
|
References
- ^ a b "Black Crowes Set Rescheduled 2021 'Shake Your Money Maker' Tour Dates – Rolling Stone". Archived from the original on 2021-05-17. Retrieved 2021-05-17.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (May 27, 2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. London, England: Omnibus Press. p. 2629. ISBN 978-0857125958. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
- ^ Lurie, Robert Dean (October 28, 2016). "The Time Is Now, The Time Is Yesterday: Seven Simons". Blurt. Archived from the original on December 6, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
- ^ Cobb, Mike (December 7, 2016). "Scarred But Smarter (Life N Times of Drivin N Cryin)". Elmore Magazine. Archived from the original on November 2, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
- ^ Thompson, Dave (June 18, 2014). "Studying Ormythology on the Seventh Ring of Saturn". Goldmine. Archived from the original on February 1, 2017. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
- ^ Friedrich, Adam (October 19, 2019). "Drummer's Memoir Says Black Crowes Were 'Too Hard To Handle'". Wisconsin Public Radio. Archived from the original on December 9, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
- ^ "The Black Crowes – Miserable". Paste. September 15, 2009. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
- ^ Boehm, Mike (November 16, 1991). "O.C. Guitarist to Join Rock's Black Crowes". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Black Crowes: Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on April 28, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
- ^ Johnson, Tina (May 29, 1998). "The Black Crowes' Chris Robinson Discusses Band's 'New Era'". Allstar. Archived from the original on July 5, 1998. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
- ^ "Black Crowes Begin Work On New Album, Name Bassist". MTV. March 16, 1998. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
- ^ "Black Crowes Delay New Album, Box Set Due In August". MTV. July 22, 1998. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
- ^ Basham, David (May 10, 2000). "Black Crowes Get New Bassist For Page Tour". MTV. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
- ^ "Black Crowes Find Themselves On 'Lions'". Billboard. April 13, 2001. Archived from the original on September 30, 2017. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
- ^ Basham, David (February 5, 2001). "Black Crowes Nest In N.Y. Club For Lions Party". MTV. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Live – The Black Crowes: Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Archived from the original on May 14, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
- ^ "The Black Crowes Announce Indefinite Hiatus". Blabbermouth.net. January 9, 2002. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
- ^ Kaufman, Gil (March 4, 2005). "Black Crowes Reunion Now A Full-Blown Tour". MTV. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
- ^ "Drummer Steve Gorman Rejoins Black Crowes". Blabbermouth.net. May 6, 2005. Archived from the original on November 30, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
- ^ "The Black Crowes Keyboardist Quits For 'Health Reasons'". Blabbermouth.net. August 28, 2006. Archived from the original on August 15, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
- ^ "Guitarist Quit Black Crowes For Health Reasons". Blabbermouth.net. September 8, 2006. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
- ^ Calemine, James. "Adam MacDougall Interview: The Black Crowes Electric Spanking of Warpaint Babies". Swampland. Archived from the original on August 31, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
- ^ Bernstein, Scott (November 28, 2007). "Luther Dickinson Joins The Black Crowes". Glide. Archived from the original on January 18, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
- ^ "The Black Crowes Announces Final European Leg Of 20th Anniversary Tour". Blabbermouth.net. January 19, 2011. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
- ^ "The Black Crowes End Hiatus". Blabbermouth.net. December 25, 2012. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
- ^ "The Black Crowes Are No More, Says Guitarist Rich Robinson". Blabbermouth.net. January 15, 2015. Archived from the original on August 12, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
- ^ Blistein, Jon (November 11, 2019). "Black Crowes Reunite, Plot 2020 'Shake Your Money Maker' Tour". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on November 12, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
