For the third time since the band hit the big time with 1990’s “Shake Your Money Maker,” The Black Crowes have broken up. While other rock-n-roll sibling bandmates like the Gallagher brothers have made headlines for their sexier rivalries over the years, Chris and Rich Robinson have decided to call it quits because of a disagreement within the band over the classic breaker-upper – money. In a statement from guitarist Rich Robinson, the younger brother celebrates his time with the band that has given us great songs like “She Talks to Angels” and “Twice as Hard,” as well as that rockin’ cover of Otis Redding’s “Hard to Handle.”
However, his side of the story is that the elder Robinson is being rather unfair about demanding complete control of the band.
“It is with great disappointment and regret that after having the privilege of writing and performing the music of The Black Crowes over the last 24 years, I find myself in the position of saying that the band has broken up.”
His statement continues, “I hold my time with the Black Crowes with the utmost respect and sincerest appreciation. It is a huge swath of my life’s body of work. I couldn’t be more proud of what we accomplished and deeply moved by the relationships people created and maintained with my music. That alone is the greatest honor of being a musician. I love my brother and respect his talent but his present demand that I must give up my equal share of the band and that our drummer for 28 years and original partner, Steve Gorman, relinquish 100% of his share, reducing him to a salaried employee, is not something I could agree to.”
Robinson concludes, “There are so many people who have helped and supported us along the way. I want to give a heartfelt thank you to all of our fans, our friends behind the scenes, and to everyone who was a part of The Black Crowes.” (Via JamBase)
Currently on tour with the ironically-named The Chris Robinson Brotherhood, the Crowes’ lead singer has yet to issue his own statement. However, in a new interview with Smashing Interviews Magazine, Chris dropped some hints that the Crowes, who had last performed together in San Francisco on December 14, 2013, had seen their final days. You know, for real this time.
The Black Crowes, to be honest, became a very tedious scenario. It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. The worst of times was winning out in this Charles Dickens-themed imagination of mine.
I know the Black Crowes are not going to turn around and be something that I think is super amazing again and fun and vibrant with the energy I’m looking for. So yeah. The other thing is you give the Black Crowes their due. I’m super proud of it.
The only reason I went out and did the tour in 2013 is because I’m just like the people who love the Black Crowes. Music affects me on a cellular level, and it has always been that way.
And then there’s the money quote…
Melissa Parker (Smashing Interviews Magazine): Would you be just as happy in your life right now to focus all your creative energies on the Brotherhood and never make any more new music with the Black Crowes?
Chris Robinson: Oh yeah, completely. Like I said, I don’t have any … we’re only responsible for our perceptions. Everyone’s allowed their own reality and their own truth. I dig it. My whole thing is, I’m super proud of what the Black Crowes accomplished and a little bit sad that we couldn’t have accomplished more. Sad that not everyone could get together on the music and be in a groove and figure out the next play. On the other hand, that’s the way things happen.
So long, Black Crowes. We’ll always have the pube-tastic cover of the “Amorica” album.
