One part Southern rock, heavy on the blues, and a dash of psychedelic pop. The Black Crowes used that recipe to launch a brilliant yet turbulent career that has stretched across five decades. For this edition of the Throwback Threesome, we’re headed to Georgia, where the band first took flight.

It all started with brothers Chris (lead singer) and Rich Robinson (guitar), who initially formed the band in 1984 while attending Walton High School in Marietta, Georgia. The first incarnation of the band was called Mr. Crowe’s Garden. The name was inspired by Leonard Leslie Brooke’s 1903 children’s book, Johnny Crow’s Garden.

As Mr. Crowe’s Garden worked their way up through the clubs and began recording demos in the late-1980s, the band became a quintet with Steve Gorman on drums, Johnny Colt (bass) and Jeff Cease (guitar). In that time, they also changed their name to the Black Crowes.

Highs And Lows For The Black Crowes

The band signed their first big recording contract in 1989 and released their debut album, Shake Your Money Maker, the following year. The Black Crowes’ follow-up, The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion, reached the top of the Billboard 200 in 1992. In all, they put out nine studio albums, with a tenth called Happiness Bastards coming March 15, 2024.

One of the constants with the Black Crowes has been change. Over the years, band members came and went. The group itself even took a few breaks along the way. It all came to a head in 2015 when, according to JamBase, Rich Robinson announced that the Black Crowes were breaking up over a disagreement regarding ownership of the band. He and his brother, Chris, didn’t speak to one another for about four years.

Ultimately, the Robinson brothers reconciled and reunited to plan a 2020 tour commemorating the 30th anniversary of Shake Your Money Maker. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic got in the way and pushed it back to 2021. The Black Crowes are touring once again in 2024 with a show at Ovens Auditorium on May 1st.

• Jealous Again (1990)

  Released as the lead single from their 1990 debut album, Shake Your Money Maker, this rollicking track written by Chris and Rich Robinson peaked at number five on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks charts. “Jealous Again” also charted in Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, and the UK. According to Songfacts, the Robinson brothers said the song was inspired by the 1972 Rolling Stones song, “Tumbling Dice.” The Black Crowes were often compared to the Stones, and you can see why in the video.

• Hard To Handle (1991)

  Written and recorded by the great Otis Redding in 1968, “Hard to Handle” was covered by the Black Crowes and released as the second single from Shake Your Money Maker. It reached number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Mainstream Rock Chart. The original album cut was remixed with an overdubbed brass section for the 30th Anniversary edition of Shake Your Money Maker.

• Remedy (1992)

  The Black Crowes followed the initial success of their debut album with the release of The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion in 1992. The lead single, “Remedy,” was another number one hit on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. According to Songfacts, singer Chris Robinson wrote the lyrics in reaction to America’s “war on drugs,” which he saw as pointless.

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