Not since the release of “She Talks To Angels” has America experienced such a maelstrom of Southern-fried feelings. Black Crowes founding member Rich Robinson released a statement yesterday announcing that the blues-rock group of 24 years is breaking up.
The cause of the dissolution seems to be some brotherly (read: monetary) disagreement between Robinson and his brother Chris, the singer and co-founder of the band. Rich, the band’s guitarist and songwriter, described the breakup as the result of his brother’s power play:
“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 percent of his share, reducing him to a salaried employee, is not something I could agree to.”
Chris Robinson—who also fronts the humbly-named group the Chris Robinson Brotherhood—has not yet responded to his brother’s statement. The band leaves behind a body of work including the quintuple platinum Shake Your Money Maker, The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion, Amorica, and comeback albums Warpaint and Before The Frost… Until The Freeze. The former members of the Black Crowes encourage flowers to be sent in lieu of puns about their frontman being “Hard To Handle.”