Singer Chris Robinson says the breakup of The Black Crowes is “complicated.”
Brother and guitarist Rich Robinson broke the news on January 15, saying "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.”
The guitarist also revealed details regarding some controversy within the group that fueled his decision not to return.
“I love my brother and respect his talent,” he noted, “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."
Now, Chris responds to the official statement, telling Billboard "it's way more complicated than Rich's public outburst" while declining to elaborate.
"I'm going to keep my personal, private family business personal and private," he says, "and I'll focus on all the other things that are important. The ideas, I think, are more important than the drama.”
“I have too much stuff going on that's progressive and positive to dig through sordid family history and stuff. I don't think that's interesting at all -- maybe in a tabloid kind of culture we live in, but I've never been part of that. I've never dealt with my personal, private life in a public forum, so I'm not going to drag myself though the mire now.”
Chris looks back at his time with the band, saying “The Black Crowes is so much time and it's so complicated, and then you mix family and whatever that is into it. To me it's just sad and it's disappointing and it's unfortunate that on the 25th anniversary, whether the band is working or not, that it's not about the songs and the good times people had at those concerts."
The singer released the latest Chris Robinson Brotherhood album, “Phosphorescent Harvest”, last April, while Rich put out his third solo project, “The Ceaseless Light”, in May.
Gorman returned to American supergroup Trigger Happy to release their debut last year; the lineup includes singer Joan Osbourne, session guitarist Tom Bukovac, bassist Nick Govrick and singer/songwriter and Black Crowes guitarist Jackie Greene.
See also:
Black Crowes singer Chris Robinson comments on breakup
The Black Crowes top the hennemusic Hot 10
The Black Crowes break up amid controversy
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