If Guns N’ Roses were the natural successors to Aerosmith in the late ’80s, then The Black Crowes were there to fly the flag for the rootsy rock pioneered by The Rolling Stones. Led by singer Chris Robinson and his brother Rich on guitar, the Atlanta group signed to Def American in 1989 and released their debut album
Shake Your Money Maker the following year to wide critical acclaim – cementing their stature as one of the most vital new forces in rock at the time.
But nothing lasts forever. As well as a brief hiatus in the early noughties, the band broke up in 2015 following a disagreement between the two siblings, and four years would pass until they were able to put their differences aside to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the album that launched their careers.
This year they return with their tenth full-length Happiness Bastards – a tour de force of Southern-voiced rock ’n’ roll, tastefully and eloquently cross-pollinating bluesy minor pentatonics with country majors as they so often have done in the past. When TG tells Rich Robinson the tones on the latest release are possibly the finest he’s ever put to tape, he’s more than ready to spill the beans. “Let’s geek out,” he nods. “That’s what
