Metal Anarchy

During a recent interview with Ultimate Classic Rock, former The Black Crowes drummer Steve Gorman confirmed that he has “heard from many sources for several months” that the band will be reuniting for a 2020 tour. He went on to say that he was not approached about taking part in the trek and that he doesn’t believe Chris and Rich Robinson are doing it for the music.

Gorman said the following when asked if he has been approached about participating in the rumored tour:

“Oh no. And it won’t happen. Trust me. [Laughs] This reunion, I’ve heard from many sources for several months that this is happening. This ain’t got nothin’ to do with trying to re-find a musical connection. This is a very different motivation and impetus, so the last thing that the brothers Robinson are going to do is involve someone who is going to take a chunk of the pie away from them.”

“If the Black Crowes had ever operated in a way that made perfect sense, the lineup from ‘92 to ‘97 would have never gone away. You know what I mean?”

He continued:

“There was never an understanding of the true strength and power of the band. And the Robinson brothers are showing that very clearly. They have every right to do this. When I quit the band in 2001, I relinquished my right to the name. I never thought I’d be back to begin with. And I never was cut back in on that side of things as far as a third of the partnership in terms of who owns the name the Black Crowes. And that’s fine. The truth is, when Chris blew the band up in 2014, the last thing I wanted was to be involved in a continuing string of emails from lawyers and accountants trying to get everybody to agree on something. It’s been much nicer to know that this is all in the rear view. And again, they wouldn’t ever think of approaching me, but it’s going to be a pretty tough thing to make sense of, six years after Chris said, “I need all of the money or I’m never doing this again” and then suddenly saying, “Okay, I’m ready to do it again.” I mean, it just speaks for what’s going on. They painted themselves into a corner and they need to go out as the Black Crowes, and I don’t think, frankly, they give two flying fucks who is in the band onstage with them.

They’re going to go do what they have to do. And I don’t begrudge anybody who can make a living playing music in their 50s on principle. It’s like, Good for you. But the way this will be spun, and the way that everything has been spun for years, [it is] a pretty dubious suggestion that this is anything about a reunion or an anniversary.”

He also added the following when asked if he can think of a scenario in which he would return to the band:

“Not that I can imagine, and I have a really active imagination. So I would say no. And the truth is this, I have absolutely no interest in being in a room with either one of those guys, much less onstage with them for a year and a half. I have worked my ass off to make sure that I was never in a position where I thought I might have to do this. So, I mean, there’s that. I don’t need it. The reality is, if they did call me and if they did call Johnny [Colt] and if they did call Marc Ford or if they called Sven [Pipien], what are the chances that band is ever as good as it once was? I would say nil. So there’s pragmatic considerations, and I don’t need that. And then on top of it, once you really do get down to the music of it, if this were about music, those phone calls would have been made. It’s not about music. It is what it is. I mean, if I wanted to go see some soccer games in Europe and the tour made sense for me, okay, maybe. [Laughs] You know what I mean? I’d be looking at it for things like that. Do I want to go play a bunch of festivals next summer? Well, no, not really. I’m not missing that on any level. And again, musically speaking, this Trigger Hippy album, I’m not one to say that this is the best thing ever, but I am as proud of this record and I love this record as much as anything I’ve ever done. So my musical jones is more than sated with Trigger Hippy.”