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Hard to Handle: The Life and Death of the Black Crowes--A Memoir
Black Crowes drummer and cofounder Steve Gorman shares the band's inside story in this behind-the-scenes biography, from their supernova stardom in the '90s to exhilarating encounters with industry legends.
For more than two decades, the Black Crowes topped the charts and reigned supreme over the radio waves, even as hair bands, grunge, and hip-hop threatened to dethrone them. With hits like "Hard to Handle," "She Talks to Angels," and "Remedy," their massive success launched them to stardom in the early '90s, earning them a place among rock royalty. They were on the cover of Rolling Stone , MTV played their videos 24/7, and Generation X rediscovered the power of classic rock and blues by digging into multi-platinum classics like Shake Your Money Maker and The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion .
But stardom can be fleeting. For the Black Crowes, success slowly dwindled as the band members got caught up in the rock star world and lost sight of their musical ambition. Despite the drinking, drugs, and incessant fighting between Chris and Rich Robinson -- the angriest brothers in rock and roll, with all due respect to Oasis and the Kinks -- the band continued to tour until 2013. On any given night, they could be the best band you ever saw (or the most combative). Then, one last rift caused by Chris Robinson proved insurmountable for the band to survive. After that, the Black Crowes would fly no more.
Founding member Steve Gorman was there for all of it -- the coke- and weed-fueled tours; the tumultuous recording sessions; the backstage hangs with legends like Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and the Rolling Stones. As the band's drummer and voice of reason, he tried to keep the Black Crowes together musically and emotionally. In Hard To Handle -- the first account of this great American rock band's beginning, middle, and end -- Gorman explains just how impossible that job was with great insight, candor, and humor. They don't make bands like the Black Crowes anymore: crazy, brilliant, self-destructive, inspiring, and, ultimately, not built to last. But, man, what a ride it was while it lasted.
For more than two decades, the Black Crowes topped the charts and reigned supreme over the radio waves, even as hair bands, grunge, and hip-hop threatened to dethrone them. With hits like "Hard to Handle," "She Talks to Angels," and "Remedy," their massive success launched them to stardom in the early '90s, earning them a place among rock royalty. They were on the cover of Rolling Stone , MTV played their videos 24/7, and Generation X rediscovered the power of classic rock and blues by digging into multi-platinum classics like Shake Your Money Maker and The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion .
But stardom can be fleeting. For the Black Crowes, success slowly dwindled as the band members got caught up in the rock star world and lost sight of their musical ambition. Despite the drinking, drugs, and incessant fighting between Chris and Rich Robinson -- the angriest brothers in rock and roll, with all due respect to Oasis and the Kinks -- the band continued to tour until 2013. On any given night, they could be the best band you ever saw (or the most combative). Then, one last rift caused by Chris Robinson proved insurmountable for the band to survive. After that, the Black Crowes would fly no more.
Founding member Steve Gorman was there for all of it -- the coke- and weed-fueled tours; the tumultuous recording sessions; the backstage hangs with legends like Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and the Rolling Stones. As the band's drummer and voice of reason, he tried to keep the Black Crowes together musically and emotionally. In Hard To Handle -- the first account of this great American rock band's beginning, middle, and end -- Gorman explains just how impossible that job was with great insight, candor, and humor. They don't make bands like the Black Crowes anymore: crazy, brilliant, self-destructive, inspiring, and, ultimately, not built to last. But, man, what a ride it was while it lasted.
345 pages, Hardcover
Published September 24, 2019
About the author
Steve Gorman
3 books10 followersSteve Gorman is an American musician and sports talk radio host. Gorman is best known as the drummer of the American rock and roll band The Black Crowes. He spent time as the drummer for British rock band Stereophonics. He also hosted on his own radio show Steve Gorman Sports! on Fox Sports Radio.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 239 reviews
July 29, 2019
Assigned- Overall, a familiar rock and roll story, but still an interesting peek into a fantastic group, with a wide musical range and talent.
4 stars.
4 stars.
January 27, 2021
"Can I have some remedy?
Remedy for me, please.
Cuz if I had a remedy,
I'd take enough to please me!"
-- lyrics by Chris & Rich Robinson; I can recall when the accompanying 'Remedy' music video featuring the group was in heavy rotation on MTV during the summer of 1992
Yeah, they may have 'reunited' in late 2019 (that is, the two oft-feuding Robinson brothers now have an entirely new band backing them), but for fans of late 20th century rock & roll the definitive line-up of the Black Crowes was the 1990-2000 incarnation. What a glorious mess it was, and now it is detailed for casual and die-hard fans alike with a front row seat courtesy of drummer Steve Gorman.
With a keen memory and a solid workman-like prose, Gorman explains the origin of the rock quintet (soon to be a sextet, with the addition of a keyboardist/organist) circa 1989 in Atlanta. Things then quickly escalated - hit albums in '90 (Shake Your Money Maker) and '92 (The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion), with the accompanying successful tours - and then, just as rapidly, begin to fall apart due to infighting, drug / alcohol abuse, egos, and other issues such as the arrival the 'grunge'-styled groups in popular culture. There was a brief upswing of sorts when the boys allied with guitar virtuoso Jimmy Page - basically morphing into the best Led Zeppelin cover band EVER - for a live album and brief tour in 1999, but by the start of the 21st century they derailed and went on a hiatus. There have been some reunions or regroupings, but things were never again like their first decade.
I can remember when (as with Aerosmith in the 70's, then Guns N' Roses in the 80's) the Crowes were tagged as the Americanized version of the Rolling Stones. They really had the attitude, for sure. Unfortunately, they never reached the same career longevity, but with durably kick-ass songs like 'Hard to Handle,' 'Twice as Hard,' and 'Wiser Time' at least we can always have the music, right?
Remedy for me, please.
Cuz if I had a remedy,
I'd take enough to please me!"
-- lyrics by Chris & Rich Robinson; I can recall when the accompanying 'Remedy' music video featuring the group was in heavy rotation on MTV during the summer of 1992
Yeah, they may have 'reunited' in late 2019 (that is, the two oft-feuding Robinson brothers now have an entirely new band backing them), but for fans of late 20th century rock & roll the definitive line-up of the Black Crowes was the 1990-2000 incarnation. What a glorious mess it was, and now it is detailed for casual and die-hard fans alike with a front row seat courtesy of drummer Steve Gorman.
With a keen memory and a solid workman-like prose, Gorman explains the origin of the rock quintet (soon to be a sextet, with the addition of a keyboardist/organist) circa 1989 in Atlanta. Things then quickly escalated - hit albums in '90 (Shake Your Money Maker) and '92 (The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion), with the accompanying successful tours - and then, just as rapidly, begin to fall apart due to infighting, drug / alcohol abuse, egos, and other issues such as the arrival the 'grunge'-styled groups in popular culture. There was a brief upswing of sorts when the boys allied with guitar virtuoso Jimmy Page - basically morphing into the best Led Zeppelin cover band EVER - for a live album and brief tour in 1999, but by the start of the 21st century they derailed and went on a hiatus. There have been some reunions or regroupings, but things were never again like their first decade.
I can remember when (as with Aerosmith in the 70's, then Guns N' Roses in the 80's) the Crowes were tagged as the Americanized version of the Rolling Stones. They really had the attitude, for sure. Unfortunately, they never reached the same career longevity, but with durably kick-ass songs like 'Hard to Handle,' 'Twice as Hard,' and 'Wiser Time' at least we can always have the music, right?
January 31, 2021
This is challenging review. I am biased.
If the reader is a Black Crowes fan, the rating should be a four.
If the reader is a Rock biography fan, the rating should be a three.
If the reader has never heard The Black Crowes, the rating should be a two.
I am a Black Crowes fanatic. I've spent thousands of; hours, miles, & dollars listening to, traveling to, and seeing this band perform since 1992's 'High as the Moon' tour. Steve Gorman is one of my favorite drummers. I have a framed assortment of curios from him that constantly remind me; drumsticks, set lists, and signed swag.
I have two copies of the book. In hardcover, and from Audible. I prefer the audio recording, as Steve is narrating. His memoir. His voice. His career as a radio host lends itself well to the diction and pacing. And on the multiple occasions when he's frustrated, it sounds very authentic.
After the first pass, the volume seems like a thorough account of the band from one member's perspective. But with reflection, it boils itself down into countless episodes of disdain for the Robinson brothers. I feel there's a lot of merit to Gorman's consternation, but it's just too slanderous and monotonous after a while. It could be argued that a career with the Crowes was exactly that, but I really wish it was balanced out with a bit more. More gear talk, more venue talk, and more family-balance talk would have been appreciated. Steve briefly mentions the birth of his son and his wife's involvement. That's cool, but it's weird there's no introduction of his wife beforehand. There's a passage detailing the wedding of Chris and Kate, but not Steve and Merdith (?). Perhaps the most frustrating; there is an epic retelling of a discussion Steve has with a Rock Guitar legend. The aftermath has Steve boiling over with rage. On audio, it's something to behold. But then? Nothing. No follow through. No mention of how, or if, the contentious incident was resolved with the offending party. That's not cool. Also, Steve could have been better served had he dropped the f-bomb a little less (and I swear like the best of them).
This book has lingering ramifications. I'm torn. I love the music the band made, and I love that Steve had the opportunity to collect and publish his memories. But his accounts make me question my enjoyment of the band. It's all a bit raw for me. I've spent a good portion of my life with this outfit, and to learn from a salacious tell-all autobiography about the entire operation's dysfunction? It's upsetting. To distance myself from the players and personalities, and only dig the music? It is not as easy as it sounds.
If the reader is a Black Crowes fan, the rating should be a four.
If the reader is a Rock biography fan, the rating should be a three.
If the reader has never heard The Black Crowes, the rating should be a two.
I am a Black Crowes fanatic. I've spent thousands of; hours, miles, & dollars listening to, traveling to, and seeing this band perform since 1992's 'High as the Moon' tour. Steve Gorman is one of my favorite drummers. I have a framed assortment of curios from him that constantly remind me; drumsticks, set lists, and signed swag.
I have two copies of the book. In hardcover, and from Audible. I prefer the audio recording, as Steve is narrating. His memoir. His voice. His career as a radio host lends itself well to the diction and pacing. And on the multiple occasions when he's frustrated, it sounds very authentic.
After the first pass, the volume seems like a thorough account of the band from one member's perspective. But with reflection, it boils itself down into countless episodes of disdain for the Robinson brothers. I feel there's a lot of merit to Gorman's consternation, but it's just too slanderous and monotonous after a while. It could be argued that a career with the Crowes was exactly that, but I really wish it was balanced out with a bit more. More gear talk, more venue talk, and more family-balance talk would have been appreciated. Steve briefly mentions the birth of his son and his wife's involvement. That's cool, but it's weird there's no introduction of his wife beforehand. There's a passage detailing the wedding of Chris and Kate, but not Steve and Merdith (?). Perhaps the most frustrating; there is an epic retelling of a discussion Steve has with a Rock Guitar legend. The aftermath has Steve boiling over with rage. On audio, it's something to behold. But then? Nothing. No follow through. No mention of how, or if, the contentious incident was resolved with the offending party. That's not cool. Also, Steve could have been better served had he dropped the f-bomb a little less (and I swear like the best of them).
This book has lingering ramifications. I'm torn. I love the music the band made, and I love that Steve had the opportunity to collect and publish his memories. But his accounts make me question my enjoyment of the band. It's all a bit raw for me. I've spent a good portion of my life with this outfit, and to learn from a salacious tell-all autobiography about the entire operation's dysfunction? It's upsetting. To distance myself from the players and personalities, and only dig the music? It is not as easy as it sounds.
September 26, 2019
I inhaled this book like Chris Robinson with a bag of weed. It was written by the funniest Crowe. There was more highlighted text than white space when I was done. It was at its strongest when it didn't sound like a therapy session or when every chapter ended with a Behind the Music line like, 'There was a glimmer of hope, but little did we know, everything was about to go to hell.' It painted a tough picture of Chris and Rich. Everyone who's spent time in and around bands has met people like that. If you haven't, Steve definitely gets across how infuriating self-sabotage can be in a project. There could have been less space dedicated to this, or it could have been tempered a bit with credit to what the brothers created -- beyond acknowledging that they could play really well a lot of the time and had those priceless moments of musical connection. The Jimmy Page fanboy parts were some of my favorites. Steve definitely understood what it all meant, and that was still the best concert I've ever seen. I'm also glad he mentioned the Beacon shows in NYC right after 9/11 and that they were special to him, too. If you want to know more about the songs, this isn't the book. Maybe that book will never exist. If it does, it's going to need a great editor. But if you want one account of what life was like in this band, hoo boy, get ready.
December 6, 2019
Fun book. Steve seems to be a decent bloke, and I actually enjoyed the style, it's basically like this "So this is what happened that one time we were recording XYZ."
According to Gorman, the Robinson brothers were a bit dysfunctional from the very beginning, and the problems increased with the increasing fame (go figure), which turned them into utter twats with massive egos that lead to the demise of a very lucrative deal with Jimmy Page and, eventually, to the end of the band itself(*). Also, the consumption of alcohol and all sorts of...er...chemicals didn't make things any easier, HA! Of course, as you'd expect, the turmoil surrounding the Black Crowes is what makes "Hard to Handle" really interesting.
Needs to be said I'm not a die-hard fan of the band. I liked the first two records, all right, but wasn't particularly crazy about "Amorica" and "Three Snakes and One Charm". And I have honestly no clue what the following albums sound like.
Four stars.
(*) - The Black Crowes will be touring again in 2020, the only surviving members of the band being the Robinson brothers.
According to Gorman, the Robinson brothers were a bit dysfunctional from the very beginning, and the problems increased with the increasing fame (go figure), which turned them into utter twats with massive egos that lead to the demise of a very lucrative deal with Jimmy Page and, eventually, to the end of the band itself(*). Also, the consumption of alcohol and all sorts of...er...chemicals didn't make things any easier, HA! Of course, as you'd expect, the turmoil surrounding the Black Crowes is what makes "Hard to Handle" really interesting.
Needs to be said I'm not a die-hard fan of the band. I liked the first two records, all right, but wasn't particularly crazy about "Amorica" and "Three Snakes and One Charm". And I have honestly no clue what the following albums sound like.
Four stars.
(*) - The Black Crowes will be touring again in 2020, the only surviving members of the band being the Robinson brothers.
September 26, 2019
This is for Black Crowes fans only, really. I don't think this a book like Keith Richards' autobiography, which, even if you weren't a fan of Keith, the read would still be pretty amazing. This book is not some amazing story. However, if you are a Black Crowes fan and wondered what was going on in that bubble, this book is for you. I've been a fan of the BC since their first album and saw most of their tours. It was always tough to get factual information about what was going on. Fans just knew there were constantly new faces and we sort of knew the brothers were always fighting. This book will clear it all up and give closure to all BC fans. Just wait until you hear about Rich's dealings with Jimmy Page. Made my jaw drop. Besides closure there are some great rock'n'roll stories like meeting Keith Richards, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant. I highly suggest this book for all of those who wanted to be Tall with the Crowes.
January 11, 2020
This is admittedly a biased review, as the black crowes are my all time favorite band. If i had never heard of them, I would probably give this 3.5 stars. I found Gorman to be an effective story teller and I appreciated that he didn't gloss over difficult topics (drug use, greed, etc). He points fingers but also acknowledges his own contributions to the band's dysfunction.
Two things really stood out to me. One, I knew the Robinson brothers fought, but I didn't realize how vicious and unrelenting it was throughout the years. Two, the missed opportunities of this band to achieve greatness is simply astounding.
Two things really stood out to me. One, I knew the Robinson brothers fought, but I didn't realize how vicious and unrelenting it was throughout the years. Two, the missed opportunities of this band to achieve greatness is simply astounding.
June 8, 2022
The entire book is clearly an angry vendetta against the Robinson brothers. So much negativity and not enough credit for the product. I'll take his word that they are both narcissistic rock stars that fought constantly and often acted like assholes, but that was already well known from other reports. I was hoping for some details about the brilliant songs and how they were created, but there is none of it considering Gorman didn't really create anything of substance. I think he is a good drummer, but definitely don't agree that he deserved 1/3 or anything close. Consequently, any of his questioning their decisions for the sake of the brand and/or art should be taken with a grain of salt. It seemed suspicious to me that he bashes the brothers throughout the entire book but basically doesn't have a negative word to say about anyone else throughout his entire career. Why stick around so long, or keep coming back, if everything was so horrible and negative? If he is so creative, talented, and as important to that band as he writes; why didn't he just leave and start his own successful band? I found it strange that Bobo and Trujillo, their other percussionists on some albums and tours were never mentioned once. I also found it hard to believe that the last decade of the band, including Eddie's death, only deserved one chapter. Seemed like he was rushing to finish, perhaps he needed the money. What a disappointment. The only reason I gave it two stars is because I learned some interesting things early on in their careers that I didn't know before.
January 30, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. Steve Gorman takes you behind the scenes of a great Rock n' Roll band. The Highs and the Lows. I liked that when you read it, it feels like he's having a conversation with you. He doesn't pull any punches. Tells it like he saw it. It's too bad that all the infighting between the brothers (Chris and Rich Robinson), alcohol, drugs and basically the Rock n' Roll lifestyle destroyed the band. I believe that with their talent they could have been the next Rolling Stones. The first 3 albums are Awesome. The wheels come off with 3 Snakes and One Charm. They get back to their rocking blues ways on By Your Side but by then they weren't relevant anymore. They were able to continue on being a decent band because of their live shows. When Jimmy Page wants to play with you on a year long tour (to play his Led Zeppelin tunes) you must be doing something right. I still Love the Black Crowes. Just wish the original lineup could have stayed together. Highly recommend this book if you were a fan of the Crowes back in the 90's and if you are interested in what goes on behind the scenes of a Highly successful Rock Band.
October 29, 2019
Is this the best book I've ever read? No. Is this the best written book I've ever read? Definitely not. Is this the best book about the Black Crowes I've ever read? YES!
The Black Crowes have been one of my favorite bands: I have all their CDs & have seen them in concert twice (I don't live in Boston, NYC or LA, where it seems they toured all the time). This book promised to answer the big question of: what happened to such a promising rock band that endured throughout the grunge and hip-hop era, that put out the first successful album on Rick Rubin's newly-found record label Def America, that toured with such greats as ZZ Top, Aerosmith, Oasis, The Rolling Stones, Robert Plant and....Jimmy Page?
Steve Gorman, the steadfast drummer of the group, tells all. He recounts conversations, arguments, recording sessions, events in a propulsive way that makes this book hard to put down. I had always heard rumors that Rich was the difficult brother to get-along with, but Chris has his issues too. One of the only things the Robinson brothers could agree upon though, was to keep all the money they could to themselves. This is a source of frustration that Gorman repeatedly goes back to: that the other members of the band were treated as back-up band members, not as integral components of the band's success, and hence were treated disrespectfully. Gorman also paints a portrait that Chris is out of touch with reality in having deep relationships with people; perhaps ex-wife Kate Hudson would agree.
The Black Crowes (aka the Robinson brothers) also had a way of burning bridges with a lot of artists who were willing to help their careers. The Robinsons are so destructive that it's amazing they were able to put out as many albums and tour as much as they did. In reading about their troubles, the better albums are the ones where they were all getting along, and the conflict comes through in the others, like there is a palpable dissonance and tension in them.
One review I read recommends this book for Black Crowes fans mainly, and I would agree, as Gorman describes their songs and albums throughout their life together, which may mean little to someone unfamiliar with their music. It did inspire me to revisit some of their albums that I haven't listened to in awhile. Gorman ends with a caveat: this account is from his point of view. The Robinsons may remember things differently. If they decide to tell their side of the story, I look forward to reading their versions too.
The Black Crowes have been one of my favorite bands: I have all their CDs & have seen them in concert twice (I don't live in Boston, NYC or LA, where it seems they toured all the time). This book promised to answer the big question of: what happened to such a promising rock band that endured throughout the grunge and hip-hop era, that put out the first successful album on Rick Rubin's newly-found record label Def America, that toured with such greats as ZZ Top, Aerosmith, Oasis, The Rolling Stones, Robert Plant and....Jimmy Page?
Steve Gorman, the steadfast drummer of the group, tells all. He recounts conversations, arguments, recording sessions, events in a propulsive way that makes this book hard to put down. I had always heard rumors that Rich was the difficult brother to get-along with, but Chris has his issues too. One of the only things the Robinson brothers could agree upon though, was to keep all the money they could to themselves. This is a source of frustration that Gorman repeatedly goes back to: that the other members of the band were treated as back-up band members, not as integral components of the band's success, and hence were treated disrespectfully. Gorman also paints a portrait that Chris is out of touch with reality in having deep relationships with people; perhaps ex-wife Kate Hudson would agree.
The Black Crowes (aka the Robinson brothers) also had a way of burning bridges with a lot of artists who were willing to help their careers. The Robinsons are so destructive that it's amazing they were able to put out as many albums and tour as much as they did. In reading about their troubles, the better albums are the ones where they were all getting along, and the conflict comes through in the others, like there is a palpable dissonance and tension in them.
One review I read recommends this book for Black Crowes fans mainly, and I would agree, as Gorman describes their songs and albums throughout their life together, which may mean little to someone unfamiliar with their music. It did inspire me to revisit some of their albums that I haven't listened to in awhile. Gorman ends with a caveat: this account is from his point of view. The Robinsons may remember things differently. If they decide to tell their side of the story, I look forward to reading their versions too.
September 29, 2019
OK, I'm biased, since I have known the author for many years, and was in a band that toured with the Crowes. But maybe that actually makes my love of this book more surprising. I know how the story ends, and know a lot of the people involved, and still read this thing quickly: I couldn't wait to see what happened next.
When I put it down I was most impressed with how well the book balances its glimpses of the salacious rock lifestyle (Uncle Bob! Drugs! Women!) with its detailing the work required to earn that lifestyle (thing is, making records and staying in a band is actually a good bit of work). And, as is the case in any story worth telling, the heroes are imperfect, and even the devils deserve a little sympathy.
When I put it down I was most impressed with how well the book balances its glimpses of the salacious rock lifestyle (Uncle Bob! Drugs! Women!) with its detailing the work required to earn that lifestyle (thing is, making records and staying in a band is actually a good bit of work). And, as is the case in any story worth telling, the heroes are imperfect, and even the devils deserve a little sympathy.
October 2, 2019
The Black Crowes have been my favourite band since I first saw them in a small club back in July 1991. I have seen them play more times than I can count, so I was certainly interested in Steve's account of their time together. The rise and demise of the band is told with candor, and it's heartbreaking to see how a brilliant band burnt out into a bitter end. It's so well-written that I felt like I was standing there, watching it unfold. Brutally honest in its telling, Hard to Handle is a must-read for not only Crowes fans, but anyone looking for an amazing memoir.
January 22, 2020
Casual Black Crowes fan for the most part but this book was fascinating. Incredibly good read. If you are a fan of the Robinsons though, be warned. This book doesnt show them in a positive light. Not even a little.
August 27, 2023
I read a lot of music books. This one is one of my favorites. Really good.
September 28, 2019
I love the Black Crowes and have seen them numerous times over their career. This story, told from the perspective of the drummer, who comes off as fairly level-headed, was both informative and amusing. I wouldn't put this quite in the category of Rod Stewart and Roger Daltry's memoirs, both of whom have a very "Look at all this cool stuff that happened to me vibe!", only because of the presence of the Robinson brothers, who we all know are dicks, and this memoir does little to dispel that. Steve had to battle to stay in the band and keep going and for that I'm thankful because I had a lot of good times at those shows. This memoir was great though - it had all the details I wanted to see and then some - I couldn't wait to read it every night. If you're a Crowes fan, you should definitely read this book - if you're a rock memoir fan, I think you'll also enjoy it.
January 6, 2021
As an unabashed fan of The Black Crowes, I truly enjoyed drummer Steve Gorman's tales from his ringside seat to one of the most infamous sibling rivalries in rock history.
The worst of times and best of times are recounted here with a gregarious voice and a healthy sense of humor.
It's actually weirdly inspiring to know that one of my favorite bands of all time was also one of the most dysfunctional. As flawed as we humans can be, we can create lasting and transcendent work in spite of ourselves.
There's hope for me, I guess!
The worst of times and best of times are recounted here with a gregarious voice and a healthy sense of humor.
It's actually weirdly inspiring to know that one of my favorite bands of all time was also one of the most dysfunctional. As flawed as we humans can be, we can create lasting and transcendent work in spite of ourselves.
There's hope for me, I guess!
September 25, 2019
My favorite band in my whole life (and I’m gettin’ old!)
Been waiting for this book for a while. I really appreciate your candor and honesty, Steve. While I will always love the Black Crowes, I could see there was trouble. It was kind of obvious. But it was magic!
You have such a way with words Steve. Thanks for taking the time. I loved the ride.
Been waiting for this book for a while. I really appreciate your candor and honesty, Steve. While I will always love the Black Crowes, I could see there was trouble. It was kind of obvious. But it was magic!
You have such a way with words Steve. Thanks for taking the time. I loved the ride.
October 9, 2019
Obviously my review of this book is to be heavily influenced by my love for the band. Someone else reading this story would likely dock it a couple of stars for writing or purely out of disinterest. Of course, I thought it was stellar. It answered so many questions I’ve always had about these guys. What happened to Marc? How much older was Ed? Did Jimmy Page really hurt his back? Are the Robinson brothers someone I’d love to meet or are they just pricks? What’s it like to have sex with Kate Hudson (as answered by Liam Gallagher of Oasis)? What happened to all their unreleased songs? It’s all answered here. Great read.
November 15, 2019
As a die hard fan, I loved the book. It may be a biased account of the Bands history, but it written through a Steve’s eyes and through his emotions. It’s clear that he loved the band and clear that he believes it could have been so much more. I agree.
October 16, 2019
I am not a Black Crowes fan but I love rock books and this is a certified page turner!
January 10, 2020
They gave me joy. I felt their pain. After reading Steve’s book, I understand it all a little better.
February 12, 2021
Wow. Just.... wow.
March 22, 2020
Libro ameno, muy difícil dejar de leerlo una vez empiezas. Claro está, si eres un aficionado al rock y los Black Crowes fueron una de tus bandas de cabecera. Realmente, quizá hubiera preferido no conocer todos los detalles de su historia, y haberlos dejado en el olimpo del rock, intocables, pero...¡demasiado tarde! Cuando terminas de leerlo, tienes sentimientos mezclados.
January 13, 2020
As a huge fan, who has ridden this rollercoaster with them for years, I loved hearing Gorman’s account of it all.
July 5, 2020
After sitting on my shelf for quite some time as I received this tome as a Way-Cool Birthday present a few months back, I was just able to get around to reading this highly entertaining, and sometimes very frustrating, tale of the life of a Really, Really Good Rock Band that became one of the most gifted and talented “Near Misses” in all of Rock History.
Written by the band’s drummer and co-founder Steve Gorman, I know several folks who know Mr. Gorman personally and very closely and, to a person; they all unanimously agree he is a really nice and decent down-to-earth guy. How he survived all the years in the Viper’s Nest known as The Black Crowes with his decency & sanity seemingly still intact, is no small feat.
Mr. Gorman’s reputation as a very nice, genuine guy comes through sincerely and emphatically while consuming his compelling and crazy recounting of the formation and the unfolding 30+ year saga of the Way-Dysfunctional Black Crowes.
And I also had the distinct pleasure of meeting him briefly a few years back at the beloved and original location of Grimey’s New & Preloved Music Store in Music City USA, and we had a very nice chat. To reconfirm from my brief visit, he IS a really nice guy and we talked briefly about the infamous one-song “riot” performance in Louisville Gardens years ago. What a night that was!
Due to some previous stories from Rock Brothers and Musical Acquaintances, I was actually already familiar with several of the incidents, confrontations/fights, and anecdotes re-counted in the book. Did that diminish my reading enjoyment in any fashion? Not one bit!
Mr. Gorman is a fellow Kentuckian and WKU Hilltopper, so I will freely admit some inherent personal partiality on my part. He even frequented the record store that I worked at during my college years in Bowling Green, KY but I don’t remember him, and he is a handful of years younger than I, so we may have just missed a mutual convergence.
His musical saga begins in 1987 when he and his friend Clint Steele took a Greyhound bus from his hometown of Hopkinsville, KY to Atlanta, following their dream of playing in a Rock Band! Mr. Gorman’s musical talents were a bit on the primitive side during this period, but he became a decent drummer in a relatively short period of time.
Before he knew it, he found himself in a very good bar band in the local Atlanta music scene with a strong following called Mary My Hope.
Then the arrival of the Robinson Brothers (Rich & Chris) and primarily Chris; blew into his life as an Ill-Willed Twister filled with neuroses, irritating OCD behavior to the nth degree, as well as other quirks and weirdness. But that Musical Tornadic Force was also spinning with a joyous and idealistic kindred spirit of, and passionate belief in, the transformative power of Rock Music.
At the time, the Robinsons were also playing in their own very popular local club band called Mr. Crowe’s Garden. One night, Steve’s band opened for the Robinsons’ band in the early 80’s and everyone then proceeded to a post-show party that was even attended by a couple of guys from Drivin N Cryin (Atlanta’s Musical Top Dogs then).
Steve was filled with the Glory of Rock Adrenaline following his very first paid gig, and he and Chris ended up together at the party and Mr. Robinson proceeded to have a full-blown neurotic meltdown. They eventually moved their chat to the vacant lot next door and walked in circles while the wacked-out singer babbled on for a LOOONG time.
It was the first of many experiences for Mr. Gorman in dealing with Robinson family self-absorbed Neuroses on Steroids, and it was also his first time to experience the Robinson inability to appreciate the good things and successes in life, coupled with their uncontrollable and self-destructive urge to explode/implode; just as the Good/Great was Peaking/Taking Off.
It was unfortunately and certainly not the last such occurrence, and the heading of the second chapter in the book says it all when Steve was told by a compadre, “Do Not Join This Band, They’re Fucking Crazy!” And off we go……
The band’s career really took off with their collision with Rick Rubin and his early, still somewhat fledgling rap-focused label Def Jam - that shortly would re-launch the mighty Johnny Cash’s final third chapter late-career resurgence which arguably produced his BEST music ever.
Rubin got ‘em for a song (no pun intended) and the subsequent 1990 debut record “Shake Your Money Maker,” supported by no less than six singles, with the most memorable being the cover of Otis’ “Hard To Handle,” and the originals “She Talks to Angels,” & “Jealous Again,” zoomed the record and the band from absolute obscurity to the hottest New True Classic Rock Band in years. The record went multi-platinum and the “world was at their feet;” as they say.
It was not to be as easy as it all sounds; even with a true classic freshman LP, containing two top 30 singles, a charismatic front man to rival Rod the Mod during his peak Faces period, good/great songs, and a tight-ass band that was getting better and better with each forthcoming performance.
The second record in 1992 “The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion” debuted at Number 1 on the Billboard 200 but lacked strong hits, as none of the singles cracked the Top 40 and only "Remedy" and "Thorn in My Pride" made the Top 100. Nevertheless, the band established itself as a very popular headlining concert attraction that summer, selling out theaters across America.
Also, during this year, the band added keyboardist Eddie Harsch as a permanent member. Their third album, Amorica arrived in late 1994 and debuted in the Top Ten and then took a quick and precipitous nose-dive.
As recounted in the book, “All of the pieces to the puzzle that would ensure building on our success worldwide [were in place.] Southern Harmony had sold about half as many copies as Shake Your Money Maker domestically, but it had still sold more copies in the rest of the world. We were poised to take our career to the next level.”
Even so, none of the singles from Amorica made a significant dent, and the album slipped from the charts after going gold. The main reason for a poor commercial reception, as it is a very good solid rock record, was Chris Robinson’s insistence in using the cover shot of the July 1976 bicentennial issue of Hustler magazine as the album cover, which showed a close-up of a tanned girl’s red, white, and blue string bikini bottom with profuse pubic hair poking out the sides.
Needless to say, there was an indignant and arrogant refusal to budge on the matter by Chris and “Amorica was dead on arrival commercially and Chris Robinson was the one that killed it.” The big retail boxes all refused to carry it (Walmart, Sam’s Club, Best Buy, etc.) and, being that it was still back in 1994 and traditional “brick & mortar” music sales were still HUGE, it was commercial suicide.
Their mid-period (1996 – 2001) found the release of solid, if not-so-memorable LPs, Three Snakes and One Charm, By Your Side, and the Don Was produced Lions. This period also saw the proverbial “best of times, and the worst of times.” The magical marriage of Chris to Kate Hudson and the no-expense-spared ceremony and reception funded by Kurt Russell & Goldie Hawn, and the best of all; the soon-to-follow band’s collaboration with the Great and Legendary Jimmy Page.
The boys jelled, Chris did a better-than-average approximation of Robert Plant on vocals, and they hit the road to huge critical and commercial success. After several kick-ass had-to-be-there live performances, Pages’ “back acted up” and he left abruptly in the middle of the tour to have “emergency back surgery.”
But you guessed it, the Robinsons figured out a way to royally piss him off (this time Rich), so the Rock Legend and member of the Order of the British Empire, hopped on his private jet and basically said, “You assholes can ‘kiss my arse.’ ” However, Mr. Gorman’s personal relationship he had developed with Page during their time together was very touching and probably the most positive result of their collaboration; except for those Magical Musical Moments that happened on stage of course.
The book continues to follow the course of the band’s career and the numerous fights, meltdowns, full-blown mental collapses, physical fights, yelling matches, and just overall arrested development/immature childishly selfish behavior that, I have to say; began to somewhat try the patience of this reader.
“Hard to Handle” is well-written in a very relaxed style (in spite of the constant tension and conflict recounted in the book itself) and it is one of the better “behind the scenes” bios of the life and death of what should have been a Top Tier GREAT Rock Band, as told from the perspective of the only sane member within the extremely dysfunctional unit.
The happy ending to the story is that Mr. Gorman has gone on to host a very successful nationally syndicated sports radio talk show and is currently collaborating with his excellent band “Trigger Hippy.” I was lucky to catch them live in Louisville (pre-Corona) Dec 21, 2019 at the Zanzabar club, when the world was a much different place. Oh, and they Majorly Kicked Ass by the way!
Get the book and hang on!
Written by the band’s drummer and co-founder Steve Gorman, I know several folks who know Mr. Gorman personally and very closely and, to a person; they all unanimously agree he is a really nice and decent down-to-earth guy. How he survived all the years in the Viper’s Nest known as The Black Crowes with his decency & sanity seemingly still intact, is no small feat.
Mr. Gorman’s reputation as a very nice, genuine guy comes through sincerely and emphatically while consuming his compelling and crazy recounting of the formation and the unfolding 30+ year saga of the Way-Dysfunctional Black Crowes.
And I also had the distinct pleasure of meeting him briefly a few years back at the beloved and original location of Grimey’s New & Preloved Music Store in Music City USA, and we had a very nice chat. To reconfirm from my brief visit, he IS a really nice guy and we talked briefly about the infamous one-song “riot” performance in Louisville Gardens years ago. What a night that was!
Due to some previous stories from Rock Brothers and Musical Acquaintances, I was actually already familiar with several of the incidents, confrontations/fights, and anecdotes re-counted in the book. Did that diminish my reading enjoyment in any fashion? Not one bit!
Mr. Gorman is a fellow Kentuckian and WKU Hilltopper, so I will freely admit some inherent personal partiality on my part. He even frequented the record store that I worked at during my college years in Bowling Green, KY but I don’t remember him, and he is a handful of years younger than I, so we may have just missed a mutual convergence.
His musical saga begins in 1987 when he and his friend Clint Steele took a Greyhound bus from his hometown of Hopkinsville, KY to Atlanta, following their dream of playing in a Rock Band! Mr. Gorman’s musical talents were a bit on the primitive side during this period, but he became a decent drummer in a relatively short period of time.
Before he knew it, he found himself in a very good bar band in the local Atlanta music scene with a strong following called Mary My Hope.
Then the arrival of the Robinson Brothers (Rich & Chris) and primarily Chris; blew into his life as an Ill-Willed Twister filled with neuroses, irritating OCD behavior to the nth degree, as well as other quirks and weirdness. But that Musical Tornadic Force was also spinning with a joyous and idealistic kindred spirit of, and passionate belief in, the transformative power of Rock Music.
At the time, the Robinsons were also playing in their own very popular local club band called Mr. Crowe’s Garden. One night, Steve’s band opened for the Robinsons’ band in the early 80’s and everyone then proceeded to a post-show party that was even attended by a couple of guys from Drivin N Cryin (Atlanta’s Musical Top Dogs then).
Steve was filled with the Glory of Rock Adrenaline following his very first paid gig, and he and Chris ended up together at the party and Mr. Robinson proceeded to have a full-blown neurotic meltdown. They eventually moved their chat to the vacant lot next door and walked in circles while the wacked-out singer babbled on for a LOOONG time.
It was the first of many experiences for Mr. Gorman in dealing with Robinson family self-absorbed Neuroses on Steroids, and it was also his first time to experience the Robinson inability to appreciate the good things and successes in life, coupled with their uncontrollable and self-destructive urge to explode/implode; just as the Good/Great was Peaking/Taking Off.
It was unfortunately and certainly not the last such occurrence, and the heading of the second chapter in the book says it all when Steve was told by a compadre, “Do Not Join This Band, They’re Fucking Crazy!” And off we go……
The band’s career really took off with their collision with Rick Rubin and his early, still somewhat fledgling rap-focused label Def Jam - that shortly would re-launch the mighty Johnny Cash’s final third chapter late-career resurgence which arguably produced his BEST music ever.
Rubin got ‘em for a song (no pun intended) and the subsequent 1990 debut record “Shake Your Money Maker,” supported by no less than six singles, with the most memorable being the cover of Otis’ “Hard To Handle,” and the originals “She Talks to Angels,” & “Jealous Again,” zoomed the record and the band from absolute obscurity to the hottest New True Classic Rock Band in years. The record went multi-platinum and the “world was at their feet;” as they say.
It was not to be as easy as it all sounds; even with a true classic freshman LP, containing two top 30 singles, a charismatic front man to rival Rod the Mod during his peak Faces period, good/great songs, and a tight-ass band that was getting better and better with each forthcoming performance.
The second record in 1992 “The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion” debuted at Number 1 on the Billboard 200 but lacked strong hits, as none of the singles cracked the Top 40 and only "Remedy" and "Thorn in My Pride" made the Top 100. Nevertheless, the band established itself as a very popular headlining concert attraction that summer, selling out theaters across America.
Also, during this year, the band added keyboardist Eddie Harsch as a permanent member. Their third album, Amorica arrived in late 1994 and debuted in the Top Ten and then took a quick and precipitous nose-dive.
As recounted in the book, “All of the pieces to the puzzle that would ensure building on our success worldwide [were in place.] Southern Harmony had sold about half as many copies as Shake Your Money Maker domestically, but it had still sold more copies in the rest of the world. We were poised to take our career to the next level.”
Even so, none of the singles from Amorica made a significant dent, and the album slipped from the charts after going gold. The main reason for a poor commercial reception, as it is a very good solid rock record, was Chris Robinson’s insistence in using the cover shot of the July 1976 bicentennial issue of Hustler magazine as the album cover, which showed a close-up of a tanned girl’s red, white, and blue string bikini bottom with profuse pubic hair poking out the sides.
Needless to say, there was an indignant and arrogant refusal to budge on the matter by Chris and “Amorica was dead on arrival commercially and Chris Robinson was the one that killed it.” The big retail boxes all refused to carry it (Walmart, Sam’s Club, Best Buy, etc.) and, being that it was still back in 1994 and traditional “brick & mortar” music sales were still HUGE, it was commercial suicide.
Their mid-period (1996 – 2001) found the release of solid, if not-so-memorable LPs, Three Snakes and One Charm, By Your Side, and the Don Was produced Lions. This period also saw the proverbial “best of times, and the worst of times.” The magical marriage of Chris to Kate Hudson and the no-expense-spared ceremony and reception funded by Kurt Russell & Goldie Hawn, and the best of all; the soon-to-follow band’s collaboration with the Great and Legendary Jimmy Page.
The boys jelled, Chris did a better-than-average approximation of Robert Plant on vocals, and they hit the road to huge critical and commercial success. After several kick-ass had-to-be-there live performances, Pages’ “back acted up” and he left abruptly in the middle of the tour to have “emergency back surgery.”
But you guessed it, the Robinsons figured out a way to royally piss him off (this time Rich), so the Rock Legend and member of the Order of the British Empire, hopped on his private jet and basically said, “You assholes can ‘kiss my arse.’ ” However, Mr. Gorman’s personal relationship he had developed with Page during their time together was very touching and probably the most positive result of their collaboration; except for those Magical Musical Moments that happened on stage of course.
The book continues to follow the course of the band’s career and the numerous fights, meltdowns, full-blown mental collapses, physical fights, yelling matches, and just overall arrested development/immature childishly selfish behavior that, I have to say; began to somewhat try the patience of this reader.
“Hard to Handle” is well-written in a very relaxed style (in spite of the constant tension and conflict recounted in the book itself) and it is one of the better “behind the scenes” bios of the life and death of what should have been a Top Tier GREAT Rock Band, as told from the perspective of the only sane member within the extremely dysfunctional unit.
The happy ending to the story is that Mr. Gorman has gone on to host a very successful nationally syndicated sports radio talk show and is currently collaborating with his excellent band “Trigger Hippy.” I was lucky to catch them live in Louisville (pre-Corona) Dec 21, 2019 at the Zanzabar club, when the world was a much different place. Oh, and they Majorly Kicked Ass by the way!
Get the book and hang on!
February 25, 2020
Well. I really enjoyed this book.
I never knew much about The Black Crowes. They started mid-eighties, right in the thick of my child raising years. Didn't have much time or money for music, but I would hear "Hard To Handle", "Jealous Again", or "Twice As Hard" on the radio and think - these guys are good! I liked that they had almost a bit of a throwback rock and rollish sound. But I really knew nothing about the band.
I picked up this book because I love music and biographies, and thought this might be good. It was.
Steve Gorman (and/or Steve Hyden) writes a good story with nice chronology and pacing. I almost felt I was there with him, feeling the excitement of being young and getting into a band and hanging with it until their popularity exploded. Then growing older with the band, learning life lessons, experiencing good and bad times, and meeting some of your idols. What a ride!
I liked Gorman's honesty about himself, warts and all, and his take and insight on his fellow band members. It made me think and understand a little more about how and why some things in the entertainment industry work, or don't work, and why some things last, while some things last only a little while. And why that's ok. And maybe the way it should be.
Steve Gorman comes off as a likable guy with a good sense of humor and attitude about life. I'd like to have a couple of beers with him and hear some more stories. Glad I read this book.
I never knew much about The Black Crowes. They started mid-eighties, right in the thick of my child raising years. Didn't have much time or money for music, but I would hear "Hard To Handle", "Jealous Again", or "Twice As Hard" on the radio and think - these guys are good! I liked that they had almost a bit of a throwback rock and rollish sound. But I really knew nothing about the band.
I picked up this book because I love music and biographies, and thought this might be good. It was.
Steve Gorman (and/or Steve Hyden) writes a good story with nice chronology and pacing. I almost felt I was there with him, feeling the excitement of being young and getting into a band and hanging with it until their popularity exploded. Then growing older with the band, learning life lessons, experiencing good and bad times, and meeting some of your idols. What a ride!
I liked Gorman's honesty about himself, warts and all, and his take and insight on his fellow band members. It made me think and understand a little more about how and why some things in the entertainment industry work, or don't work, and why some things last, while some things last only a little while. And why that's ok. And maybe the way it should be.
Steve Gorman comes off as a likable guy with a good sense of humor and attitude about life. I'd like to have a couple of beers with him and hear some more stories. Glad I read this book.
February 1, 2024
Black Crowes hoje pode ser um nome esquecido pelos roqueiros que ainda vagam por aí, mas nos 90 foi um dos grandes nomes do rock americano. Uma banda que cumpriu a nobre missão de trazer de volta um estilo de rock mais "raiz", onde predominavam o Blues e outras vertentes da música negra daquele lado do continente. Isso numa cena onde reinavam Nirvana, Pearl Jam e toda a geração do Grunge - movimento que também fazia uma releitura, mas do Punk e do Hard-Rock. Um rock mais "branco", portanto.
Steve Gorman, baterista e fundador do Black Crowes junto com os irmãos Robinson, no final dos anos 80, resolveu fazer dessa "bandografia" um desabafo e também um ataque. Este último direcionado justamente aos dois irmãos com quem ele viveu intermináveis crises ao longo de mais de uma década de estrada: Chris e Rich Robinson. Vocais e Guitarra, respectivamente.
Embora o livro aborde as glórias da banda, sendo a turnê com Jimmy Page em 2000 um belo exemplo, o assunto central parece ser o clima pesado que reinava internamente, intensificado pelos excessos típicos para uma banda de rock bem sucedida na indústria musical estadounidense.
Gorman lutou para manter a banda unida, mas chegou ao seu limite após anos de intenso desgaste. Seu lamento, ao final do livro, também é o meu. O Black Crowes era uma banda excepcional que podia - e devia - ter durado bem mais.
Steve Gorman, baterista e fundador do Black Crowes junto com os irmãos Robinson, no final dos anos 80, resolveu fazer dessa "bandografia" um desabafo e também um ataque. Este último direcionado justamente aos dois irmãos com quem ele viveu intermináveis crises ao longo de mais de uma década de estrada: Chris e Rich Robinson. Vocais e Guitarra, respectivamente.
Embora o livro aborde as glórias da banda, sendo a turnê com Jimmy Page em 2000 um belo exemplo, o assunto central parece ser o clima pesado que reinava internamente, intensificado pelos excessos típicos para uma banda de rock bem sucedida na indústria musical estadounidense.
Gorman lutou para manter a banda unida, mas chegou ao seu limite após anos de intenso desgaste. Seu lamento, ao final do livro, também é o meu. O Black Crowes era uma banda excepcional que podia - e devia - ter durado bem mais.
September 9, 2023
An enjoyable read, in general, if you're a music fan, and a fascinating book, in specific, if you're a Black Crowes fan. longtime Black Crowes drummer Steve Gorman (with Steven Hyden) poured out his experience and grievances in "Hard to Handle: The Life and Death of the Black Crowes--A Memoir." It's an engaging take on life within a successful rock and roll band, a life littered with a myriad of internal and external conflicts, rants, raves and revolting displays of ego and shame.
"Hard to Handle: The Life and Death of the Black Crowes--A Memoir" is probably best considered in perspective. To Steve Gorman's credit, he does state (at book's end) that his memoir is his HIS story, HIS history with the Black Crowes, and that the founding brothers Chris and Rich Robinson may have a different story to tell. As respectful as that declaration is, Gorman's book can't escape the fact that he clearly has an axe to grind with the Robinsons...a gigantic axe at that.
Through the engaging stories that populate "Hard to Handle: The Life and Death of the Black Crowes--A Memoir," the portions of those tales the represent the fun, authentic and humane sides of Chris and Rich Robinson are there, but rare. Nearly from the start, the author took great pains to point out that Black Crowes singer Chris Robinson's unsettled and unpredictable psyche when it came to enjoying success, his ever-increasing selfishness, moodiness, his borderline personality and dogmatic, narcissist manner, and the conflict regarding Chris's hypocritical image of himself as a fun-loving, noble and dignified freewheeling stoner-hippie, when in actual reality the real Chris Robinson was a cold-hearted, greedy, insatiable capitalist.
According to the book, Guitarist Rich Robinson, on the other hand, is portrayed as straight-laced and drink and drug-free (to a fault), yet errors on the side of passive, passive-aggressive, and straight-up aggressive behavior when it comes to all things concerning his domineering older brother Chris. Worse, the author's portrait of Rich Robinson has the guitarist guilty of a selfishness and and an arrogance that crosses dangerously close to the behavior of a sociopath. During one tour, Chris Robinson desire to return home and beat traffic was so strong, that he had the bus driver take him home...alone, leaving the rest of the band behind inside a bar without any regard for them. Years later, Steve Gorman was horrified to find out that a lucrative world concert tour with Jimmy Page in 2000 had immediately fallen apart after Chris Robinson insulted the Led Zeppelin guitarist in a backstage encounter in Los Angeles.
The Robinson brothers were presented as fairly horrible bandmates individually, yet their worst offense was that Chris and Rich Robinson verbally and physically fought with each other through the majority of Steve Gorman's twenty six year association with the Black Crowes. Per the author, the brothers were too often at each other throats, yet when it came time to sharing the wealth, Chris and Rich Robinson would stand as a united front against anyone who dare ask a fair share of the financial pie...with Chris alone eventually demanding a majority share over EVERYBODY, or else he was out.
Yes, it is probable that everything that Steve Gorman is confessing in his book is true. Let's just say it IS true. Fine. However, Gorman forgot one very important thing...those songs did not write themselves, and (as the author admits), the prime mover of the Black Crowes was, and always will be Chris Robinson...and that Rich Robinson was also very instrumental (pun intended) in the creation of all those great songs. Those both men may have their insecurities, egos, delusions, and downright destructiveness to their character and behavior, but their weaknesses also served to be their strength. Not to defend selfishness and bad behavior, yet one could say that the great artists, or at least the most successful creative artists too often pay a heavy price for their art.
In other words, the same difficulties that seem to have inhabited and hindered both Chris and Rich Robinson (according to the book) comes from the same place where all of that fantastic drive and musical invention comes from. You like or love the Black Crowes? You dig songs like "Remedy," "Twice as Hard," "Sting Me," "Wiser Time," etc...Well, those songs were written and developed by fragile men, fraught with sensitivity and volatility. The Robinson brothers are not like other people, otherwise every person would be part of a famous rock and roll band. Right? Not defending their behavior, however how can Steve Gorman hold Chris and Rich Robinson to the same standards as everybody else? Make sense? My point being, you take a close look at most creative artists and more often than not, you will find selfish and deplorable behavior. The Robinsons are not the exception, they are part of the same ecosystem that was set up for and by rock stars years and years ago.
So, if you can understand and accept that, and then get past it in order to appreciate "Hard to Handle: The Life and Death of the Black Crowes--A Memoir" in its correct-incorrect context, the book is a fun read, with lots of stories of drink, drugs and hedonistic excess. The alcohol drug use and its subsequent ramifications and casualties were poignant, sad tales indeed. More enjoyable were the takes Steve Gorman recounted about the good times befriending Robert Plant ("Uncle Bob") and playing with Jimmy Page, plus the eye-opening experiences partying with Keith Richards and Ron Wood performing shows in Europe opening for the Rolling Stones.
"Hard to Handle: The Life and Death of the Black Crowes--A Memoir" is a must read for any all Black Crowes fans, and will also please many music fans who want to learn what it's really like to play with a successful rock band. Would have loved if Steve Gorman included more drummer/drum-equipment oriented stuff, and yes...the "Robinsons are bad" stories could have been counter-balanced more with stories of joy, and behind the scenes takes on specific songs. Did Steve Gorman have any favorite Black Crowes songs, or just songs he liked playing more than others, or songs he hated playing? Would have been nice to read about that.
"Hard to Handle: The Life and Death of the Black Crowes--A Memoir" is probably best considered in perspective. To Steve Gorman's credit, he does state (at book's end) that his memoir is his HIS story, HIS history with the Black Crowes, and that the founding brothers Chris and Rich Robinson may have a different story to tell. As respectful as that declaration is, Gorman's book can't escape the fact that he clearly has an axe to grind with the Robinsons...a gigantic axe at that.
Through the engaging stories that populate "Hard to Handle: The Life and Death of the Black Crowes--A Memoir," the portions of those tales the represent the fun, authentic and humane sides of Chris and Rich Robinson are there, but rare. Nearly from the start, the author took great pains to point out that Black Crowes singer Chris Robinson's unsettled and unpredictable psyche when it came to enjoying success, his ever-increasing selfishness, moodiness, his borderline personality and dogmatic, narcissist manner, and the conflict regarding Chris's hypocritical image of himself as a fun-loving, noble and dignified freewheeling stoner-hippie, when in actual reality the real Chris Robinson was a cold-hearted, greedy, insatiable capitalist.
According to the book, Guitarist Rich Robinson, on the other hand, is portrayed as straight-laced and drink and drug-free (to a fault), yet errors on the side of passive, passive-aggressive, and straight-up aggressive behavior when it comes to all things concerning his domineering older brother Chris. Worse, the author's portrait of Rich Robinson has the guitarist guilty of a selfishness and and an arrogance that crosses dangerously close to the behavior of a sociopath. During one tour, Chris Robinson desire to return home and beat traffic was so strong, that he had the bus driver take him home...alone, leaving the rest of the band behind inside a bar without any regard for them. Years later, Steve Gorman was horrified to find out that a lucrative world concert tour with Jimmy Page in 2000 had immediately fallen apart after Chris Robinson insulted the Led Zeppelin guitarist in a backstage encounter in Los Angeles.
The Robinson brothers were presented as fairly horrible bandmates individually, yet their worst offense was that Chris and Rich Robinson verbally and physically fought with each other through the majority of Steve Gorman's twenty six year association with the Black Crowes. Per the author, the brothers were too often at each other throats, yet when it came time to sharing the wealth, Chris and Rich Robinson would stand as a united front against anyone who dare ask a fair share of the financial pie...with Chris alone eventually demanding a majority share over EVERYBODY, or else he was out.
Yes, it is probable that everything that Steve Gorman is confessing in his book is true. Let's just say it IS true. Fine. However, Gorman forgot one very important thing...those songs did not write themselves, and (as the author admits), the prime mover of the Black Crowes was, and always will be Chris Robinson...and that Rich Robinson was also very instrumental (pun intended) in the creation of all those great songs. Those both men may have their insecurities, egos, delusions, and downright destructiveness to their character and behavior, but their weaknesses also served to be their strength. Not to defend selfishness and bad behavior, yet one could say that the great artists, or at least the most successful creative artists too often pay a heavy price for their art.
In other words, the same difficulties that seem to have inhabited and hindered both Chris and Rich Robinson (according to the book) comes from the same place where all of that fantastic drive and musical invention comes from. You like or love the Black Crowes? You dig songs like "Remedy," "Twice as Hard," "Sting Me," "Wiser Time," etc...Well, those songs were written and developed by fragile men, fraught with sensitivity and volatility. The Robinson brothers are not like other people, otherwise every person would be part of a famous rock and roll band. Right? Not defending their behavior, however how can Steve Gorman hold Chris and Rich Robinson to the same standards as everybody else? Make sense? My point being, you take a close look at most creative artists and more often than not, you will find selfish and deplorable behavior. The Robinsons are not the exception, they are part of the same ecosystem that was set up for and by rock stars years and years ago.
So, if you can understand and accept that, and then get past it in order to appreciate "Hard to Handle: The Life and Death of the Black Crowes--A Memoir" in its correct-incorrect context, the book is a fun read, with lots of stories of drink, drugs and hedonistic excess. The alcohol drug use and its subsequent ramifications and casualties were poignant, sad tales indeed. More enjoyable were the takes Steve Gorman recounted about the good times befriending Robert Plant ("Uncle Bob") and playing with Jimmy Page, plus the eye-opening experiences partying with Keith Richards and Ron Wood performing shows in Europe opening for the Rolling Stones.
"Hard to Handle: The Life and Death of the Black Crowes--A Memoir" is a must read for any all Black Crowes fans, and will also please many music fans who want to learn what it's really like to play with a successful rock band. Would have loved if Steve Gorman included more drummer/drum-equipment oriented stuff, and yes...the "Robinsons are bad" stories could have been counter-balanced more with stories of joy, and behind the scenes takes on specific songs. Did Steve Gorman have any favorite Black Crowes songs, or just songs he liked playing more than others, or songs he hated playing? Would have been nice to read about that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 17, 2019
I've read quite a few band biographies, and in every one, it seems to be a miracle that the bands ever survived & were successful, and this band is no exception. The Black Crowes had a revolving door of members with personality and substance abuse problems, and was controlled by two brothers with their own problems and personality disorders. Like most fans of the band, I was floored with Shake Your Money Maker when it came out, and then slowly lost interest over the next few albums as the band made strange choices and bad business decisions, which almost killed their career at each turn. It's amazing to read -- the Robinson brothers couldn't get out of their own way, and let their personal feelings and fights get in the way of virtually every decision. It's the story of talented musicians, great music, and good fortune ruined by petty disagreements and self-sabotage, every time they had some momentum going. The best example of which is how the tour with Jimmy Page fell apart, which just amounted to one brother not being able to keep his mouth shut and enjoy the golden opportunity. The Robinsons couldn't get along with each other, and couldn't enjoy their success, and it destroyed the band.
October 18, 2019
I’d say Gorman just introduced himself as the band’s whiniest member. His drumming was the backbone of the Crowes, his writing only shows how toxic he must have been. Basically this book is a long complaint, or a series of hundreds of them, about the Robinson brothers with a few good stories. Seriously, every page. Not the book that Crowes fans have been waiting for. Just a list of complaints he should have got out at therapy.
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