List of the Black Crowes members explained

The Black Crowes is an American Southern rock band from Atlanta, Georgia. Originally formed by brothers Chris (lead vocals) and Rich Robinson (guitar) in 1984 as Mr Crowe's Garden, the group went through a series of early personnel changes before settling on a lineup including guitarist Jeff Cease, bassist Johnny Colt and drummer Steve Gorman in 1989. The current lineup of the band, which reformed in November 2019 after a very public breakup in 2015, includes the Robinson brothers, longtime bassist Sven Pipien,^[1] and currently features new members Nico Bereciartua (guitar), Cully Symington (drums) and Erik Deutsch (keyboards).

History

1984–2002

Brothers Chris and Rich Robinson formed Mr. Crowe's Garden in 1984, working with a succession of six bassists and three drummers during the band's formative years.^[2] Early members included Keith Joyner (bass),^[3] Jeff Sullivan (drums),^[4] and Ted Selke (bass).^[5] By 1989, the group had been renamed the Black Crowes and featured guitarist Jeff Cease, bassist Johnny Colt and drummer Steve Gorman.^{[6] [7]} After the release of the group's debut album Shake Your Money Maker, Cease was replaced by former Burning Tree guitarist Marc Ford in November 1991.^[8] Eddie Harsch was added as the band's first keyboardist the following year.^[9] After three more studio albums, Ford was dismissed in August 1997 due to a heroin addiction, before Colt left shortly thereafter in October.^[10]

Colt was replaced by Sven Pipien for By Your Side, on which all guitars were performed by Rich Robinson.^[11] Audley Freed joined as a touring guitarist for shows starting in June 1998.^[12] In May 2000, Pipien was replaced by Greg Rzab, debuting on a tour with former Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page following the release of Live at the Greek.^[13] Rzab had left by the end of the year, and Rich Robinson played bass on the 2001 release Lions.^[14] Andy Hess took over Rzab's vacated position once the album was recorded, debuting in February 2001.^[15] After a final tour which spawned a live release simply titled Live,^[16] Gorman left the Black Crowes in December 2001 and the remaining members announced the band's "indefinite hiatus" the following month.^[17]

2005 onward

After a three-year hiatus, the Black Crowes reformed in March 2005 with a lineup of Chris and Rich Robinson, former members Marc Ford and Sven Pipien, and new drummer Bill Dobrow.^[18] Within two months, Gorman had returned as the band's drummer.^[19] After a tour which spawned the live release Freak 'n' Roll... Into the Fog, Harsch left in August 2006 due to "health reasons" and was replaced by Rob Clores.^[20] Just over a week later, Ford also left the band citing "health reasons", with Paul Stacey taking his place for upcoming tour dates.^[21] Clores was dismissed and replaced by Adam MacDougall in July 2007,^[22] and in November Luther Dickinson joined as second guitarist, after having performed on Warpaint.^[23] After a final tour, the band went on "indefinite hiatus" again in July 2011.^[24]

The Black Crowes announced its return again on Christmas Day 2012 with Jackie Greene taking Dickinson's place in the band for tour dates starting the following March.^[25] The tour was followed by a period of extended inactivity before Rich Robinson formally announced in January 2015 that the Black Crowes had broken up due to a disagreement between him and brother Chris regarding ownership of the band.^[26]

However, in November 2019 after several weeks of rumors, it was announced that the Black Crowes had reunited for a planned 2020 tour in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of Shake Your Money Maker, with a new lineup including the Robinson brothers, guitarist Isaiah Mitchell, bassist Tim Lefebvre, drummer Raj Ojha and keyboardist Joel Robinow.^[27] This lineup would completely change before the tour was completed, except Chris and Rich Robinson who remain the only original members.

As of November 2024, The Black Crowes lineup is:

• Chris Robinson – lead vocals, harmonica, guitar
• Rich Robinson – guitar, backing vocals
• Nico Bereciartua – guitar, backing vocals
• Sven Pipien – bass, backing vocals
• Cully Symington – drums, percussion
• Erik Deutsch – keyboards, backing vocals

Members

Current

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
	Chris Robinson			all Black Crowes releases
	Rich Robinson
	Sven Pipien
	Erik Deutsch	2022–present		Happiness Bastards (2024)
	Nico Bereciartua	2023–present	guitar
	Cully Symington			none

Former

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
	Steve Gorman			all Black Crowes releases to date except 1972 (2022) and Happiness Bastards (2024)
	Johnny Colt	1989–1997	bass
	Jeff Cease	1989–1991	guitar	Shake Your Money Maker (1990)
	Marc Ford
	Eddie Harsch			all Black Crowes releases from The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion (1992) to The Lost Crowes (2006)
	Audley Freed	1998–2002	guitar
	Greg Rzab	2000	bass	Live at Jones Beach (EP/2000) w/Jimmy Page
	Andy Hess	2001–2002		Live (2002)
	Bill Dobrow	2005	drums	none
	Rob Clores	2006–2007	keyboards
	Paul Stacey		guitar
	Adam MacDougall			all Black Crowes releases from Warpaint (2008) to Wiser for the Time (2013)
	Luther Dickinson	2007–2011
	Jackie Greene	2012–2015		none
	Isaiah Mitchell	2019–2023
	Joel Robinow	2019–2022
	Raj Kumar Ojha	2019–2020	drums	none
	Tim Lefebvre		bass
	Brian Griffin	2021–2023	drums

Lineups

Period	Members	Releases
Late 1989 – November 1991	Chris Robinson – lead vocals, harmonica, guitar Rich Robinson – guitar, backing vocals Jeff Cease – guitar Johnny Colt – bass Steve Gorman – drums, percussion	Shake Your Money Maker (1990)
November 1991 – August 1997	Chris Robinson – lead vocals, harmonica, guitar Rich Robinson – guitar, backing vocals Marc Ford – guitar, backing vocals Johnny Colt – bass Steve Gorman – drums, percussion Eddie Harsch – keyboards, piano	The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion (1992) Amorica (1994) Three Snakes and One Charm (1996) Sho' Nuff Live (1998) The Lost Crowes (2006)
August – October 1997	Chris Robinson – lead vocals, harmonica, guitar Rich Robinson – guitar, backing vocals Johnny Colt – bass Steve Gorman – drums, percussion Eddie Harsch – keyboards, piano	none
December 1997 – June 1998	Chris Robinson – lead vocals, harmonica, guitar Rich Robinson – guitar, backing vocals Sven Pipien – bass, backing vocals Steve Gorman – drums, percussion Eddie Harsch – keyboards, piano	By Your Side (1999)
June 1998 – May 2000	Chris Robinson – lead vocals, harmonica, guitar Rich Robinson – guitar, backing vocals Audley Freed – guitar Sven Pipien – bass, backing vocals Steve Gorman – drums, percussion Eddie Harsch – keyboards, piano	Live at the Greek (2000)
May – December 2000	Chris Robinson – lead vocals, harmonica, guitar Rich Robinson – guitar, backing vocals Audley Freed – guitar Greg Rzab – bass Steve Gorman – drums, percussion Eddie Harsch – keyboards, piano	none
January – February 2001	Chris Robinson – lead vocals, harmonica, guitar Rich Robinson – guitar, bass, backing vocals Audley Freed – guitar Steve Gorman – drums, percussion Eddie Harsch – keyboards, piano	Lions (2001)
February – December 2001	Chris Robinson – lead vocals, harmonica, guitar Rich Robinson – guitar, backing vocals Audley Freed – guitar Andy Hess – bass Steve Gorman – drums, percussion Eddie Harsch – keyboards, piano	Live (2002)
December 2001 – January 2002	Chris Robinson – lead vocals, harmonica, guitar Rich Robinson – guitar, backing vocals Audley Freed – guitar Andy Hess – bass Eddie Harsch – keyboards, piano	none
Band inactive January 2002 – March 2005
March – May 2005	Chris Robinson – lead vocals, harmonica, guitar Rich Robinson – guitar, backing vocals Marc Ford – guitar, backing vocals Sven Pipien – bass, backing vocals Bill Dobrow – drums Eddie Harsch – keyboards, piano	none
May 2005 – August 2006	Chris Robinson – lead vocals, harmonica, guitar Rich Robinson – guitar, backing vocals Marc Ford – guitar, backing vocals Sven Pipien – bass, backing vocals Steve Gorman – drums, percussion Eddie Harsch – keyboards, piano	Freak 'n' Roll... Into the Fog: The Black Crowes All Join Hands, The Fillmore, San Francisco (2006)
August – September 2006	Chris Robinson – lead vocals, harmonica, guitar Rich Robinson – guitar, backing vocals Marc Ford – guitar, backing vocals Sven Pipien – bass, backing vocals Steve Gorman – drums, percussion Rob Clores – keyboards	none
September 2006 – July 2007	Chris Robinson – lead vocals, harmonica, guitar Rich Robinson – guitar, backing vocals Paul Stacey – guitar Sven Pipien – bass, backing vocals Steve Gorman – drums, percussion Rob Clores – keyboards
July – November 2007	Chris Robinson – lead vocals, harmonica, guitar Rich Robinson – guitar, backing vocals Paul Stacey – guitar Sven Pipien – bass, backing vocals Steve Gorman – drums, percussion Adam MacDougall – keyboards, backing vocals
November 2007 – July 2011	Chris Robinson – lead vocals, harmonica, guitar Rich Robinson – guitar, backing vocals Luther Dickinson – guitar, harmonica Sven Pipien – bass, backing vocals Steve Gorman – drums, percussion Adam MacDougall – keyboards, backing vocals	Warpaint (2008) Warpaint Live (2009) Before the Frost... Until the Freeze (2009) Croweology (2010) Wiser for the Time (2013)
Band inactive July 2011 – December 2012
December 2012 – January 2015	Chris Robinson – lead vocals, harmonica, guitar Rich Robinson – guitar, backing vocals Jackie Greene – guitar, backing vocals Sven Pipien – bass, backing vocals Steve Gorman – drums, percussion Adam MacDougall – keyboards, backing vocals	none
Band inactive January 2015 – November 2019
November 2019 – 2021	Chris Robinson – lead vocals, harmonica, guitar Rich Robinson – guitar, backing vocals Isaiah Mitchell – guitar, backing vocals Tim Lefebvre – bass Raj Kumar Ojha – drums Joel Robinow – keyboards, backing vocals	none
2021–2022	Chris Robinson – lead vocals, harmonica, guitar Rich Robinson – guitar, backing vocals Isaiah Mitchell – guitar, backing vocals Sven Pipien – bass, backing vocals Brian Griffin – drums, percussion Joel Robinow – keyboards, backing vocals	1972 (2022) Shake Your Moneymaker Live (2023)
2022–2023	Chris Robinson – lead vocals, harmonica, guitar Rich Robinson – guitar, backing vocals Isaiah Mitchell – guitar, backing vocals Sven Pipien – bass, backing vocals Brian Griffin – drums, percussion Erik Deutsch – keyboards, backing vocals	none
2023	Chris Robinson – lead vocals, harmonica, guitar Rich Robinson – guitar, backing vocals Nico Bereciartua – guitar, backing vocals Sven Pipien – bass, backing vocals Brian Griffin – drums, percussion Erik Deutsch – keyboards, backing vocals	Happiness Bastards (2024)
2023-Present	Chris Robinson – lead vocals, harmonica, guitar Rich Robinson – guitar, backing vocals Nico Bereciartua – guitar, backing vocals Sven Pipien – bass, backing vocals Cully Symington – drums, percussion Erik Deutsch – keyboards, backing vocals	none

External links

• The Black Crowes official website

Notes and References

1. Web site: Black Crowes Set Rescheduled 2021 'Shake Your Money Maker' Tour Dates – Rolling Stone . 2021-05-17 . 2021-05-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210517140814/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/black-crowes-rescheduled-2021-shake-your-money-maker-tour-dates-1170181/ . live .
2. Book: Larkin, Colin . The Encyclopedia of Popular Music . May 27, 2011 . London, England . . 978-0857125958 . 2629 . November 12, 2019 .
3. Web site: The Time Is Now, The Time Is Yesterday: Seven Simons . Lurie . Robert Dean . . October 28, 2016 . November 12, 2019 . December 6, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191206124426/https://blurtonline.com/feature/time-now-time-yesterday-seven-simons/ . live .
4. Web site: Scarred But Smarter (Life N Times of Drivin N Cryin) . Cobb . Mike . . December 7, 2016 . November 12, 2019 . November 2, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191102015908/http://www.elmoremagazine.com/2016/12/reviews/films/scarred-but-smarter-life-n-times-of-drivin-n-cryin . live .
5. Web site: Studying Ormythology on the Seventh Ring of Saturn . Thompson . Dave . . June 18, 2014 . November 12, 2019 . February 1, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170201101617/http://www.goldminemag.com/news/artist-news/studying-ormithology-seventh-ring-saturn . live .
6. News: Drummer's Memoir Says Black Crowes Were 'Too Hard To Handle' . Friedrich . Adam . . October 19, 2019 . November 12, 2019 . December 9, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191209042215/https://www.wpr.org/drummers-memoir-says-black-crowes-were-too-hard-handle . live .
7. Web site: The Black Crowes – Miserable . . September 15, 2009 . November 12, 2019 .
8. News: O.C. Guitarist to Join Rock's Black Crowes . Boehm . Mike . . November 16, 1991 . November 12, 2019 .
9. Web site: The Black Crowes: Biography & History . Erlewine . Stephen Thomas . Stephen Thomas Erlewine . . November 12, 2019 . April 28, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190428045211/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-black-crowes-mn0000048566/biography . live .
10. News: The Black Crowes' Chris Robinson Discusses Band's 'New Era' . Johnson . Tina . Allstar . May 29, 1998 . https://web.archive.org/web/19980705003148/http://www4.rocktropolis.com/allstar/database/news/9805/29/story3.asp . July 5, 1998 . November 12, 2019 .
11. News: Black Crowes Begin Work On New Album, Name Bassist . https://web.archive.org/web/20220125211830/https://www.mtv.com/news/1425917/black-crowes-begin-work-on-new-album-name-bassist/ . dead . January 25, 2022 . . March 16, 1998 . November 12, 2019 .
12. News: Black Crowes Delay New Album, Box Set Due In August . . July 22, 1998 . November 12, 2019 .
13. News: Black Crowes Get New Bassist For Page Tour . https://web.archive.org/web/20211129120421/https://www.mtv.com/news/1425895/black-crowes-get-new-bassist-for-page-tour/ . dead . November 29, 2021 . Basham . David . . May 10, 2000 . November 12, 2019 .
14. News: Black Crowes Find Themselves On 'Lions' . . April 13, 2001 . November 12, 2019 . September 30, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170930102846/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/78742/black-crowes-find-themselves-on-lions . live .
15. News: Black Crowes Nest In N.Y. Club For Lions Party . https://web.archive.org/web/20211201073404/https://www.mtv.com/news/1439055/black-crowes-nest-in-ny-club-for-lions-party/ . dead . December 1, 2021 . Basham . David . . February 5, 2001 . November 12, 2019 .
16. Web site: Live – The Black Crowes: Songs, Reviews, Credits . Erlewine . Stephen Thomas . Stephen Thomas Erlewine . . November 12, 2019 . May 14, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200514225238/https://www.allmusic.com/album/live-mw0000227153 . live .
17. News: The Black Crowes Announce Indefinite Hiatus . . January 9, 2002 . November 12, 2019 .
18. News: Black Crowes Reunion Now A Full-Blown Tour . https://web.archive.org/web/20211025164336/https://www.mtv.com/news/1497752/black-crowes-reunion-now-a-full-blown-tour/ . dead . October 25, 2021 . Kaufman . Gil . . March 4, 2005 . November 12, 2019 .
19. News: Drummer Steve Gorman Rejoins Black Crowes . . May 6, 2005 . November 12, 2019 . November 30, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201130054221/https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/drummer-steve-gorman-rejoins-black-crowes/ . live .
20. News: The Black Crowes Keyboardist Quits For 'Health Reasons' . . August 28, 2006 . November 12, 2019 . August 15, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200815173911/https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/the-black-crowes-keyboardist-quits-for-health-reasons/ . live .
21. News: Guitarist Quit Black Crowes For Health Reasons . . September 8, 2006 . November 12, 2019 .
22. Web site: Adam MacDougall Interview: The Black Crowes Electric Spanking of Warpaint Babies . Calemine . James . Swampland . November 12, 2019 . August 31, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180831141812/http://swampland.com/articles/view/title:adam_macdougall_interview_the_black_crowes_electric_spanking_of_warpaint_babies . live .
23. News: Luther Dickinson Joins The Black Crowes . Bernstein . Scott . Glide . November 28, 2007 . November 12, 2019 . January 18, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210118234809/https://glidemagazine.com/140079/luther-dickinson-joins-the-black-crowes/ . live .
24. News: The Black Crowes Announces Final European Leg Of 20th Anniversary Tour . . January 19, 2011 . November 12, 2019 . October 28, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211028223146/https://www.elektramusicgroup.com/roadrunnerrecordsblabbermouth.net/reviewpics/blackcrowesband.jpg . live .
25. News: The Black Crowes End Hiatus . . December 25, 2012 . November 12, 2019 . November 24, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201124042841/https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/the-black-crowes-end-hiatus/ . live .
26. News: The Black Crowes Are No More, Says Guitarist Rich Robinson . . January 15, 2015 . November 12, 2019 . August 12, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190812152244/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/the-black-crowes-are-no-more-says-guitarist-rich-robinson/ . live .
27. News: Black Crowes Reunite, Plot 2020 'Shake Your Money Maker' Tour . Blistein . Jon . . November 11, 2019 . November 12, 2019 . November 12, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191112011910/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/black-crowes-2020-reunion-tour-dates-910124/ . live .