The Black Crowes Break Up: Guitarist Rich Robinson Announces Split of 'Hard to Handle' Jam Band

Drummer Steve Gorman is a prophet. Back in October, the percussionist said that he would be surprised if The Black Crowes ever made music or toured again. Guitarist Rich Robinson released a statement earlier today (Jan. 15) to let fans know that the band would be calling it quits after 26 years of jamming, bringing Gorman's hunch to fruition.

"It is with great disappointment and regret that after having the privilege of writing and performing the music of the Black Crowes over the last 24 years, I find myself in the position of saying that the band has broken up," he wrote, Rolling Stone notes.

I hold my time with the Black Crowes with the utmost respect and sincerest appreciation. It is a huge swath of my life's body of work. I couldn't be more proud of what we accomplished and deeply moved by the relationships people created and maintained with my music. That alone is the greatest honor of being a musician. I love my brother and respect his talent, but his present demand that I must give up my equal share of the band and that our drummer for 28 years and original partner, Steve Gorman, relinquish 100 percent of his share, reducing him to a salaried employee, is not something I could agree to.

Rich and his brother, frontman Chris Robinson, have been at odds for much of the band's career. Chris has yet to comment on the statement.

Gorman took to social media and his radio show to comment on the split.

"He was a great rock and roll singer at one time and he wants to do something different...obviously," Gorman said about Chris. He then compared the frontman to Axl Rose with "a private education and a boatload of artistic pretense."

The Black Crowes rose to fame in the 1990s after they released Shake Your Money Maker. The album contained hits like "Jealous Again," "She Talks to Angels" and the Otis Redding tune, "Hard to Handle."

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The Black Crowes, Rich Robinson, Chris Robinson