Chris Robinson

Chris Robinson Interview

The Black Crowes have graduated from the grueling club circuit of small bars to headlining the H.O.R.D.E. Festival.

Fresh from a European tour of soccer stadiums as support act for the Rolling Stones,America’s retro-hippies are enjoying a resurgence of popularity. Lead vocalist Chris Robinson is the outspoken frontman of the group.

(Q)- Why has hard rock fell from grace with so many of the younger people here in the states?

Chris Robinson (CR)- The problem is that anything that can be exploited will be. Rock music is no exception. Exploitation is prevalent in this business. I can’t talk about the record companies because I don’t work directly for a record company. There are a lot of acts that are signed to recording contracts for apparently no purpose other than to make money. The bands have one reason for being in the music business and that’s to make money. When I see bands that are in the music business to make money I’m turned off by them. The older fans feel the same way. They want to see a band that loves making music more than making money. Bands that put money first and music second are really boring and the older fans can pick up on that.

(Q)- In your opinion,why is this so prevalent within the music business?

(CR)- The problem is that there’s a lot of space in the music business for bands that are more concerned about making money than making good rock music. As long as there’s space for these bands to fill in,they’ll exist and remain popular with the younger fans. Maybe one day the record label executives will realize that music is more important than making money.

(Q)-The Black Crowes are one band that proves music is more important than making money than making big money with a corporate rock band.

I’d like to have my work in the Black Crowes educate the music business industry as to what’s really important for success in the ’90’s. The older fans want to see a band that plays original music and tours in their own way. I never want to try and sell the older fans short with my music.

(Q)- Why do you think radio airplay has become more difficult than ever for a rock band to achieve on FM radio?
(CR)- The FM people aren’t giving the listening public the credit they deserve.Why the radio programmers don’t give more new bands a chance is beyond me.

(Q)- You’ve been through quite a bit over the past five years with the group. How’s your relationship with the other members currently?
(CR)- I trust everyone with my songs. This band is about trusting and respecting each other. I don’t tell the others how to play their instruments and they don’t tell me how to sing.

(Q)-Don’t most rock bands sound the same these days?

(CR)-Yes. The last thing I want to do is have my music sound the same as all the other bands on the scene. I don’t think that anyone in this band is foolish enough to think that we can change the way other bands create their music. We don’t think we can show people what reality is all about. They have to find out for themselves.