America OnLine Chris & Rich Robinson interview

  Chris Robinson on-line interview
  on America OnLine
  January 30th, 1995

  Submitted by Kelli Murphy


OnlineHost : Proving that good honest Rock 'n Roll is still live and
kicking. The Black Crowes latest release 'Amorica' is bold, dangerous,
free-wheeling, liberating and as always pays great respect to the legacy of
traditional American music forms. Recorded over a six month period it
contains the first batch of over two dozen songs that were recorded, the
rest being considered for release in coming months.

OnlineHost : Vocal about keeping Rock'n Roll free of corporate sponsorship
(it once got them thrown off a big tour when they were the opening act)
they fight for the spirit of Rock 'n Roll. When the industry advised them
to play arenas as a headlining act they said "No thanks" and played
theaters instead, not surprisingly, as Rich says "it was purely a musical decision.

OnlineHost : Tonight you are here with The Black Crowes people  who really
care about Rock 'n Roll, people who  view it as a true rebel art form, a
gift to be  shared and not undermined by men in suits and ties..
Ladies and Gentlemen The Black Crowes....

OnlineHost : Ok folks we have Rich from the Crowes right here so fire up
your questions

Question   : What kind of music do you guys play?

BlackCrowe : I would describe it as "world music" It encompasses so many
styles of music that have been prevelant in the world today.

Question   : What inspired the cover art for Amorica?

BlackCrowe : We just thought that it was a really cool ambigous statement
that anyone could take any way, and not an offensive one, because that's
not what it was meant to be.

Question   : where is chris?

OnlineHost : here in about 15, we have Rich at the moment

Question   : Is this your first time in cyber-land?

BlackCrowe : Chris was on-line once before.  I answered one question then
as well.

Question    : What is the best part of touring, and the worst?

BlackCrowe : Playing is my favorite part, especially the way we tour
because we play different sets all the time. The bad, there's a lot of
disarray going on,...a lot of confusion, but that can also be good as well.

Question   : I saw you guys play at Atlanta Lollapalooza this summer- why
did you decide to do that one single show?

BlackCrowe : Because we were all there rehearsing, and we just wanted to
play a show. We always were under the assumption that Lollapalooza was an
open minded event, so we wanted to play it.

Question   : Hey Rich - Saw you guys at CGBG in NYC - Great Show! How did
it feel to do such a small venue?

BlackCrowe : It's just different.  Every venue is different.  It's not the
venue though, it's the vibe that the band sets up.  We still have fun no
matter where we play.

Question   : Rich-Personally, what is your favorite song you have made?

BlackCrowe : My favorite song changes from night to night.  I like playing
different songs on different nights.

Question   : Im 33 and a few years ago I was concerned about the state of
RandR, then you convinced me otherwise. How much freedom and creative
control do you have in the studio?

BlackCrowe : 100%  No doubt, which is thanks to Rick Rubin.  He seems to
stay out of it, and let us do what we want to do.

Question   : How does marijuana influence your song writing?

BlackCrowe : It's never really the drug that influences it.  If it did,
then everyone who wrote songs on drugs would be amazing.  It just changes
the perspective a little.

Question   : hows your life right now?

BlackCrowe : Strange.

Question   : how often do you guys get back to atlanta?

BlackCrowe : When we're on tour, maybe two or three times a year.

Question   : Why do you wait so long between albums

BlackCrowe : Because we're touring.  Tours just take so long now. We can go
to countries that we could never go to before, so we go there.  That takes
a long time. Once we go off tour we usually make another record right away.

Question   : I really liked Shake your money maker.. do you feel your music
draws more women or men..( i be woman)

BlackCrowe : I don't know.

Question   : How do you feel about the ban on the cover?

BlackCrowe : It bums me out, because I don't think that that should be
offensive to people.  It's not a sexist statement.  As far as record stores
banning it, I think that's horses#$it.  There are so many other more
offensive things that you could put on an album cover.

Question   : Rich --- what was growin up with Chris like?

BlackCrowe : It was like a roller coaster ride.  I could never really jump
off, it just kept going and going and going.

OnlineHost : ok we have Rich on his way to the studio

OnlineHost : Chris is just getting comfortable and will be taking your
questions in a second. well its a long time coming but Chris is with us any
moment now its 4.00 am in London!!

Question   : Ever going to do any work in film?  Seems like your kind of
backdriven style would push a movie right along.

BlackCrowe : No not really.  Nothing has come up that would interest us.
We wouldn't add songs to soundtracks either.  It's not our style.

Question   : Of all the bands you have played with.. who do you feel you
connected with the most?

BlackCrowe : The Jayhawks, and Jellyfish are biggest ones.

Question   : do you own a computer

BlackCrowe : No I don't, I don't even have a watch.

Question   : If Otis Redding were still alive, what do you think he would
he say about your cover?

BlackCrowe : We have no idea what he would think.  We would hope he would
dig it.

Question   : so how do u like being swarmed with a million questions???????

BlackCrowe : Like perpetually being in Chemistry class.

Question   : Why did you start to use more percussion( ie: Congo & Bongo)
on the new album.

BlackCrowe : We started on Southern Harmony and... It just progressed into
our sound now.

Question   : What is the spoken phrase at the end of "High head Blues"?

BlackCrowe : You have to learn Spanish and figure it out.  We're not gonna
make it that easy....

Question   : When you guys first got together, how many times a week did
you rehearse?

BlackCrowe : Not too often, rarely.

Question   : How are audiences in London reacting to your american roots rock?

BlackCrowe : They're all driving on the wrong side of the road. They're
reacting so strongly that they're driving differently

Question   : How much credit do you give to your producer for the success
of your first two albums?

BlackCrowe : He only produced album, the first one.  I give our new
producer credit for making our favorite record this record.

Question   : will you guys tour the states this summer and is Boston on the
list

BlackCrowe : Yes we will.

OnlineHost : Ok folks I would like to thank Chris and Rich for joining us

BlackCrowe : Thanks for having us!!


OnlineHost : Good Night