NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� The first time Chris and Rich Robinson were at the Grammy Awards, it was 1991. The had won the Super Bowl, and the U.S. was in the midst of the
The siblings behind the band The Black Crowes had just released their debut album 鈥淪hake Your Money Maker鈥� and were nominees for best new artist. They didn't have high hopes. Sure enough, would take the crown.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 remember ever like getting too worked up about it,鈥� singer-songwriter Chris Robinson recalls. 鈥淥f course, Mariah Carey is going to get that. Are they going to give it to these dirtbag kids from Atlanta who just came to the party really to get thrown out?鈥�
Fast forward more than three decades and the Black Crowes have been invited back to the party, earning nod this year for best rock album alongside the Rolling Stones.
鈥淟iterally just to be nominated is an amazing thing. And to be nominated next to the Rolling Stones makes it even better,鈥� says Rich Robinson, the songwriter and guitarist.
Beside the Stones
The Black Crowes' rollicking "Happiness Bastards" is up for best rock album against 鈥淩omance鈥� by Fontaines D.C., 鈥淭ANGK鈥� by IDLES, 鈥淒ark Matter鈥� from Pearl Jam, and 鈥淣o Name鈥� from Jack White.
鈥淭o be in a place where it鈥檚 all clicking and it all feels right, that鈥檚 the real special feeling,鈥� says Chris Robinson. 鈥淚 think it reinforces our commitment and where we鈥檙e going.鈥�
鈥淗appiness Bastards鈥� is a 10-track romping tour of rock, from the Southern boogie of 鈥淩ats and Clowns鈥� to the stuttering stomp of 鈥淐ross Your Fingers鈥� and the airy cool of 鈥淲ilted Rose.鈥� There's blues harmonica, some glam rock, '70s harmonies and fun AC/DC-like riffs.
鈥淚t鈥檚 funky and it鈥檚 rockin' and it鈥檚 kind of a little bit salty here and there. But ultimately, I think it鈥檚 very interesting,鈥� says Chris Robinson. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just integrated with everything that we鈥檝e done and where we鈥檙e going.鈥�
The band last released a studio album in 2009, and the volatile Robinson brothers needed a decade apart before they regrouped in 2019. In 2022, they released an EP with covers of David Bowie, the Rolling Stones, the Temptations, T. Rex, Little Feat and Rod Stewart. Now they're in the same Grammy category as the Stones.
Critics have welcomed the brothers back, with Paste magazine calling the new album 鈥渁 respectable collection of bluesy rockers that showcase the brothers鈥� strengths鈥� and Rolling Stone describing it as 鈥渇un, energetic and, unmistakably not-crusty.鈥�
Some cynics thought the reunion was simply a cash grab, an attempt to monetize fans of the band yearning for the '90s and a good-time rock concert. The strong album and Grammy love refutes that argument.
鈥淲ell, we did it and we鈥檝e been successful. And all these years later we wrote these new songs and, boom, here we are,鈥� says Chris Robinson. 鈥淭he validation of that is really unique to us.鈥�
Inside the writing process
The way the brothers come up with a song hadn't changed over the years. During the pandemic, Rich started sending a flood of ideas to his brother to see what clicked with him.
Chris wrote the lyrics for 鈥淩ats and Clowns鈥� in 20 minutes after Rich 鈥� inspired by AC/DC 鈥� sent him a killer riff. 鈥淩ich just handed me a hanging curveball. 鈥業 can hit this,鈥� you know what I mean?鈥� says Chris. 鈥淚 have to emphasize how much fun we鈥檙e having in this band.鈥�
One difference this time was the addition of an outside producer. The Robinson brothers had produced all The Black Crowes albums after their second and wanted a new element.
鈥淲e were like, 鈥楲et鈥檚 bring in someone that鈥檚 going to challenge us a little bit and maybe would have a point of view that we don鈥檛 have.鈥� Someone that can look at everything from 10,000 feet,鈥� says Rich Robinson.
That happened with producer Jay Joyce, who has worked with artists like Lainey Wilson and Eric Church. Joyce pushed them and was able to negotiate the sibling rivalry, what some call the .
鈥淥ur story connects with people because if you have siblings, you understand the dynamic of that 鈥� how amazing it is and how difficult it can be,鈥� says Chris Robinson.
His brother agrees: 鈥淲e鈥檝e had our ups and downs, we've had our trials and tribulations, and we kind of came out stronger in the end. Chris and I鈥檚 relationship is in the best place it鈥檚 been probably in our lives.鈥�
The brothers hint about that on the album's last song 鈥� 鈥淜indred Friends鈥� 鈥� which strikes a loving, wistful note. 鈥淜indred friend, where have you been?/Guess it's been a while/Through thick and thin/Many times again/Always makes me smile.鈥�
The Robinsons say the song is partly about them but could be a toast to an old lover and is also reaching out to their fans after all these years.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a sweetness to it,鈥� says Rich Robinson. 鈥淚 sent it to Chris and what he sang on it was really moving. It鈥檚 a great way to end that record, you know?鈥�
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The 2025 Grammy Awards will air Feb. 2 live on CBS and Paramount+ from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. For more Grammy coverage, visit .
Mark Kennedy, The Associated Press
