WHO? Who knew? Who knew that after nine months the Crowes would only have played two solo shows, and neither with a complete band? Who knew that Audley would get married? Who knew that Steve would have a daughter? Who knew that the Crowes would be scheduled to play Madios Square Garden before several sold out crowds and then have that opportunity disappear before their eyes? Who knew that Columbia would release a seemingly irrelevant greatest hits package? Who knew that Chris would start dating Kate Hudson and then cheat on her before a national television audience with the Masturbating Bear? No one knew, but for better or worse, it all happened in the ever unpredictable realm of Amorica during the year 2000 (or rather 10 SBC-Since Black Crowes). The band had wrapped up a critically acclaimed mini-tour with legendary Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page in October and then taken the remainder of year off to invest time in family after an exhaustive year and a half of touring. Word had it that a new album was in the works, with over 20 songs written. Minds in Amorica were abuzz with questions...Would the new album strike out in a direction different than By Your Side? Would Audley play on the new album? Who would produce it? How could the band release an album without a record contract? All these questions were briefly drowned away during the New Year's celebration, but once all the confetti was cleared and all the drunks bailed out, those questions returned. The official site boasted a World Tour 2000 page, so there was hope. January brought word that the Crowes and Page would release a live album...over the internet. Although it would not have any Crowes songs due to contractual problems with Columbia, this was wonderful news. The release strategy was hailed as innovative, widely reported in national news, and even led to a speaking engagement for Chris and Jimmy at the Silicon Alley convention. On February 29, Musicmaker.com made Live at the Greek available through download and mail with customizable track orders. Orders poured in so quickly that the site was forced to temporarily shut down. Then, to support the album and continue an enjoyable musical partnership, Page and the Crowes announced a summer tour in tandem with The Who, sharing road equipment but playing on separate nights. This disappointed some fans who were frustrated that times between albums was increasing and that their band would be a "cover band" all year. The tour was organized into three legs, so the wait for summer began. During March, rumors circulated that the Crowes would perform two solo dates in April, the first in Charleston for 96 Wave's B-Day Bash and the second in Atlanta for the Music Midtown Festival, which the Crowes had played several times in past years. The Music Midtown date never materialized, so all fans that could swarmed to Joe Riley Stadium in Charleston to see a short festival set that would be the last true Crowes show for the known future. Those in Charleston on April 1 witnessed a smoking forty-five minute set that included a new song, "Come On." Sadly, Eddie was sick and did not play the gig. This show was also Sven Pipien's final outing with The Black Crowes before being dropped in May. Pipien's departure was blamed on an alleged habit of being tardy to shows in addition to ego problems in the group's dynamics. Spring brought much good news to The Black Crowes, family, and fans. Romance blossomed between Chris and Kate Hudson, his first publicly acknowledged girlfriend since his divorce from Lala. At the time, few Amoricans knew anything about Kate Hudson, but that would change by Autumn. In April, "What Is and What Should Never Be" from Live at the Greek reached #13 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Chart, the highest ever placing of an internet-only song; however, the internet-only tag would soon not apply. While radio exposure did help the live album, Musicmaker needed increased sales to meet the $1 million advance required by Jimmy Page and The Black Crowes. Thus, the album was licensed for retail to TVT Records, which marked a release date in July during the tour's first leg. Included on the retail release would be bonus tracks and video footage. After exploring various record labels and internet possibilities, the Crowes finally settled on V2 Records and signed a deal in June. A sigh of relief was heard from fans everywhere. Chris explained that every record label that talked to the band was telling them how to be huge again. Every label wanted Shake Your Money Maker. Chris indicated that V2 was willing to let the Crowes be the Crowes. Rich elaborated, saying that it also didn't hurt to have access to (Virgin owner) Richard Branson's private island. Shortly following the new record contract, the bassist slot was filled when Rich asked Greg Rzab to join. Rzab had played with Buddy Guy for years and had recently joined John Mayall's Bluesbreakers before entering the Crowes. He had in fact been recommended to the band by The Rolling Stones, for whom Rzab had auditioned in 1994. The word from the Stones was, "Greg Rzab is your man." Having a traditional blues bassist was a welcome change in the eyes of many fans, but some fans still viewed Rzab as a temporary bassist for the tour with Page. Proving that they hadn't entirely forsaken fans with the mysterious disbanding of Taller, the Crowes offered a VIP presale through blackcrowes.com. Although somewhat unorganized and overpriced, the presale was nevertheless a success. On June 24, Jimmy Page and The Black Crowes unveiled their summer tour at Tinley Park in Chicago. Responses from those who paid for tickets were nearly unanimously favorable. Certain members of the press had less flattering things to say, but they were promptly ignored. Every account from fans and online news sources declared that this was a great tour making rock n roll history, and that Page was playing better than he had since Zeppelin dissolved. The tour's first leg continued through July 10 with maximum volume and minimal set list changes, and was highlighted by a performance of "Your Time is Gonna Come" on Late Night with Conan O' Brien that featured a great Eddie intro and culminated with a hysterical interview and Chris's tryst with Late Night legend The Masturbating Bear. During the summer, dates at Madison Square Garden were scheduled. These shows would feature The Who and Page/Crowes on the same nights. The shows quickly sold out, and more dates were added. History was set to be made. The time between tour legs saw Steve and his wife have a baby girl, their first child. Weeks passed before the second leg, and then that leg ended after only one concert and an appearance on The Tonight Show when Jimmy Page injured his back. Accounts from the taping say that Leno originally introduced the band by saying where they'd be playing the next night, but after the show was over, the host recorded another introduction without tour information. The second introduction was aired, fueling speculation as to when Page's injury occurred and when the decision to cancel shows was made. Some dates were rescheduled, but then more fans were frustrated when all remaining dates, except December dates in Japan, were firmly cancelled because of Page's continues back problems. Page expressed his apologies to fans and the Crowes, and the band wished him a speedy recovery and decided to make haste into the studio. Thus, out of a tragedy came an opportunity. Still marked for a Spring 2001 release date, the Crowes' first album with V2 Records was about to get underway. They have headed into the studio with 22 new songs described as "dark and heavy, like Amorica" (Rich said that), but apparently without a bassist. Meanwhile, Audely married Jayhawks keyboardist Jen Gunderman and Kate Hudson became a movie star and media fixation with the release of Cameron Crowe's semi-autobiographical valentine to growing up and rock n roll, Almost Famous. Chris Robinson again found himself all over the media thanks to his romance/pseudo-marriage to Hudson. Darkness again fell over Amorica with the death of Allen Woody, bassist for Gov't Mule and formerly for The Allman Brothers Band. Woody, a long time friend of the band and of music fans everywhere, died mysteriously in a Marriott hotel, leaving behind a wife and little girl, Savannah. The One for Woody benefit will raise money for his family and will feature a performance of some sort from The Black Crowes, who are currently without a bassist. Although Greg Rzab's dismissal or release has not been noted on the official web site, the general consensus points toward his being out of the band. Rumors have surfaced that the Crowes are working with famous producer Don Was, who also worked on The Rolling Stones Brideges to Babylon and No Security. The rumor has it that he listened to the demos Chris and Rich had prepared and sent them home to further develop the songs. This has not been substantiated. It is unclear what the remaining months of 2000 hold. The Crowes have not been definitely reported to be in the studio just yet. The bassist situation is unclear. There is, in fact, as much doubt about the future of the band as there was in late 1997 after the departure of Marc Ford and Johnny Colt. Perhaps the best thing for the band to do would be to record the new album and then embark on a secret tour akin to the shows in the fall and winter of 1994. After all, it appears that they will have to break in yet another bassist (even though Rzab really never played many Crowes songs live). Who knows what 2001 will bring? Who knows what the new album will sound like? Who knows if it will be as affecting as Southern Harmony or Amorica? As usual, the fans wait anxiously, nervously, and hopefully to see. |