Chris Robinson Airs Grievances Against His Brother Rich, the Hall of Fame and John Mayer
The holidays won't be getting less awkward for the Robinson family anytime soon.
Black Crowes co-founders Chris and Rich Robinson have long been two of rock 'n' roll's most famously feuding brothers — and now that Chris is out promoting Barefoot in the Head, the latest release from his band the Brotherhood, questions pertaining to the defunct Crowes, and the siblings' sorely tested bond, are bound to come up. The topic surfaced during Chris' recent visit to The Howard Stern Show, and he didn't mince words while making clear he has no interest in rekindling a relationship with Rich — or any of the rest of his former bandmates.
"Let’s get this straight: I don’t like my brother, I don’t get along with him, I don’t want to be in a room with him and I don’t want to play music with those people in that band," said Robinson in the segment, which you can sample below. That antipathy extends even to the hypothetical possibility of the Crowes being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, an event Robinson vowed he would refuse to attend — partly because he views a visit to the Hall as "like going to the mall."
Robinson also doesn't much care for Dead & Company, the touring act that sees guitarist John Mayer sitting in with surviving members of the Grateful Dead. Calling the Dead's legacy a "giant nipple that everyone sucks off of to get money," Robinson aimed his ire at Mayer, unfavorably comparing his ability and artistic depth to Dead founder Jerry Garcia's.
"Everything that Jerry Garcia ever talked about or stood for – John Mayer is the antithesis," argued Robinson. "There’s nothing unique about his playing. Jerry was one of the most unique musicians in the world. Jerry never played anyone else’s licks and now here’s John Mayer playing everyone else’s licks."
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