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The Black Crowes clashed with part of their audience: fans started booing, after frontman Chris Robinson slammed their “USA” chants at a May 31 concert in Tampa, Florida.
The incident reportedly occurred towards the end of the set after the band showed their mascot on screen – dressed as Uncle Sam. Since this is Florida, some of the audience apparently took this as a signal to break out into a patriotic chant.
To save the fans’ honor, it should be said: The Black Crowes were never a particularly political band – so this cannot be compared to a “USA” chant at a Rage Against the Machine concert. Nevertheless, Robinson felt compelled to make his opinion known. According to TMZ, he first countered the chants with: “Thanks for the geography lesson” – and followed up with: “I don’t know what you can be so proud of right now.”
Boos and cheers
None of these slogans can be heard in the videos circulating online, but several clips filmed by fans capture the mix of boos and cheers that ensued. They also show the end of the exchange, during which Robinson explained: “For everyone who’s booing us right now, some of us don’t have any Fear. And we’re definitely not fucking ignorant!”
As some of the audience left the hall, the Crowes finished their set and launched into their 1991 hit, “She Talks to Angels.” A spokesman for the Black Crowes did not immediately respond to ROLLING STONE’s request.
Robinson is otherwise rather apolitical
Robinson’s counterattack was actually unusual for the Black Crowes frontman: He has occasionally taken a swipe at Donald Trump over the past decade, but otherwise keeps his political views to himself. In a recent interview with Mojo, he said: “I’m not interested in politics. I’m interested in poetry, art, people and experiences.”
“But,” he continued, “I know what’s right and wrong. The world is teetering on the edge with all this nonsense, but if there’s a street fighter out there, he’s got to be a young man, right? But these kids don’t seem to give a shit. I kind of get it, their phone is their everything. But I still go to bookstores and read books, and all the lyrics on this album were written in pen. I’m a product of the mid-20th century.”