THE BLACK CROWES “FURTHER” DOWN THE ROAD

DATE: MAY 9, 1997
FROM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/ AMANDA CAGAN

"FURTHUR" DOWN THE ROAD: THE BLACK CROWES have started work on a new album, holing themselves up in an Atlanta studio for some marathon sessions.

They've recorded 11 songs in a week and will soon begin to cut tracks with a new producer. Also on tap for the guys: rehearsals for their headlining slot on this year's "Furthur Festival" which features Ratdog (with Bob Weir and Rob Wasserman), Mickey Hart and Planet Drum, Bruce Hornsby and moe. The trek–which is being hosted by Arlo Guthrie–gets underway June 20 in West Palm Beach, FL and will visit major outdoor amphitheaters throughout the summer. The band is especially honored to be a part of this tour, the brainchild of former Grateful Dead members Bob Weir and Mickey Hart. THE BLACK CROWES had what they call "the good fortune" to open for the Grateful Dead back in April '95 at Tampa Stadium in Florida. "When we first saw the Dead," recalls drummer STEVE GORMAN, "they confirmed our gut feelings: that only the music mattered, and the rest is fluff, and that we should keep on going in as many musical directions as possible. They taught us that respect for the music is what keeps everything else in balance. The Dead were an affirmation that we were on the right path, that this is what we're supposed to be doing." As always, THE BLACK CROWES–CHRIS ROBINSON, vocals; RICH ROBINSON, vocals, guitars; JOHNNY COLT, bass; MARC FORD, guitars; STEVE GORMAN, drums; EDDIE HARSCH, keyboards–are inviting fans to bring their tape recorders to the shows. The "Furthur Festival" dates are as follows:

DATE                            CITY                            VENUE

Fri, June 20                   West Palm Beach, FL       Coral Sky Pavilion
Sun, June 22                  Atlanta, GA                  Lakewood Amphitheatre
Thu June 26                   Virginia Beach, VA          VA Beach Amphitheatre
Fri, June 27                   Bristow, VA                   Nissan Pavilion
Sat, June 28                  Camden, NJ                   E. Center
Mon, June 30                 Scranton, PA                  Montage Mountain
Tue, July 1                    Mansfield, MA                 Great Woods
Thu, July 3                   Jersey City, NJ                Liberty State Park
Fri, July 4                    Agawam, MA                   Riverside Park
Sat, July 5                   Highgate, VT                   Franklin County Field
Sun, July 6                  Saratoga Springs, NY         SPAC
Tue, July 8                   Buffalo, NY                     Darien Lake Amphitheatre
Wed, July 9                 Toronto, ONT.                  Molson Amphitheatre
Fri, July 11                   Hershey, PA                   Hershey Park Stadium
Sat, July 12                  Columbus, OH                Polaris Amphitheater
Sun, July 13                  Detroit, MI                    Pine Knob Amphitheatre
Tue, July 15                  Pittsburgh, PA                Star Lake Amphitheatre
Wed, July 16                 Cincinnati, OH               Riverbend
Fri, July 18                   East Troy, WI                 Alpine Valley Music Center
Sat, July 19                  Chicago, IL                     The World
Sun, July 20                  Maryland Hts., MO           Riverport Amphitheatre
Tue, July 22                 Indianapolis, IN                Deer Creek Music Center
Fri, July 25                  Somerset, WI                  River's Edge Park
Sun, July 27                 Denver, CO                    Fiddlers Green
Sat, Aug 2                   Mountain View, CA           Shoreline Amphitheatre
Sun, Aug 3                   Irvine, CA                      Irvine Meadows Amp.

Note: More dates to come.