Black Crowes Are On A Losing Streak

Poor Chris Robinson. In the last few weeks, he's lost his wife and two members of The Black Crowes, who've also been on a run of what we'll generously call bad luck.

Robinson's wife, actress Kate Hudson, recently revealed her split from the long-haired singer. While it's been speculated that she's taken up with crooked-nosed actor Owen Wilson, who she co-starred with in this summer's You, Me And Dupree, other reports indicate that Goldie Hawn's daughter may be reconciling with her husband.It was announced late last month that longtime Crowes keyboard player Ed Hawrysch had left the group due to "health reasons" and "personal issues." He was replaced by Rob Clores, who has previously played with Jesse Malin and Blues Traveler's John Popper.

On Tuesday, two days before the Crowes were to start the next leg of their seemingly endless tour, guitarist Marc Ford's attorney sent a fax to the band's lawyer to give notice that he was quitting the group immediately. Crowes manager Pete Angelus responded to the news by posting this message on the official Black Crowes message board:

"The contract between The Black Crowes and Marc Ford stipulates that Marc must provide twelve (12) weeks notice if he wishes to terminate the agreement.

"I am not going to comment on the timing of this notification or the way Marc has elected to handle his personal and business affairs with The Black Crowes, however I will state as a matter of fact, that this is not the first time that Marc Ford has breached his agreement with The Black Crowes.

"Paul Stacey will be performing with The Black Crowes during their upcoming fall tour and Chris and Rich [Robinson] are currently in discussions with other guitarists."

Ford rejoined the Crowes in the spring of 2005 after being axed in 1997 for his drug problems. His publicist released a statement that said he left the group this time due to health concerns, "and all the difficult work he has done to gain his longest period of sobriety ever was in jeopardy while touring."

The Robinson brothers are the group's only founding members left in the Crowes, who've had somewhat of a revolving door lineup since forming in 1984 and releasing their Shake Your Money Maker debut album in 1990.

The group took a long break after the 2001 release of their Lions album, but got back together last year and have been touring almost ceaselessly since then. Their summer tour played to disappointing crowds and there are no Canadian shows scheduled on the current outing, which ends on November 12.

The two-disc The Lost Crowes collection of rarities was supposed to have been released by Rhino on August 29, but was recalled from stores due to a manufacturing error. The compilation is now scheduled to be available on September 26.

The Crowes are currently without a record deal, but have been recording tracks for another album. Among the new songs that the southern rock group have been playing live are "Magic Rooster Blues," "Cold Boy Smile," "Late Nights Again" and "Cut From The Shadow."