Hard to Handle

The Life and Death of the Black Crowes - A Memoir

By: Steve Gorman, Steven Hyden

Narrated by: Steve Gorman

Length: 13 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

Black Crowes drummer and cofounder Steve Gorman shares the band's inside story in this behind-the-scenes biography, from their supernova stardom in the '90s to exhilarating encounters with industry legends.

"This book is literally the Angela's Ashes of rock memoirs.... I absolutely loved this book." (Bill Burr, comedian)

"I couldn't put the book down-absolutely unbelievable read!" (John McEnroe, New York Times best-selling author of But Seriously and You Cannot Be Serious)

"I honestly couldn't put [this book] down. Made me nostalgic, sad, and happy too." (Chris Shiflett, lead guitarist of Foo Fighters)

"Essential reading for rock fans everywhere." (Brian Koppelman, co-creator and showrunner of Billions)

For more than two decades, The Black Crowes topped the charts, graced the cover of Rolling Stone, and reigned supreme over MTV and radio waves alike with hits like "Hard to Handle", "She Talks to Angels", and "Remedy". But as the old cliché goes, stardom can be fleeting, and the group's success slowly dwindled as the band members got caught up in the rock-star world and lost sight of their musical ambition. On any given night, they could be the best band you ever saw - or the most combative. Then, one last rift in 2013 proved insurmountable for the band to survive. After that, The Black Crowes would fly no more. Founding member Steve Gorman was there for all of it - the coke- and weed-fueled tours; the tumultuous recording sessions; the incessant fighting between brothers Chris and Rich Robinson; the backstage hangs with legends like Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and the Rolling Stones. As the band's drummer and voice of reason, he tried to keep The Black Crowes together musically and emotionally. In Hard to Handle - the first account of this great American rock band's beginning, middle, and end - Gorman explains just how impossible that job was with great insight, candor, and humor. They don't make bands like The Black Crowes anymore: crazy, brilliant, self-destructive, inspiring, and, ultimately, not built to last. But, man, what a ride it was while it lasted.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2019 Steve Gorman and Steven Hyden (P)2019 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"Hard to Handle is an amazing and a lot of times uncomfortably candid account of Steve's time in the Black Crowes. The opportunities presented and then lost. The ups and downs. The fights. The fuck ups. This book is literally the Angela's Ashes of rock memoirs. Every time things seem to be looking up for the band an insane decision, comment or substance seems to drive the band right into a ditch, only to see them somehow use that negative momentum to then attain a new level of success. I absolutely loved this book. Can't wait for the movie!" (Bill Burr, comedian)

"Reading this book brought me back to a time that rock and roll mattered to me more than almost anything else. I was at some of the early Black Crowes gigs depicted here, and the book is so well drawn, that I could not only hear the music again, but smell the sweat coming off the band and crowd as clearly as I did back then. This is Almost Famous, told by the guy behind the drums, who remembers every chord change, every fight, every song's journey from demo to record to live performance. Essential reading for rock fans everywhere." (Brian Koppelman, co-creator and showrunner of Billions)

"Bands are beautiful fragile toxic things - always one wrong glance or argument away from falling apart. Steve manages to tell the tale of the internal turmoil of the Black Crowes, in all its sordid detail, without ever getting finger-pointy about it. I honestly couldn't put it down. Made me nostalgic, sad, and happy too." (Chris Shiflett, lead guitarist of Foo Fighters)

Telling it like it was....

Sounds like a good time. Anytime you're trying to make a living in a band all those personalities snowball into the unknown realm of egos, addictions, temptations, feast, or fathom. If you survive and have some money left in your pocket, and have a soul still, that's a victory in its self...

The Whole truth and nuthin but the truth! & MORE

Fantastic book. I relived the years through Steve's writing and I enjoyed the book the whole time he read it.

I've always liked Rich a bit more than Chris, but after you read about why the Jimmy Page / Crowes Tour was cut short AND that Jimmy Page wanted to contribute songs and ideas on the next Crowes record (Basically fusing Black Crowes and Led Zeppelin even more together).... I hate Chris and Rich the same now.... Both brothers disgust me equally! "nuff said!

One of my favorite all time memoirs

Absolutely loved this from Beginning to end. Thank you for opening up your life story of your time in the band.

I hated for this book to end.

This was a story I was completely unaware of. I just like rock biographies. Steve’s telling of the history of the Black Crows is truly amazing. I just couldn’t get enough of the craziness and manic disorder that was the Black Crows.

Great read / listen

Hard to handle is hard to put down!

A unique perspective from, usually the most (verbally) quiet person in a band, the drummer. I enjoy listening to the actual authors read their words, it gives another dimension to an audiobook. This audiobook is filled with ups and downs and in the end gives the reader a great understanding what goes on behind the scenes of truly one of America’s greatest rock bands.

Beautiful and heartbreaking

I’m one of those hardcore fans that saw them dozens of times live, collected everything I could get my hands on Crowes-related, and followed them through every phase and twist and turn through their career. Steve’s account was incredible. It broke my heart several times to hear the reality of what was happening behind the scenes of my favorite band. But I’m glad I heard it. This is required listening for any hardcore fan and a fascinating listen for even a casual fan or just anyone interested in rock stories. Well done, Steve.

Insightful

This is worth listening to for sure. I learned a lot and appreciate Steve for telling his story.

You get what you get and you don't get upset

Listen, if want to hear the stories because you are a fan, sit back and have a few laughs with hard to handle. Yes, the narration of Steve is going to make you cringe and you will be able to see its fully written from his perspective. That being said, get over that and back to the reason you are spending your credits on this, its rock and roll. The stories, the drugs, the laughs, the booze, the fights, its all in here. Have fun, worth the credit,

Great memoir!

Listening to Steve read this is priceless! An educational book. Rock n Roll 101.

Best memoir ever!

Steve really painted an excellent picture of his experience with TBC. Couldn't put it down.