Happy Birthday today (Dec. 20) to Black Crowes singer Chris Robinson. He's 52. Also celebrating is ex Kiss drummer Peter Criss (73).
Chris Robinson was born in Marietta, Georgia in 1966. He was heavily influenced by bands like The Rolling Stones and The Faces, and decided to form the band Mr. Crowe’s Garden in the 1980’s with his brother (guitarist Rich Robinson). They changed the band name to The Black Crowes in 1989 releasing their debut album Shake Your Money Maker in 1990. The band went through various lineup changes and released a total of eight studio albums throughout their career. The band announced their breakup in 2015. I always loved the Black Crowes, such a great live band. Chris Robinson continues to record and perform with his band the Chris Robinson Brotherhood which he formed back in 2011.
“Catman” Peter Criss is co-founder and original drummer of Kiss. Criss released his autobiography Makeup to Breakup: My Life In and Out of Kiss, back in 2012. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Kiss in 2014. In 1996 the classic Kiss lineup (Peter Criss, Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, and Ace Frehley) reunited in full makeup and announced plans for a full-fledged reunion tour. I saw the tour in Hartford, CT at the Hartford Civic Center and it will go down as one of the greatest rock concerts I ever saw. Cheers to both Chris Robinson and Peter Criss on their birthdays today!
Chris Robinson photo credit: Matt Kent/Getty Images
Peter Criss photo credit: Larry Busacca/Getty Images