At the time of their 1990 debut, the kind of rock the Black Crowes specialise in was out of style. Only Guns N' Roses came close to approximating a smilar vintage Stones and Faces style, but they were too angry and jagged to pull it off completely. The Black Crowes'  vocalist Chris Robinson appropriated the sound and style of Rod Stewart while guitarist Rich Robinson fused Keith Richards' lean attack with Ronnie Wood's rhythmic sense. At their best, the Black Crowes echo classic rock without slavishly imitating their influences.

The Robinson brothers originally formed the Black Crowes in Georgia in 1984. By the time of their 1990 debut, Shake Your Money Maker, the group comprised Chris Robinson (vocals), Rich Robinson (guitar), Johnny Colt (bass), Jeff Cease (guitar) and Steve Gorman (drums). The band's cover of Otis Redding's Hard to Handle made the group a multi-platinum success and the album eventually sold over 3 million copies.

The band established itself as a popular concert attraction during 1992, selling out across America. During 1992, the band added keyboardist Eddie Harsch as a permanent member. Guitarist Marc Ford was fired in August 1997.

In mid 2000, the band collaborated with Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page on the double album Live at the Greek, an eclectic mix of newly recorded Zeppelin covers and additional classic blues cuts.

By 2002, all was not well with the band. Gorman was fired and Chris Robinson announced his intentions for a solo career. In 2005, however, the group got back together for a show at San Francisco's Fillmore, a concert that was released in both CD and DVD form in 2006 as Freak 'N' Roll... Into the Fog.