The Counting Crows started out as a two-man acoustic gig back in 1991 in San Francisco. Since their humble start, the band has grown and released four albums, with a fifth album rumored to be on its way around November of 2007. The group, as we know them today, boasts an Academy Award for a... More
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The Counting Crows started out as a two-man acoustic gig back in 1991 in San Francisco. Since their humble start, the band has grown and released four albums, with a fifth album rumored to be on its way around November of 2007. The group, as we know them today, boasts an Academy Award for a single off of their fourth album, and a reputation for passionate live performances.
The band began with Adam Duritz on vocals and Dave Bryson on guitar. Within a couple of years, the local Bay Area group added a drummer (Steve Bowman), a keyboard player (Charley Gillingham), and a bass player (Matt Malley). Over the years, the band has acquired Dan Vickery (also on guitar) and David Immergluck (on various instruments- everything from acoustic guitar to mandolin). The Counting Crows have also seen a rotation of drummers throughout the years. Steve Bowman was first replaced by Ben Mize, who later left to pursue other interests and was replaced by Jim Bogios (formerly a drummer for Sheryl Crow).
The band made their grand debut in 1993 at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony, where they filled in last-minute for Van Morrison. That same year marked the release of their first album, August and Everything After. That album held the key to their success, their very first single: Mr. Jones. Mr. Jones was written in honor of Adam Duritz's childhood friend and former band member, Marty Jones and his struggles and dreams as a working musician. The single enjoyed tremendous success after the release of its accompanying music video on MTV.
Consequently, the album fared remarkably well, with sales of seven million copies.
The Counting Crows have since released three more albums: Recovering the Satellites, This Desert Life, and Hard Candy. Constant performance and sudden fame, however, have not always been easy for the band, especially for Duritz. Over the years, the energetic lead singer has suffered several nervous breakdowns as well as nodules on his vocal cords, which led to the cancellation of some shows. Nevertheless, the band is relentless. They share a passion for live performances and have been praised widely for the emotion which goes into each live show. Surprisingly, the band has welcomed their fans to film their concerts and distribute the footage over the internet.
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