Jimmy Page & The Black Crowes Revisit a Long-Lost Live Gem—Now Complete After 25 Years
Finally, the missing pieces are in place.
Back in 2000, a live album dropped that had all the makings of a rock fan’s dream: legendary Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page teamed up with southern rock powerhouse The Black Crowes for a fiery two-night run at LA’s Greek Theatre. But something was… off.
While the album Live at the Greek featured explosive covers of Zeppelin classics and blues staples, it bafflingly left out a key ingredient: not a single Black Crowes song made the cut.
Now, 25 years later, that oversight has been righted.
The newly released “Jimmy Page & The Black Crowes: Live at the Greek (Anniversary Edition)” is a 36-track celebration of that unforgettable collaboration. It restores 16 previously unreleased songs, including fan-favorites like “Hard to Handle”, “She Talks to Angels”, “Remedy”, “Wiser Time”, and “No Speak No Slave.”
“It was electric. We were abuzz with what we were doing,” recalls frontman Chris Robinson. “It wasn’t just Page and the Crowes—it felt like one band, one unit, and it was powerful.”
The original release left many fans scratching their heads. Despite the powerful performances, the absence of Crowes originals was a major letdown.
The reason? Contractual issues. The band had just parted ways with their label and couldn’t include their own material on the album.
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“We were happy with what came out,” guitarist Rich Robinson explains, “but we were bummed. Legally, we couldn’t put our own songs on the record.”
Page shared that sentiment. “I felt really bad,” he says. “The versions of their songs we did were great, and I was sad they couldn’t be heard.”
The concerts, recorded in October 1999 after shows in New York, Massachusetts, and Michigan, were raw, high-energy showcases of mutual admiration and rock chemistry. The lineup featured Page, the Robinson brothers, Sven Pipien (bass), Eddie Harsch (keys), Audley Freed (guitar), and Steve Gorman (drums).
“I didn’t feel nervous like I did in Zeppelin days,” Page admits. “We were riding a wave, and it just felt right.”
Beyond the official setlist, fans will get a few unexpected gems, too—including five tracks from soundcheck and a previously unheard instrumental jam, aptly titled “Jams,” co-written by Rich Robinson and Page.
“The surprises are what really excite us,” says Chris. “We didn’t even realize some of this material existed until we started digging.”
The chemistry forged on stage led to a full U.S. tour in 2000 and a lasting friendship. Page reflects on the experience with warmth: “It was just such a joyful event. We were all joined at the hip while playing.”
As fate would have it, the re-release arrives at a perfect time. The Black Crowes are riding a new wave, having recently earned a Grammy nomination for their 2023 album Happiness Bastards.
Chris Robinson, ever philosophical, believes the timing was meant to be:
“I believe things happen when they’re supposed to. If we had released this earlier, maybe it wouldn’t have hit the same way.”
Source: AP News – The Black Crowes and Jimmy Page revisit a unique 25-year-old live set
