The Black Crowes disbanding after 24 years

NEW YORK, Jan. 16 (UPI) -- Rock band The Black Crowes has broken up after 24 years, founding member and guitarist Rich Robinson said.

Rich on Thursday announced the dissolution of the band, which he founded with brother Chris Robinson in 1990.

"It is with great disappointment and regret that after having the privilege of writing and performing the music of the Black Crowes over the last 24 years, I find myself in the position of saying that the band has broken up," Rich said in a statement published by Rolling Stone magazine.

"I hold my time with the Black Crowes with the utmost respect and sincerest appreciation. It is a huge swath of my life's body of work. I couldn't be more proud of what we accomplished and deeply moved by the relationships people created and maintained with my music. That alone is the greatest honor of being a musician," he said.

Rich seems to lay the blame of the breakup on his brother.

"I love my brother and respect his talent, but his present demand that I must give up my equal share of the band and that our drummer for 28 years and original partner, Steve Gorman, relinquish 100 percent of his share, reducing him to a salaried employee, is not something I could agree to," he said.

The blues rock band originated in Marietta, Ga., and made its name off hit singles "Hard to Handle" and "She Talks to Angels" off its debut album, Shake Your Money Maker.

The band has had its troubles for a while and has twice took long breaks. In October, Gorman told Rolling Stone he thought the group was over.

"The likelihood of us doing anything again is as low as it's ever been," he said. "We could obviously all see things differently in a year, but I'll be surprised if the Black Crowes do something again. Ever."

In the fall of 2006 both guitarist Marc Ford and keyboardist Eddie Hawrysch left the band