Steve Gorman is the kind of drummer who made a band feel powerful without ever sounding “busy.” Best known as the longtime drummer and co-founding member of The Black Crowes, he helped drive one of the biggest rock bands of the 1990s with a feel that pulled equally from hard rock, blues, and classic R&B.
Gorman played on the Black Crowes’ core run of albums and tours, including their breakout era around Shake Your Money Maker and The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion, becoming recognized for big, swinging grooves and a deep-pocket approach that always served the song. Outside the Crowes, he’s been a reliable recording and touring drummer in multiple settings, including a stint on the road with Stereophonics, and his drumming has appeared on releases connected to artists such as Warren Zevon, Bob Dylan, Jack Casady, and others.
In recent years, Gorman has expanded into broadcasting and writing while still staying connected to music. He authored the memoir Hard to Handle: The Life and Death of the Black Crowes (2019), which became a major talking point among Crowes fans and rock readers. He also hosts radio shows (including Steve Gorman Rocks!) and has been active as a morning-show co-host in Minneapolis. Musically, he’s continued working with collaborative projects — including joining the roots-rock supergroup Golden Smog in late 2024 — and he’s also been associated with newer supergroup activity (Howl Owl Howl) that keeps his name in the current conversation beyond nostalgia.
Sources: Steve Gorman biography and career overview; memoir release details for Hard to Handle (Da Capo Press, Sept. 24, 2019); Steve Gorman Rocks!/radio hosting notes and recent interview details; Steve Gorman Instagram bio mentioning Howl Owl Howl and current activity.
Update: 1/20/26