Drivin N Cryin Hits The European Road!
Legendary southern rockers Drivin N Cryin is strongly rumoured to hit the road in Europe in 2012 and we thought we`d give you a proper history lesson - as this band is a vital part of American music & southern cultural history.
 |
| Movie Trailer: The Great American Band |
Drivin N Cryin - the band that for all the big southern rock bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd, 38 Special, Kings of Leon, R.E.M, The Black Crowes, B-52`s, R.E.M, Soul Asylum and now Sons of Bill to pass the torch on...well the list goes on - DNC is eponymous with the term "Southern Rock".
 |
| Drivin' N' Cryin' - Build A Fire |
Though they never really hit the big time outside the south - well, that depends on how you define "the big time" as they have sold over a million records and have a die-hard fanbase worldwide - working with the likes of Neil Young, Pearl Jam, Johnny Cash (RIP) and having appeared on The David Letterman show and so on - so I suppose the definition is a bit vague...
 |
| Drivin` N` Cryin` - Late Night with David Letterman |
But one fact stands, and that`s the fact that with the Grunge movement taking hold in America, the radio environment wasn't conducive to a strong follow-up record after their gold album "Fly Me Courageous." This changing landscape combined with their musical diversity was another factor in their inability to capitalize on "Fly me Courageous." Drivin N Cryin can rock like Motorhead on one song and follow through with a song rivalling any of Neil Young`s acoustic politically charged acoustic folk songs - A diverse gang indeed!" Frankly, there's not another band quite as diverse.
 |
| Drivin' N' Cryin' - Turn It Up Or Turn It Off |
After a few years of Kevn Kinney solo solo albums and two self-released DNC albums, the band released "(Whatever Happened To) The Great American Bubble Factory" and hit the road again in 2009. DNC fever was back on the road once more! In fact it was such a success that they have two releases coming up in the next several months and will be hitting Europe in the summer of 2012 for the first time since 91 when they were named live performance of the year by Kerrang!
 |
| Drivin' N' Cryin' - Fly Me Courageous |
Drivin N Cryin was formed in 1985 in Atlanta. Kevn Kinney met Tim Nielsen, who was in a popular band called the Nightporters with drummer Paul Lenz at the time. Kinney had just moved to Georgia from Milwaukee and was working in a sewage treatment plant by day while playing folk gigs by night. The band's name, Drivin N Cryin, was chosen from one of Kevn's many songs that reflected the two directions of their music.
 |
| Drivin` N` Cryin` - Scarred But Smarter |
Various musicians accompanied the threesome in the early years. They signed with indie label 688 Records in 1986 after becoming one of Atlanta's top club draws. Their first album, "Scarred But Smarter", was an instant hit and landed them countless tour dates and later a contract with Island Records. In 1987, Lenz left the band and was replaced by Jeff Sullivan, who was recruited just in time to accompany them for their first major-label release. Sullivan had been the drummer for Mr. Crowes Garden, the band that later became The Black Crowes, prior to joining Drivin' 'N' Cryin'. That same year, the band held its first "Benefit For The Hopeful," a concert to raise money for Atlanta homeless organizations, held annually on Dec. 8, the anniversary of John Lennon's death. R.E.M's touring rhythm guitarist Buren Fowler joined the trio at this time as well. He was officially asked to join the band in 1988, after repeated on-stage appearances with the group.
 |
| Drivin n Cryin "Powerhouse" & "Toy Never Played With" |
The band released its first album for Island, "Whisper Tames The Lion", produced by Anton Fier, in early 1988. The album peaked at #130 on the Billboard 200. College radio success (and some commercial) accumulated with airplay of the songs "Can't Promise You The World" (for which the band filmed its first video) and "Powerhouse".
 |
| Drivin' N' Cryin' - Honeysuckle Blue |
1989 marked the release of some of the band's most memorable songs on the "Mystery Road" album, such as "Honeysuckle Blue" and "Straight To Hell." In 1991, the more hard-rocking "Fly Me Courageous" became the band's most commercially successful album, with the album being certified gold. The next few years the band toured with artists such as Neil Young and Soul Asylum. In 1993, the band released another album produced by Geoff Workman, entitled "Smoke", which peaked at #95 on the Billboard's Top 200 album chart. This album was another all-out rocker, marked with guitar assaults; but it failed to catch on with the public as had its predecessor.
 |
| Drivin' N' Cryin' - Smoke |
In 1994, the band decided to move away from the heavy guitar sounds of the previous two records and brought in keyboardist Joey Huffman to replace Buren Fowler. That same year the band left Island Records and found a new home at Geffen Records. The band's first and only Geffen album, 1995's "Wrapped In Sky", featured newly added keyboard sounds but also a return to the band's original sound.
 |
| Drivin`N Cryin` Live - Farm Aid 6 |
1997 brought along a self-titled album, followed two years later by a live album, "The Essential Live Drivin' 'N' Cryin'". In 2000, Universal Records released "The Ultimate Collection", a best-of collection. In 2003, the band released a four-song EP, "Detroit City Rock", which featured a cover of the Beatles "Let It Be," recorded in New York City on Sept. 13, 2001. The band released its first full studio album in 12 years, "(Whatever Happened To) The Great American Bubble Factory" on September 29, 2009. In 2011, the Georgia General Assembly commended Drivin N Cryin in a house resolution for the band's achievements.
 |
|
Kinney, Nielsen, Buck, Mills, Berry, Wynn, & Keane - Straight To Hell |
Kevn Kinney has also maintained a solo career over the years. He released his first solo album, the acoustic "MacDougal Blues" in 1990. This was followed by "Down Out Law" in 1994, and "The Flower And The Knife" in 2000. The latter featured guests such as Blues Traveler's John Popper, Edwin McCain, and members of Gov't Mule and the Allman Brothers Band. He has released four more solo albums since. In addition to his solo recordings, he has frequently performed solo live concerts, including live collaborations with Peter Buck of R.E.M.
 |
| Kevn Kinney and Peter Buck "I'm Free" & "Tina's Grocery" |
March 2011: The State of Georgia honors Drivin N Cryin on March 10 with Resolution 387, recognizing the band for it's charity, longevity, service, and cultural contribution. Plans are laid for a new album. And the road beckons.... (to be continued). In the fall of 2011 Drivin N Cryin' added Leslie's Sadler Vaden on guitar. In case you haven`t noticed over the years DNC`s band members are second to none and Sadler Vade will fit right in - check this!
Oct 2011: It is announced that Sadler Vade has joined Drivin N Cryin and the band is back in the studio preparing the follow up to 2009's '(Whatever Happened To The) Great American Bubble Factory.' Well, the truth is that they are preparing two follow ups! Plans have been laid to release an EP around the holidays this year with a full length album to follow in early-to-mid 2012. And yes, these recordings will contain the stellar guitar work of Sadler.
Discography
Scarred But Smarter (1986)
Whisper Tames The Lion (1988) U.S.
Mystery Road (1989)
Fly Me Courageous (1991)
Live on Fire (EP) (1991)
Smoke (1993)
Wrapped In Sky (1995)
Drivin' 'N' Cryin' (1997)
Essential Live (1999)
Ultimate Collection (2000)
Detroit City Rock (EP) (2003)
The Great American Bubble Factory (2009)
The Band
Kevn Kinney (Guitar/Vocals)
Tim Nielsen (Bass)
Dave V. Johnson (Drums)
Sadler Vaden (Guitar)
Past members
Joey Huffman
Paul Lenz
Buren Fowler
Jeff Sullivan
David Franklin
Marshall Ethridge
Mac Carter
