Hard to Handle: The Life and Death of the Black Crowes
{{Short description|2019 memoir by Steve Gorman}}
{{Infobox book
| name = Hard to Handle: The Life and Death of The Black Crowes
| author = Steve Gorman, Steven Hyden
| image = File:Hard to Handle.jpg
| caption = First edition
| language = English
| country = USA
| genre = Memoir
| publisher = Da Capo Press
| isbn = 9780306922015
| pub_date = September 24, 2019
| pages = 368
}}
Hard to Handle: The Life and Death of the Black Crowes is a memoir by drummer Steve Gorman about his time in The Black Crowes, co-written by music critic Steven Hyden. The book describes the formation and success of the Black Crowes from Gorman's point of view as well as its eventual break-up. {{Cite web|date=2019-10-19|title=The Titanic Sibling Rivalry that Propelled One of the Greatest Rock Bands of the 1990s|url=https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/10/book-review-hard-to-handle-black-crowes-sibling-rivalry/|access-date=2020-07-27|website=National Review|language=en-US}}
Background
The book covers Gorman's time performing in bands with the Robinson brothers, from 1987 to 2013.{{Cite news|last=Kurutz|first=Steven|date=2020-01-20|title=I Quit a Famous Rock Band|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/20/style/steve-gorman-black-crowes.html|access-date=2020-07-27|issn=0362-4331}} Pete Angelus' management and promotion of the Crowes is a major part of the focus of the memoir, as is the rivalry between brothers Chris Robinson and Rich Robinson.{{Cite web|date=2019-04-30|title=The Black Crowes Drummer Steve Gorman Pens 'Hard To Handle - The Life & Death Of The Black Crowes' Memoir|url=https://www.jambase.com/article/steve-gorman-memoir-hard-to-handle-the-black-crowes|access-date=2020-07-27|website=JamBase|language=en-US}} The book primarily deals with the history of the band, and Gorman's explanation as to why it eventually fell apart.{{Cite web|last=Ruggiero|first=Bob|date=2019-09-18|title=Steve Gorman's Explosive Memoir Tells Wayward Flight of the Black Crowes|url=https://www.houstonpress.com/music/things-to-do-read-hard-to-handle-by-steve-gorman-11354800|access-date=2020-07-27|website=Houston Press}}
Gorman co-wrote the book with Steven Hyden, and it was published by Da Capo Press.{{Cite web|title=BOOK REVIEW: Hard to Handle: The Life and Death of the Black Crowes–A Memoir {{!}} Performer Mag|url=https://performermag.com/new-music-and-video/reviews/book-review-hard-to-handle-black-crowes/|access-date=2020-07-27|language=en-US}}
Reception
The book was positively received by critics.{{Cite magazine|last=Hiatt|first=Brian|date=2019-11-27|title=Hear the Secret History of the Black Crowes|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/hear-secret-history-of-the-black-crowes-916223/|access-date=2020-07-27|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2019-10-17|title=Must-read Black Crowes memoir is 'Hard to Handle'|url=https://www.al.com/life/2019/10/must-read-black-crowes-memoir-is-hard-to-handle.html|access-date=2020-07-27|website=al|language=en}} The Black Crowes were reformed a month after release of the book, which gave it added publicity.{{Cite web|last=Collette|first=Doug|date=November 20, 2019|title='HARD TO HANDLE: THE LIFE AND DEATH OF THE BLACK CROWES – A MEMOIR' – STEVE GORMAN RECOUNTS YEARS WITH CHRIS & RICH|url=https://glidemagazine.com/236851/hard-to-handle-the-life-and-death-of-the-black-crowes-a-memoir-steve-gorman-recounts-years-with-chris-rich/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-07-27|website=glidemagazine.com}}