Podcast Summary

Podcast: This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von
Episode: #645 – Chris Robinson
Date: March 11, 2026
Guest: Chris Robinson (Musician, founder of The Black Crowes)

Overview

This episode features an in-depth, meandering conversation between comedian Theo Von and rock musician Chris Robinson, best known as the frontman of The Black Crowes. The discussion moves through themes of aging, creativity, nostalgia, the evolution of music and culture, brotherhood, sobriety, and the enduring nature of rock and roll. The pair sprinkle the conversation with wild stories, pop culture references, philosophical insights, jokes, and fond (sometimes absurd) childhood memories.

Main Themes & Discussion Points

1. On Aging, Survival, and Artistic Legacy

• Chris Robinson on Surviving 59 Winters:
  "I'm kind of proud that I've... survived 59 winters." (01:35)
• The duo discuss not fearing age or death, referencing Jean Cocteau's line:
  "Living is a horizontal fall." (02:26, Robinson)
• Theo’s take on great quotes:
  "Sometimes I get so jealous when you hear somebody that said something or that wrote something... Now I think I just get grateful that I got to hear it..." (02:51, Theo)
• Both reflect on the vibrancy and restlessness of youth versus the value of understanding and inspiration found with age.

2. The Creative Process & The Power of the Muse

• First Lines & Songwriting:
  Chris details his fascination with the first line of a song:
  "If I could capture something in imagination or feeling...in the first few words of the song, yeah, that's... I like that with songs, too. I'm not going to wait till the third verse for some good words." (06:12, Robinson)
• Theo and Chris chat about influences, growing up dyslexic, and how being different shaped Robinson’s entry into the arts and his lifelong work in a "fucking rock band."
  (03:01–03:37, Robinson)
• The muse is described as “a very jealous entity” that must be nurtured or it will leave:
  "I can't fully remove myself from the dream place or the Muse...it will leave you if you're not... It has to have its proper place." (17:50, Robinson)

3. Brotherhood, Family, and Band Dynamics

• On Working with His Brother Rich:
  Reflecting on shared success, sibling rivalry, and years-long estrangement:
  • "We went a long time without. Seven years without speaking." (35:28, Robinson)
  • “I was ugly and mean. I lashed out when I shouldn't have. I should have reached out." (36:13, Robinson)
  • Ultimately, Chris admires his brother’s unique talent:
    "Now I can... see it more than ever because my perspective... isn’t tainted by any of my bullshit..." (33:56, Robinson)

4. Nostalgia vs. Living in the Present

• Theo on music & nostalgia:
  "I'm like a nostalgia junkie. I'm like this, I'm like a romanticist, like let's go back in time kind of guy." (12:06, Theo)
• Chris on presence:
  "I'm lucky that I'm not nostalgic. I don't really care about nostalgia. Things are the way they are when they're happening." (11:19, Robinson)
• They debate the value of romanticizing the past versus engaging with the present, in music and life.

5. Concerts, Culture, and Changing Times

• Shared memories of going to shows pre-smartphone era:
  • "Concerts were every...it was a different thing before. I mean, they can still have magical moments..." (09:51, Robinson)
  • The prevalence of phones at concerts and impact on experience:
    "It used to be like this, and now...instead of really feeling the music and hearing the music...That being said, I don't police anybody. You know what I mean? Y'all do what you want to do." (91:48, Robinson)

6. Drug Experiences, Sobriety & Humor

• Robinson’s candidness about drug use and creativity:
  • "I've always done my writing...might be a little stoned sometimes, but I’ve never did drugs to write. Psychedelics, they're in my writing, but I don't take psychedelics to write." (50:07, Robinson)
  • "I love drugs. You know what I mean? I don't do them. I'm...gonna be 60 years old this year...To do what I do, I can't do that." (51:52, Robinson)
• Theo discusses his own recovery journey and how both view the role of drugs in art and survival.

7. Wild Stories and Absurdities

• Hilarious tales of concert mishaps (e.g., a man masturbating in the stands at a Korn/System of a Down gig) (07:25–07:59)
• The hazards and oddities of growing up in the South, run-ins with flashers, and being left in strange places by semi-absent parents (43:01–45:52)
• Musings on OnlyFans, body tattoos-as-advertising, and generational changes in how people relate to sexuality and risk.

8. Grateful Dead, Influences, and the Lineage of Rock

• Robinson's relationship to the Grateful Dead and unique musicianship:
  “What made the Grateful Dead so special... it starts off as like, kind of scary, like art rock acid, heavy acid... no micro dosing... there was no cowards dose, as I call it.” (63:06–65:05, Robinson)

9. Loss, Regret, and Growth

• On the death of artist friends and musical heroes (e.g., Prince):
  "When Prince died, I was...I love Prince so much." (67:21, Robinson)
• Anecdotes about missed opportunities, like being banned from seeing Rick James due to teenage misbehavior (69:39–70:51)

10. Creation, Meaning, and the New Album

• The Black Crowes' new album, "A Pound of Feathers":
  • Conceived spontaneously in the studio, emphasizing authenticity and present-moment creation:
    "We went in the studio without any songs... wanted to do something that was more spontaneous and on the fly..." (80:45–81:20, Robinson)
  • The drive to keep creating, regardless of commercial outcomes:
    "We're not gonna sell any records. But this is what it is... We knew what was authentic and real in our hearts and what music meant to us." (81:52–82:52, Robinson)
  • On musical inspiration:
    "My poetry doesn't have to have any message other than its humanity, the connection I want through the things that I've done..." (83:38, Robinson)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On lasting relationships with the muse:
  "The muse... it will leave you if you're not... It has to have its proper place." (17:50, Robinson)

• On nostalgia and being present:
  "I’m not nostalgic. I don’t really care about nostalgia. Things are the way they are when they're happening." (11:19, Robinson)

• On the absurdity of some childhood experiences:
  "That was the days when any other... any building that was open was kind of a babysitter." (44:31, Theo)

• Brotherhood, music, and maturity:
  "Now I see like, Oh, wow. I really see it more than ever because my perspective... isn’t tainted by any of my bullshit... Whether that's my anger, resentment, ego, shit, whatever." (33:56, Robinson)

• On creative endurance in dark times:
  "I refuse to allow defeatism to rule my life. I refuse to let the fear and ignorance of the whole thing dictate my every thing...I think you have to [stay creative]." (86:33, Robinson)

• Humor & Southern oddities:
  "I'm gonna put my weights down and I'm gonna boogie a bit. You cool with that?" (25:31, Theo, recalling his brother)

• On the future of concerts:
  "I still love it. I still think there's a lot of adventure to have. There will be someone I never met... It should be fun. Playing. It's called playing music." (90:37, Robinson)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Aging & Jean Cocteau philosophy – 01:28–03:01
• The importance of the first line in songs – 03:58–06:46
• Wild concert stories (Korn/System of a Down, Nine Inch Nails) – 07:24–08:48
• Phone culture at concerts & impact on connection – 09:07–10:22
• Nostalgia vs. presence in music listening – 10:10–12:26
• On band dynamics, brotherhood, estrangement – 33:56–36:13
• Drug use, writing, and recovery – 50:07–53:09
• Influence of Grateful Dead & rock lineage – 63:06–66:08
• The making of “A Pound of Feathers” – 80:45–83:38

Final Reflections

The conversation is as much a ramble through the cultural attic of American youth as it is a meditation on survival, creative resilience, family, and meaning. Chris Robinson brings together philosophical wisdom, musical experience, and self-deprecating humor, while Theo Von adds his signature blend of nostalgia, vulnerability, and comedy. Their dialogue is equal parts touching, insightful, and bizarre—leaving listeners with laughter, food for thought, and a desire to chase their own muse, wherever it might lead.

Recommended for:
Fans of classic rock, music history, musicians, anyone interested in the creative process, those reflecting on aging and maturity, or just wanting a funny, thoughtful, and unpredictable podcast episode.