Rock and roll used to be about rebelling against authoritarianism, but in the last several decades, it seems that has shifted, a truth put on full display when Chris Robinson, lead singer for The Black Crowes, who attacked a crowd at a recent concert for chanting, “USA, USA!” The crowd, however, embodied the rebel ethos by walking out in the middle of the show.
During the band’s concert in Tampa, Florida on May 31, 2026, Robinson blew his top as fans in the audience began chanting their support for the United States, ripping into the crowd from the stage. The incident started when an image of the band’s Black Crowe character popped on the screen dressed like Uncle Sam. Seeing the flashing image across the screen inspired the audience to chant, “USA, USA!”
However, the show of patriotism angered Robinson who quipped, “Thanks for the geography lesson” before snidely remarking, “I don’t know what you have to be so proud of right now.” After his disrespectful remarks, footage captured from the stands shows a large number of fans, disgusted with Robinson’s comments, giving the band the proverbial middle finger by walking out of the show.
According to Breitbart News, Robinson wasn’t finished ripping into the crowd and the country that provided him the remarkable opportunity to make art for a living. He went on to say, “For those of you f***ing booing us, some of us are not afraid. And we most assuredly are not f***ing ignorant.” Robinson stated in a recent interview with Far Out Magazine that he’s not too interested in politics, but then slammed “kids” today for “not giving a f**k” about politics.
“I know what’s right and wrong – and this shit going on right now is wrong. Look man, I’m almost 60, all right. I don’t tell anyone what to do, because I don’t like to be told what to do. But I know right and wrong. The world’s teetering on the edge with all this bulls**t, but if there’s a street fighting man out there, he’s got to be a young man, right? But these kids don’t seem to give a f**k,” he told the outlet.
On March 13, 2026, The Black Crowes released a highly anticipated new album, “A Pound of Feathers,” their first since 2024. The previous record, “Happiness Bastards” was nominated for “Best Rock Album” at the 2025 Grammys. The band has been on an extensive tour of North America since the beginning of May, which is set to run until August. They will also be heading over to Europe in June and July for a short leg of shows, including two performances in the United Kingdom.
Folks on social media platform X had strong feelings about the incident in Tampa, with one individual writing, “Why do entertainers insist on cutting the size of their audiences in half. JUST ENTERTAIN and SHUT UP.” Another person said, “Chant USA, USA and ruin a leftist’s day. Now you know.” Someone else zinged, “Yeah. I kind of think you are ignorant. You have confused being loud with being intelligent.”
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Featured Image: screenshot from embedded video