Counting Crows

Counting Crows is an American rock band that started in Berkeley, California, in 1991. The band has several members, including vocalist Adam Duritz and other musicians who play instruments like guitars, drums, and keyboards.

The band became very popular after releasing their first album, August and Everything After in 1993. One of their big hits from that album is called "Mr. Jones". This album sold millions of copies and helped them become famous. They were even nominated for two Grammy Awards.

Counting Crows kept making music that many people loved. Some of their other well-known songs are "Rain King", "A Long December", and "Hanginaround". They also performed a song called "Big Yellow Taxi" originally by Joni Mitchell. In 2004, they were nominated for an Academy Award for a song they did for the movie Shrek 2.

Over the years, Counting Crows has released many albums and sold more than 20 million copies worldwide. They are known for their exciting live shows. In 2014, they released an album called Somewhere Under Wonderland, and in 2021, they put out a small collection of songs called Butter Miracle, Suite One. This grew into a full album named Butter Miracle, The Complete Sweets! in May 2025.

Origin of band name

The band Counting Crows chose their name from a old British rhyme about counting magpies, which are birds related to crows. The rhyme is called "One for Sorrow" and was popular in nurseries. Singer Adam Duritz heard this rhyme in a movie called Signs of Life, which starred his friend, actress Mary-Louise Parker.

One version of the rhyme goes like this:

One for sorrow,
Two for joy,
Three for a girl,
Four for a boy,
Five for silver,
Six for gold,
Seven for a secret,
Never to be told.
Eight for a wish,
Nine for a kiss,
Ten for a bird,
You must not miss.

The band used this idea in their song "A Murder of One" from their first album, August and Everything After.

History

1990s

1991–1992: Formation and early years

Adam Duritz, former member of the band the Himalayans, and producer/guitarist David Bryson formed Counting Crows in San Francisco in 1991. They began as a duo, playing gigs in and around Berkeley and San Francisco. Another friend, guitarist David Immerglück, played with them from time to time, though he was not an official member of the group. By 1993, the band had grown to a stable lineup of Duritz as vocalist, Bryson on guitar, Matt Malley playing bass guitar, Charlie Gillingham on keyboards, and Steve Bowman as drummer.

When Gary Gersh of Geffen Records heard the band's demo tape, he was impressed. A bidding war between nine different record labels broke out in February 1992. In April, the band signed a deal with Gersh and Geffen.

1993–1994: August and Everything After and popular success

The band's debut album, August and Everything After, was released in September 1993. The album's first single, "Mr. Jones", refers to Marty Jones and Kenney Dale Johnson. It describes the desire of working musicians to make it big. "Mr. Jones" was a breakthrough hit, drawing massive radio play and launching the band into stardom. With "Mr. Jones" propelling the band forward, it was decided that the band could use a second guitarist, and Dan Vickrey was offered the role as lead guitarist. The band toured extensively in 1993 and 1994, both as headliners and in supporting roles with other artists. In 1994, the band appeared on the January 15 broadcast of Saturday Night Live. The album sold seven million copies in the U.S. The band received two Grammy nominations in 1994.

Success took a toll on Counting Crows; Duritz suffered a widely reported issue, which was not his first. Towards the end of 1994, Bowman was replaced on drums by Ben Mize.

1995–1998: Recovering the Satellites and double live album

The band played only two gigs in 1995. This allowed Duritz to write a set of songs that became the band's second album, Recovering the Satellites. Released October 15, 1996, it was heavier than August and Everything After. This album contained the single "A Long December", which was a number one hit in Canada and a Top 10 hit in the United States.

On July 2, 1997, Counting Crows started off a co-headlining tour with the Wallflowers that continued to September. After nine months of near-constant touring in support of the album, Duritz developed issues in July 1997, leading to the cancellation of a number of gigs. After taking time off to recover, the band toured for the rest of 1997, concluding with a MTV show at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City. This concert was released as half of a double live album, Across a Wire: Live in New York City. The other disc was a recording of a predominantly acoustic set from the band's appearance on the VH1 Storytellers show.

1999–2001: This Desert Life and extensive touring

In 1999, Counting Crows performed at Woodstock 99. Later that same year, the band released This Desert Life, sales of which were propelled by the success of "Hanginaround" and "Colorblind", which was also featured in the movie Cruel Intentions. Supporting the album, the band embarked on a co-headlining tour with alternative rock band Live. Counting Crows closed nearly every show. Before this album and subsequent tour, the band invited session player and long-time friend David Immerglück to join the band as a permanent member. Immerglück had played on every Counting Crows album as a sideman, but early on had declined a permanent position. This time, however, Immerglück agreed. He plays a variety of instruments with the band, including acoustic, electric and pedal steel guitars, slide guitar and mandolin, as well as backing vocals.

2000s

2002–2003: Hard Candy and greatest hits album

On July 9, 2002, the band released its fourth studio album, Hard Candy. The album included a cover of Joni Mitchell's song "Big Yellow Taxi". Hard Candy received better reviews than the previous efforts, with "radio friendly" songs, like "American Girls", and contains a more upbeat feel and tempo. The band toured with the Dutch band, Bløf. A song, "Holiday in Spain", came together as a result of the camaraderie between the two groups.

Midway through the Hard Candy tour, drummer Mize amicably left the band to spend more time with his family and pursue his own musical interests. After Mize completed the American leg of the tour, he was replaced by Jim Bogios, formerly a drummer with Ben Folds and Sheryl Crow. Bogios attributes leaving Sheryl Crow for Counting Crows to becoming a band member and having more creative input. Following the Hard Candy tour, longtime bassist Malley left the band after growing weary of touring, and to attend to his duties as a new father. He was replaced by Millard Powers.

Counting Crows released the greatest hits album Films About Ghosts in November 2003.

2004–2006: Oscars and New Amsterdam

In 2004, the band's "Accidentally in Love" song appeared on the soundtrack of the animated film Shrek 2. At the 77th Academy Awards, the song was nominated for Best Original Song, but lost to "Al otro lado del río" from The Motorcycle Diaries.

In June 2006, the band released New Amsterdam: Live at Heineken Music Hall album.

2007–2008: Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings

Duritz hinted in a 2006 interview that Counting Crows' next studio record would be released in late 2007. He indicated that the band had spent three weeks working in a recording studio with Gil Norton, the producer behind Recovering the Satellites, and revealed the working title of the album to be Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings. Duritz explained that, "Saturday night is when you sin and Sunday is when you regret." Vickrey stated that "the idea at the moment is to have kind of a rocking side and then an acoustic-y, maybe country-ish side."

Amidst touring in the summer of 2007, the band performed live before the Home Run Derby at the 2007 MLB All-Star Game on July 9, 2007. On July 22 they previewed two new songs at Daniel S. Frawley Stadium in Wilmington, Delaware, a new ballad titled "Washington Square" and a hard rocking track called "Cowboys". On August 8, 2007, VH1 filmed a live performance of "Mr. Jones", clips of which were shown on the miniseries 100 Greatest Songs of the 90s. The song ranked No. 27 on the list.

In September 2007, Counting Crows played a unique show at Town Hall in New York City, during which it performed all the tracks from August and Everything After in album order. The show was recorded for a planned DVD release, and also featured several songs from the new album. On September 27, Duritz announced on his blog that the band had asked its record label to postpone the release of Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings until early 2008, citing the time pressures involved in preparing both the new album and an August and Everything After deluxe edition for release.

On January 16, 2008, the band released a digital single on its official website as a free download. It featured "1492" from the "Saturday Nights" half of the new album, and "When I Dream Of Michelangelo" from the "Sunday Mornings" half as its B-side. The album was released on March 25, 2008.

Departure from Geffen

On March 22, 2009, Duritz announced on the band's website that they would be leaving Geffen Records, with whom they had worked for 18 years.

Following the departure from Geffen, the band has continued to tour. During the summer of 2009, they launched the ambitious Saturday Night Rebel Rockers Traveling Circus and Medicine Show tour with longtime Bay Area friend Michael Franti, his band Spearhead, and the band Augustana.

2010s

2010–2013: Independent releases and individual projects

The album August and Everything After: Live at Town Hall was released on August 29, 2011. The release marked the band's third professionally produced live album, and the first concert video of its career. The album used footage from the Town Hall concert, recorded in September 2007.

The band released a covers album entitled Underwater Sunshine (Or What We Did On Our Summer Vacation) on April 10, 2012. After touring extensively in 2012 and 2013 in support of the album, the band began working on material for a new album. Duritz also took time in the summer of 2012 to begin co-writing a play called Black Sun, which will also feature some music written by Duritz.

A live album, Echoes of the Outlaw Roadshow, was released in North America in November 2013.

2014–2019: Somewhere Under Wonderland, podcast and wine

The writing of material for a new album, Somewhere Under Wonderland, began early in 2013 and continued during that year's summer tour. The album was released on September 2, 2014.

In 2018, Duritz became an investor in three wineries based in Napa Valley, California—Elyse Winery, Institution Winery, and Addax Winery—managed by winemaker Russell Bevan.

Starting in February 2018, Duritz began recording the Underwater Sunshine Podcast, a weekly music podcast with author and music journalist James Campion. Having parted ways with Spaulding, Duritz and friends began putting on their own twice-annual music festival in New York called the Underwater Sunshine Fest to showcase independent music. The first festival, held at the Bowery Electric in October 2018, featured 17 bands over two nights. A second in April 2019 showcased 18 bands, and a third held at Rockwood Music Hall in November 2019 expanded the lineup to 26.

In January 2019, Counting Crows released a newly recorded version of "August and Everything After" performed with the London Symphony Orchestra at AIR Studios. The song was cut from the band's first album, which had been named after it. Duritz then revealed in late 2019 that he had begun writing new music that past August.

2020s

2020–present: Butter Miracle, cooking and more

In early February 2020, Duritz described the band's next project as suites of music that may be released on various EPs. The band began studio sessions in late February and early March on four songs that complete the first suite: "The Tall Grass", "Elevator Boots", "The Angel of 14th Street", and "Bobby and the Rat Kings". Mott the Hoople, Thin Lizzy, and Seán Barna's album CISSY were cited as influences on demos of the songs.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, without touring and being unable to work on music in the studio, as well as taking a hiatus from his podcast, Duritz began hosting cooking videos through his Instagram stories. Speaking with chef Tyler Florence, Duritz said the type of research he would do regarding music for the podcast he turned into exploring more about food and cooking to share with others. Duritz and Campion would return to producing the Underwater Sunshine Podcast in May 2021.

"Elevator Boots" was released as the first single for the four-track EP in April 2021, described by Rolling Stone as "a melodic, wistful ode to life on tour, with a sound that somehow manages to bridge the gap between The Band and Mott the Hoople." The EP, titled Butter Miracle, Suite One, was released on May 21, 2021.

At the time, Duritz told Rolling Stone that a second EP, Butter Miracle, Suite Two, would be released and together with the first form a full album. He was writing songs for the second EP, and the band planned to resume touring in the fall of 2021. In February 2022, Duritz appeared as a guest vocalist on two tracks on Gang of Youths' third studio album Angel in Realtime. Later that year, he confirmed that he had completed writing for Suite Two, but that he believed that the initial songwriting was not strong enough. He decided to rewrite the songs and add an additional composition, and that recording for the follow-up could only happen once the band was done with touring.

During the 2022 Butter Miracle Tour, Counting Crows performed live in Israel for the first time, playing in an amphitheater in the city of Ra'anana. In April 2023, the band returned to Australia and New Zealand for a series of headlining shows, with English musician Frank Turner supporting them. The following year, the Oneness Tour saw them travel with Santana.

On February 21, 2025, the band put out a new single, "Spaceman in Tulsa", to announce the release date for the upcoming album Butter Miracle, The Complete Sweets!. Forgoing a second EP, the new album, with the four songs from the Suite One EP plus five additional songs, was released on May 9, 2025.

Influences, live performances and covers

Counting Crows is famous for their exciting and full live shows. The band members were inspired by musicians like Van Morrison, R.E.M., and Bob Dylan.

During their live performances, Counting Crows sometimes change the words in their songs. For example, in the song "Round Here," they add words from another song called "Have You Seen Me Lately?" In February 2011, their lead singer, Adam Duritz, released an album of songs he liked to sing, called All My Bloody Valentines. Fans helped pick the album cover. The band has sold over 20 million albums around the world.

Documentary

On December 18, 2025, HBO Max released Counting Crows: Have You Seen Me Lately?, a feature-length documentary. The film looks at the band's rise to fame after the release of August and Everything After and the making of Recovering the Satellites.

The documentary was directed by Amy Scott and includes interviews with band members David Bryson, Charlie Gillingham, Dan Vickrey, and David Immerglück, as well as former bandmate Matt Malley. Other well-known people like Cyndi Lauper, Chris Martin of Coldplay, actress Mary-Louise Parker, and comedian Jeff Ross also shared their thoughts in the film.

Band members

Counting Crows is an American rock band from Berkeley, California. The band has several members who play different instruments and sing. Some of the current members include Adam Duritz who sings and plays keyboards, Charlie Gillingham who plays keyboards, and Dan Vickrey who plays lead guitar. There have also been past members who played with the band for a while before leaving.

Accolades

American Music Awards

The American Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony created by Dick Clark in 1973.

Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

Juno Awards

The Juno Awards, more popularly known as the JUNOS, are awards presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music.

MTV Video Music Awards

The MTV Video Music Awards were established in 1984 by MTV to celebrate the top music videos of the year

Discography

Counting Crows has released several studio albums over the years. Some of their albums include August and Everything After from 1993, Recovering the Satellites from 1996, and This Desert Life from 1999. They continued to make music with albums like Hard Candy in 2002 and Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings in 2008. More recent albums include Underwater Sunshine (or What We Did on Our Summer Vacation) from 2012 and Somewhere Under Wonderland from 2014. Their latest album, Butter Miracle, The Complete Sweets!, was released in 2025.