Adam Duritz: ‘It's My World and I Love It'

'Connection is a hell of a thing…it's the life jacket we all need,' says Adam Duritz, frontman of Counting Crows, a band that's built their 30-year career through heartfelt live performances, emotional lyrics, and recurring, world-building themes in their songs.
Ironic, then, that growing up, Duritz says he didn't know how to make connections with other people. 'When I was younger, I was so stuck inside myself,' he tells me from his New York City home. A bunch of movie posters plaster the wall behind him—Seven Samurai and Smokey and the Bandit among them. He's wearing a black Raspberries T-shirt, and sports a full black beard and a head full of dark brown hair, albeit thinner and shorter than the dreadlocks he was known for back in the '90s.
More from Spin:
5 Albums I Can't Live Without: Paul Leary of Butthole Surfers
Pearl Jam Welcome Peter Frampton For 'Black' In Nashville
Lorde Lays Out Extensive 'Virgin' Tour Plans
'I had all this stuff I felt, and no way to express it or no way to connect with people because I didn't talk to people very well, and I didn't have any way to make connections. I felt so bound up inside myself.'
It wasn't until later in life that he discovered he was suffering from depersonalization disorder, a condition that makes him feel emotionally detached from his surroundings, and even himself, which can last from minutes to sometimes months. Imagine feeling like you are seeing yourself from outside of your own body, or that everything around you is not real, and you don't know how to stop it; that's how Duritz feels a lot of the time. It can be a lonely existence
Duritz's father served in the military during the Vietnam War and later became a doctor, which meant the family moved around a lot, only adding to his sense of isolation.
'It really separates you from the world in a lot of bad ways,' Duritz says. 'I was always a new kid. I didn't know people. I really had a lot of questions when I was younger, and I knew something was wrong with me. How am I going to take care of myself? How am I going to live a life? I didn't really know how any of this was going to work.'
While he was in college, Duritz discovered, rather spontaneously, that he could write songs and play them. 'Good Morning, Little Sister' was the first song he ever wrote, about his younger sister who was going through a difficult time as a teenager. For the first time in his life, he says he had a sense of self, of who he was: He was a songwriter.
'I had a feeling there was all this stuff inside me that mattered, that was important, but it just was there, like a big ball of feeling,' he says. 'And then I write songs, and suddenly it's this way that connects me to the whole world, and all the things inside me that were stuck because the mental illness had a purpose.'
Then, in 1993, two years after forming the Counting Crows with producer-guitarist David Bryson, the band—which by then consisted of Matt Malley on bass, drummer Steve Bowman, and on keyboards, Charlie Gillingham—exploded onto the music scene with its multi-platinum breakout album, August and Everything After. Then, in 1996, the group's sophomore album, Recovering the Satellites, debuted at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 album chart, going double platinum.
The Counting Crows has released a number of live albums and compilations over the years, as well as five studio records, including its latest, Butter Miracle, The Complete Sweets!, the band's first in seven years.
As Duritz describes it, the new record is 'so rock and roll.'
Not to be confused with the band's 2021 EP, Butter Miracle: Suite One, Butter Miracle, The Complete Sweets! is a sequel of sorts to its predecessor. Duritz tells me he wrote Suite One as a challenge to himself, to see if he could write one long-playing, continuous piece of music. The result was, well, a suite of four songs: 'The Tall Grass,' 'Elevator Boots,' 'Angel of 14th Street,' and 'Bobby and the Rat-Kings.' But it was also his answer to how people listen to music now.
'I don't know if anyone's listening to whole records,' says Duritz. 'People are digesting music in different ways anyway, so to me, it felt like since I was moved to challenge myself to make this 20-minute piece of music where the songs all flow together, it was just that, you know? But I really loved how it turned out. I thought well, it does make sense to make another half to this, though.'
The Complete Sweets includes remixed versions of the songs on Suite One, along with five new songs, including the band's latest singles, 'Spaceman in Tulsa' and 'Under the Aurora.'
But the road to get there wasn't so easy. Going back to his friend's farm in West England, where he wrote Suite One, Duritz composed the other half of the album and on his way home, he stopped in London to sing backing vocals on the Gang of Youths' album, Angel in Realtime. When the band sent him the finished product, he thought it was one of the best records he had heard in a long time.
'I was so blown away listening to it, and I had this realization that these songs on their record were significantly better than the stuff I'd written,' he says. 'The stuff lacked a sort of passion that these songs had and they were missing something, and I needed to go back to the drawing board.'
So, that's what he did. And through the process of reworking his new songs, Duritz pushed himself like he'd never done before.
'I'd never really had this experience before of thinking I'd finished something and then realizing it wasn't good enough,' he tells me. 'They were a little more ambitious musically, to the point where I couldn't play them myself. Usually, I can tell a song is good because I can just play it for myself. But these were really difficult for me to play. I had them in my head, but I couldn't recreate them.'
As much as he loved his new material, he lacked the confidence to share it with the rest of the band.
So he sat on it for two years.
Then a breakthrough happened. He wrote 'With Love, from A-Z.'
'I knew that was great. I loved that song,' he says. 'And it felt like, in a way, an updating of 'Round Here.' Whereas that's a real statement of a person and where they are in life, just as a kid getting ready to go out into the world and make something. And to me, 'With Love, from A-Z' was a statement of where I am today. And I really felt it worked and it was very powerful.'
With a renewed sense of confidence, Duritz invited band members David Immerglück (guitar), Jim Bogios (drums), and Millard Powers (bass) to his house to play his new songs.
Two weeks later, along with the rest of the group, Duritz ripped through the tracks in the studio in 11 days. Then, together with Chad Blake, the Counting Crows mixed the new songs, combining them with the remixed Suite One tracks, making a complete, nine-track LP.
'So the Suite [One] sounds different now than it did originally because we remade it to match the first half,' he says. 'The two pieces fit together really well. It was a different experience…'
While the title of the album, Butter Miracle, The Complete Sweets!, has a bit of a nonsensical tone to it, the themes that run through it are quite serious and incredibly relevant to what's going on in America now.
'Boxcars,' for instance, is about the deportation of immigrants. 'Under the Aurora' was inspired by the murder of George Floyd during the pandemic. Other songs cover the objectification of women and trans kids in sports.
'A lot of the stuff on this record is about people in isolation and people on the outside looking in, finding ways to get through life. Sometimes it works out because we can pick up a guitar,' says Duritz, referring to himself.
Duritz says that after more than 30 years together, he and the band are still fascinated with the process of making music, exploring new ways to perform older songs live, never replicating the same old playlists during their shows, and, as with the group's new album, finding new ways to write songs.
'We enjoy playing music,' he says. 'I love being in a band. I don't want to be a solo artist. I like the jazz of being in a band. I think we matter to each other. I've watched my friends fuck up great bands. I don't want to do that. There are a million ways to justify why things should fall apart. You just have to decide whether that's okay to let it happen.'
The musical landscape is a lot different than when August and Everything After debuted, when the only option to hear it was to buy the album at the record store or borrow (or copy) it from a friend. Exposure meant getting a single played on the radio or creating a music video for MTV. The rise of streaming music, of course, has changed all of that; it's all the music you want, anytime you want, making it more difficult for artists to stay relevant, to build a fanbase, to connect with an audience. The Counting Crows are still passionate about being in a rock 'n roll band.
'I'm 30-some-odd years into a career here; a career that lasts five minutes for most people, if it even happens,' Duritz says. 'And we're still a band and we're still going on tour. And it's still cool. There are bands that are bigger and, it's not effortless, but it's still happening. That thing that saved me when I was a kid is still saving me now. It's my world, and I love it.'
To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Yahoo

7 hours ago

• Yahoo

Juneteenth events and Black-owned businesses in Albuquerque

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Juneteenth, celebrated annually on June 19, is a U.S. federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery and the American Civil War. While the city of Albuquerque already celebrated the holiday at Civic Plaza, there are other events still to come. Here are some upcoming Juneteenth events happening around Albuquerque, as well as some local Black-owned businesses to support. Juneteenth celebrated at Civic Plaza Thursday, June 19 Sunset Acequia Stroll Celebrate liberation and Juneteenth with a little bit of nature. This free offering to the community consists of a slow, guided walk involving mindfulness exercises and playful nature explorations. This event is from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Candelaria Nature Preserve. Third Thursday: Juneteenth Join the Albuquerque Museum for an evening of food, music, and celebration, featuring special performances and goods and services. End the free evening with a walk through the sculpture garden and Tiguex Park. This event is from 5 p.m. to 8:30 Community Gospel Concert Empower and celebrate the community with a night of encouraging and uplifting contemporary gospel music. This free event is from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at North Domingo Baca Park. Juneteenth Freedom Block Party United We Dance Studios hosts a freedom and community event, a vibrant evening full of music, dancing, food, and fun for all ages. Shop through local vendors, participate in raffles and giveaways, and play dominoes and spades from 5 p.m. to People's Juneteenth Visit Roosevelt Park from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. to celebrate resistance. Attendees can expect dynamic political education on Black history, beautiful cultural performances, family- and kid-friendly activities, free food, and more. The beginner's guide to celebrating Juneteenth Albuquerque has an abundance of Black-owned businesses, from restaurants to retail. Whether patrons are visiting from out of state or shopping around their hometown, their money and support can go a long way. This compilation is limited to select leisure activities, food, shopping, entertainment, and attractions. For a more comprehensive list, visit Coffee House & Pub Big Boss Hot Links Food Truck Biscuit Boy Bobbi's Homestyle Catering Frank's Famous Chicken & Waffles Nexus Restaurant & Brewery Q's Cakes and Sweets Boutique Rude Boy Cookies Yummy's Mini Donuts & Ice CreamLotus Sound Bath Tour ABQBaskets of Africa Bert and Jess Clothiers Biggers Farm FlowerLoop High Desert FlameworksAfrican American Performing Arts Center and Exhibit Hall Beyond Poetry Mothership Alumni NB Artistry New Mexico Black Leadership Council New Mexico Entertainment Magazine Pride and Equality Magazine The Syndicate A guide to what the Juneteenth holiday is and how to celebrate it Childhood Development Centers Most City Offices Community Centers Health & Social Service Centers KiMo Theatre Libraries Open Space Visitors Center Senior, Multigenerational & 50+ Sports & Fitness Centers Senior Meal Sites Jerry Cline Tennis Facility 311 Community Contact Center Albuquerque Museum Balloon Museum Animal & Adoption Shelters ABQ RIDE & Sun Van Albuquerque International Sunport Aquarium, Botanic Garden, Tingley Beach & Zoo Golf Courses Shooting Range Park Swimming Pools Sierra Vista Tennis Facility Trash & Recycling Learn more about the Juneteenth holiday as well as Black history at the Albuquerque Public Library. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

14 hours ago

Key moments from the sixth week of Sean 'Diddy' Combs' sex trafficking trial

NEW YORK -- The sixth week of the Sean 'Diddy' Combs' sex trafficking trial was shortened by a holiday and a juror's illness as prosecutors nearly concluded their case, setting the stage for a one- or two-day defense presentation next week. In the trial's first five weeks, jurors repeatedly heard testimony about drug-fueled marathon sex events described as 'freak-offs' by one of Combs' ex-girlfriends and as 'hotel nights' by another. In the sixth week, they were shown about 20 minutes of video recordings from the dayslong events. Combs, the founder of Bad Boy Entertainment, has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges in the trial, which continues Monday. Here are key moments from the past week: Jurors largely kept their reactions muted when they were shown about 20 minutes of recordings made by Combs of his then-girlfriends having sex with male sex workers at the elaborately staged 'freak-offs' or 'hotel nights.' Prosecutors say the events were proof of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges because Combs coerced his employees, associates and even his girlfriends to recruit and arrange flights for sex workers while his workers obtained drugs, stocked hotel rooms with baby oil, lubricant, condoms, candles and liquor and delivered cash. In her opening statement, defense lawyer Teny Geragos had called the videos 'powerful evidence that the sexual conduct in this case was consensual and not based on coercion.' Prosecutors played about 2 minutes of the recordings before the defense team aired about 18 minutes of the videos. The public and the press were unable to observe whether the prosecutors or defense lawyers had the better arguments after the judge ruled that neither the recordings nor the sound could be seen or heard by anyone except lawyers, the judge and the jury. Several jurors seemed to cast their eyes and sometimes turn their bodies away from the screens directly in front of them while the recordings played. The jurors listened through earphones supplied by the court, as did Combs and lawyers. Judge Arun Subramanian started the week by dismissing a juror whose conflicting answers about whether he lived in New Jersey or New York convinced the judge he was a threat to the integrity of the trial. Subramanian said the juror's answers during jury selection and in the week before he was excused 'raised serious concerns as to the juror's candor and whether he shaded answers to get on and stay on the jury.' 'The inconsistencies — where the juror has lived and with whom — go to straightforward issues as to which there should not have been any doubts, and the answers also go to something vital: the basic qualifications of a juror to serve,' the judge said. Residents of New Jersey would not be permitted to sit on a New York federal jury. A day before Subramanian ruled, defense lawyers argued fiercely against dismissal, saying that replacing the Black juror with a white alternate juror so late in the trial would change the diverse demographics of the jury and require a mistrial. The jurors are anonymous for the Combs trial. It wasn't the only issue regarding jurors for the week. The judge, angered by a media report about the questioning of another juror the week before that occurred in a sealed proceeding, warned lawyers that they could face civil and criminal sanctions if such a leak happened again. That juror was not dismissed. And Wednesday's court session had to be canceled after a juror reported "vertigo symptoms" on the way to the courthouse. Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo seemed to close the door on any chance Combs would testify when he said Friday that the defense presentation would be finished Tuesday or Wednesday the following week, even if prosecutors don't rest until late Monday. It is not uncommon for defendants to choose not to testify at criminal trials. Besides being exposed to cross-examination by prosecutors, the testimony can be used by the government against the defendant should there be a need for a retrial. Also, if there is a conviction, the judge can conclude that the jury believed the defendant lied on the stand. Brendan Paul, fresh off the college basketball courts where he once played in a cameo role for Syracuse University, joined Combs' companies as a personal assistant in late 2022 and was warned by a friend who had worked for Combs about what was ahead. 'He told me to get in and get out,' Paul recalled for the jury, citing the endless days and always-on-edge existence. 'If you have a girlfriend, break up with her. And you're never going to see your family.' The friend also instructed him to 'build a rolodex of clientele and get out,' he said. Paul said he worked 80 to 100 hours a week for a music power broker who received 'thousands and thousands' of text messages and emails a day. He was paid $75,000 salary initially, but it was raised in January 2024 to $100,000. He said Combs told him he 'doesn't take no for an answer' and wanted his staff to 'move like Seal Team Six.' Several times, Paul said, he picked up drugs for Combs and knew to keep his boss out of the drug trade because 'it was very important to keep his profile low. He's a celebrity.' The job came to an abrupt end in March 2024 when Paul was arrested at a Miami airport on drug charges after a small amount of cocaine that he said he picked up in Combs' room that morning was mistakenly put in his travel bag as he prepared to join Combs on a trip to the Bahamas. The charges were later dropped in a pretrial diversion program.

Forbes

16 hours ago

• Forbes

Lorde Brings Down The ‘Hammer' With New Single

Lorde New Zealand singer Lorde has been in the public eye since she was a teenager, effectively growing up in the spotlight and coming into her own in front of millions of fans. Her upcoming fourth studio album Virgin is shaping up to be a treatise on discovering who you are and reconciling who that person is with what others — in this case, the world — might think of you. The recently released single 'Man of the Year' elaborated on that sentiment, and her latest single 'Hammer' gives a wider look into her psyche at this moment in her life and career. 'I burn and I sing and I scheme and I dance / Some days I'm a woman, some days I'm a man," she sings on the track. 'I might have been born again / I'm ready to feel like I don't have thе answers / There's pеace in the madness over our heads / Let it carry me on.' Much like the Polaroid photo on the album cover, Virgin is meant to represent a snapshot of the Kiwi crooner's life as she enters her late twenties. 'This is just me at this exact age and stage. It feels like a section of my favorites in my camera roll or something. Just like, 'These are the iconic moments from age 26 to age 28,'' she said on the Therapuss podcast. Ultimately, what came out of her hard work and deep introspection was her favorite project to date. '[This album] sort of took some bravery, actually,' she confessed. 'I've never loved anything I've made so much. It's so sick.' Lorde is supporting the new project with the Ultrasound World Tour, set to criss-cross North America and Europe later this year. Hit-making musicians Blood Orange, Empress Of, Nilüfer Yanya, and Oklou will join her on select dates throughout the tour. Virgin is out June 27. The Ultrasound World Tour kicks off Sept. 17 in Austin and wraps up Dec. 17 in Brooklyn.