JONES GETS THE BIRD

THE BLACK CROWES were joined onstage by STEREOPHONICS' frontman KELLY JONES at an album launch party in NEW YORK on Saturday night (February 3).

Crowes singer Chris Robinson shared vocals with Jones on a climactic version of 'Twice As Hard', from the Crowes' 1990 record 'Shake Your Money Maker'. The performance took place in front of a stellar crowd, including Richard Branson, Mick Jagger, Goldie Hawn, Liv Tyler, Bryan Adams, Don Was and Moby.

All were squeezed into a disused bank in downtown Manhattan to witness the Southern rockers preview material from the new album 'Lions'. An energised Chris Robinson led the band through a set of mostly new material, including the Led Zeppelin-esque 'Greasy Grass River', revealing a leaner, hard rocking direction. As well as new songs and old favourites like 'Jealous Again', the band included a cover of Fleetwood Mac's 'Green Manalishi'.

UK label boss Richard Branson from V2 flew in especially for the party. He said he was personally excited by the new Crowes material. Branson also took care to draw local reporters attention to Stereophonics, who he described as "one of the best bands in Europe".

Following his raucous duet with Robinson, Jones told NME.COM: "I didn't know I was supposed to sing tonight until I bumped into their drummer's wife just before the show. To be honest I was dying for a piss throughout all their set so I couldn't wait to get on. It was good though. I like people who've got voices (with) a bit of edge to them. Chris (Robinson) comes from people like Paul Rogers from Free and Otis Redding, that school of singers, so yeah he's a good singer. There's not many singers in the world anymore but Chris is one of them."

Stereophonics are currently playing stripped down shows in the US, minus drummer Stuart Cable, who has stayed in Wales while his wife has a baby.