MUSIC : Black Crowes Take Flight on a String of Album Successes : The bluesy rockers have no problem selling hits. But the group says it’s often been misunderstood by the public.

Pouty Atlanta rock stars known as the Black Crowes will bring their brand of swagger to the scenic Santa Barbara County Bowl on Sunday evening.

The Crowes, featuring the battling Robinson brothers--Chris (voice) and Rich (guitars), Marc Ford (guitars), Steve Gorman (drums), Johnny Colt (bass) and Eddie Harsch (keyboards)--are on that endless road trip. It began shortly after their debut disc, “Shake Your Money Maker,” hit it big in 1990. The first two albums sold over 10 million copies, and the third one, “Amorica,” will delay any threat of homelessness for another, say, 500 years.

If the Rolling Stones merely reinvented Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters in the ‘60s, and Aerosmith reinvented the Stones in the ‘70s, then the Crowes are perhaps Aerosmith for the ‘90s with an endless supply of bluesy-flavored rock songs. And Mick Jagger, Steven Tyler and Chris Robinson would reach the finals of any Pout-Off.

All along, the Black Crowes have made waves without the benefit of having a beach. They were kicked off a tour with ZZ Top for criticizing the tour sponsor, a brand of light beer; they’ve been picketed by feminists for an objectionable photo on their second album, went round and round with bouncers on numerous occasions, and generally exude the Rock ‘n’ Roll Attitude. Yet last week they put on a benefit radio show broadcast nationwide to aid victims of the Oklahoma City bombing.

It was bass player Johnny Colt’s turn to talk to the press on this leg of their never-ending tour.

Who’s your favorite black bird: Daffy Duck, Heckle, Jeckle, the Maltese Falcon or one of your band members?

Hmmm. I’d have to say the Maltese Falcon by a long shot.

*

What’s misunderstood about the Crowes?

Sometimes, it’s just the whole package. There’s a lot of myths that exist about this band, such as the arrogance.

*

How has success changed the band?

Some things have changed, some good, some bad. It gives you a certain amount of freedom, but it takes some away, too. More people want to talk to me all the time, and that’s good. When they don’t, I’m out of a job.

*

What can you afford that you couldn’t before?

I’ve got a bigger phone bill. Now, I go to a lot of old record shops, and I pick up lots of instruments. I couldn’t tell you how many basses I’ve got now. They’re stacked to the ceiling.

*

In most bands, the singer and the guitar player get the girls and the bass player and the drummer get to carry all the gear to the van.

It don’t work that way in this band.

*

Why bass? Were you a guitar player first?

No, I’ve always been a bass player. It pays to specialize. The instrument has both percussion and tonality, if you know what I mean. It’s a manly instrument. Chris and I first met in clubs where we were fans of each other’s bands. They’d come and sit in with us sometimes, and we’d go sit in with them sometimes. The time came when they needed a gun and that gun was me.

*

Do you think bouncers are an alien race put on Earth to terrorize rock fans?

I don’t think they’re an alien race, but we have had bouncer problems in the past. Sometimes when people get a little power and a T-shirt that says “Security” on it, they go a little out of control. Also, we’ve met some really cool bouncers.

*

Does the Black Crowes tour ever end?

We’ve been out for 14 months now with about eight or nine months to go. The first tour lasted 20 months, then we took off eight days to record our second album. I’ve only been home for a couple of days, but that’s not a problem for me. Things are good--rolling right along. I want to play every day. I love it. If you want to play, and playing gets you through your day, then that’s it.

*

How did the Oklahoma City benefit come about?

We were going to go there anyway, but after they had the problem, the show was canceled. But we figured since we were going to be there anyway, we should do something. It was a great show; it came off really well. There were 800 and 900 numbers to call to pledge money.

*

How does a Crowes song come to be?

Chris and Rich write, but there’s no actual pattern. Sometimes they write together or individually, bring it in, and we just piece it together and kick it around. A song just sort of builds, and since we started, we’ve certainly learned how to play.

*

Why do rock ‘n’ roll T-shirts cost so much?

I dunno. I’ll look into that--I really will. I know one thing, we don’t carry the cheap merchandise. Our T-shirts will last forever.

*

What haven’t the Black Crowes done yet?

What have we done? We haven’t done anything. We’ve made a couple of albums and toured a lot, that’s it. We want to do it all. We’re in pursuit of the same thing: We want to make better records and play better.

Details

* WHAT: The Black Crowes, Dirty Dozen Brass Band.

* WHEN: 6 p.m. Sunday.

* WHERE: Santa Barbara County Bowl, 1122 Milpas St.

* HOW MUCH: $27.

* CALL: 568-2695.