AUDLEY'S CAREER:

Audley Freed played in a large number of working bands in the NC area before joining 'Sidewinder', a popular covers band playing Led Zeppelin and Bad Company tunes. Audley left Sidewinder (at one time also featuring Robert Kearns), enlisted Jason Patterson from Nantucket and formed the foundations of Cry of Love.

Audley was principal songwriter on Cry of Love's 'Brother' album and exclusively wrote all the songs on the follow-up album 'Diamonds and Debris'.

When Cry of Love disbanded in 1997, Audley joined the Black Crowes, replacing original lead guitarist Marc Ford (the two are good friends). Audley began as touring guitarist for the Crowes 'By your Side' album and added his guitar to only a few songs on the subsequent 'Lions' album. Audley also performed with The Black Crowes and Jimmy Page on the 'Live at the Greek' album. Audley's last recording with the Crowes was The 'Black Crowes - Live' LP (released 08/02)which features Audley playing Black Crowes songs from their entire back catalogue.

1999 saw Audley reunited, for a single performance, with the Kelly Holland Cry of Love line-up at Warren Haynes' annual Xmas charity jam in Asheville, North Carolina. Audley has performed at many of these events to date, often also appearing with friend Warren for Gov't Mule and Allman Brothers shows.

In 2001, The Black Crowes advised the press that they were on a 'Hiatus' and brothers Rich and Chris Robinson individually recorded their first solo albums.

In 2002, Audley recorded with Mike Farris (Peaceful Kneival/Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies) for his album 'Goodnight Sun'.

At the beginning of 2003, Audley teamed up with Guitarist/Songwriter Alvin Youngblood-Hart to form the band 'JoB Cain'. The pair toured with rhythm section (which included COL member, Robert Kearns)that year but did not release any recordings. Later that year, both Audley and Alvin Youngblood-Hart became members of the Pink Floyd tribute band 'Blue Floyd'. Both are still playing with them today (see links page for website). Ironically Audley replaced Marc Ford in this latest line-up of Blue Floyd.

Around September 2003, Audley was seen touring as part of Country singer Jennifer Hanson's band.

In 2004, Audley began working with Black Crowes vocalist Chris Robinson on Chris's second solo album titled 'Magnificent Distance', released in July that year. Audley co-wrote one track and performed live as part of Chris's 'New Earth Mud' band. Audley was also spotted in 2004, playing in the Nashville area (his new home)in a group called "The Plastic Rulers".

Audley has been a busy guest player also, appearing on Caitlin Cary's album 'I'm Staying Out' and Alvin Youngblood-Hart's 'Motivational Speaker', the latter also featuring Robert Kearns.

Audley Freed was also occasionally 1/5th of Mike Farris' touring band,'Peaceful Knieval'

In January 2005, The Black Crowes reformed. Audley (and Steve Gorman) declined the invitation to re-join. The pair of ex-Crowes were seen playing around Nashville in a band called "Hey, Hey, Hey". Although Steve did finally rejoin the Crowes, "Hey Hey Hey" continued to play one-off shows around Nashville.

Audley has performed as part of Joe Perry's solo band in May/June 2005 but a return to recording with Aerosmith cut the tour short.

In 2006 Audley, hinted at a possible album with Sony:

"Doing a lot of the studio stuff really suits me. You can stay at home and be creative. I'm also doing some writing, and I started making a record last week for Sony. Although there are so many hurdles as to whether or not that will ever even come out, so who knows? Most of the records I've worked on have been for new artists you've never heard of. It's pretty workmanlike, man."

As of March 2007, Audley still lives and works in Nashville, playing on a variety of new artists' records and appearing in various one-off bands for local shows. Many of these appearences are at the Nashville Venue "The Family Wash". Keep an eye on the News pages for announcements and look to the Related Artists section of the Discography to see the recordings that Audley has most recently appeared on.