Counting Crows Take Flight Again

Duritz's admiration for his fellow musicians comes across in his tone and description.

"We work together," he said. "They understand every nuance in my voice, I don't think the public and the critics understand what a great band they are."

A Normal Life

But often times the dark-haired crooner has found a lot of attention focused on his personal life, rather than the band. Tabloids have linked the San Francisco native to a slew of famous femmes including "Friends" stars Jennifer Aniston and Courtney Cox.

"They don't report on my love life, they invent my love life," Duritz said of tabloid speculation about his personal life.

He's often cited as a former flame of Winona Ryder.

"I've never dated Winona Ryder." he said. "I don't really know her. I don't think I've seen her in ten years."

He said the coverage has often been difficult for the women he actually was dating.

"The girls I'm dating at the time never really think it's funny that I'm dating someone else," he said. "I've never cheated on anyone in my life."

Any misrepresentations disturb him. "If I read I went to the bathroom and I didn't go to the bathroom that upsets me," he said.

That's because Durtiz is a man who longs for normalcy. He loves to spend time with his family and friends and doesn't party or go clubbing. He visits Berkeley often.

Had it been up to him, he would have his own family by now. But he wanted to make sure he got his health in check first.

"I would have settled down a long time ago, but I wasn't healthy. I shouldn't have had children," Duritz said. "I'm a normal guy. I want the same things people want."

And he is normal, minus the fame and fortune. He always gives up his subway seat and never takes a taxi cab. It's part of what endears him to his fans and has helped mold his intimate relationship with them.

So, for them the band continues to tour – every record means one and a half to two years on the road.

"'I'm still here because I put the work in," Duritz said, "even these last few years when I was losing my mind and it kicked my ass."