The Von Bondies

The Von Bondies assembled around 2000 in Detroit, MI. Led by guitarist/vocalist Jason Stollsteimer, the group also included guitarist Marcie Bolen, bassist Carrie Smith, and drummer Don Blum. The quartet's fusion of raw blues heartache with ferocious, gritty punk was an overnight sensation in the Motor City, where such influences seemed to float on the surface of the water. They issued a few initial singles ("It Came From Japan," "Nite Train") and word was spreading fast about their fiery live show. But it was the Von Bondies' participation in Jack White's soon-to-be-legendary Sympathetic Sounds of Detroit compilation that really got things moving. The affiliation led to a deal of their own with Sympathy for the Record Industry, as well as an international coming-out party as opening act for the White Stripes. White also served as producer for Lack of Communication, their raucous full-length debut, which dropped in August 2001. With the album doing well both domestically and abroad, and the surge of "garage rock" as "the latest thing," it was only a matter of time until the major labels came a-calling. The Von Bondies eventually signed with Sire and began work on their sophomore effort. June 2003 saw the release of Raw and Rare (Dim Mak), a holdover collection of BBC recordings from 2001 and 2002, as well as a few rave-ups recorded at Detroit's own Lager House. That summer, the band played a triumphant hometown gig with the reunited Stooges as they prepared for the issuing of the Jerry Harrison-produced Pawn Shoppe Heart, which arrived in early 2004. That fall, Smith left the group; Yasmine Smith (no relation) filled her bass duties.