The Von Bondies

The Von Bondies
Background information
Also known as	The Baby Killers
Origin	Detroit, Michigan, United States
Genres	Alternative rock, indie rock, garage rock revival, post-punk revival, punk blues (early)
Years active	1997–2011
Labels	Majordomo Records (US/CAN) Fierce Panda (UK/EU) Sire Records Sympathy for the Record Industry Dim Mak Records Intheact Records Model Citizen Records
Associated acts	Hounds Below Jerry Harrison Butch Walker Jim Diamond Peter Katis
Website	http://www.vonbondies.com/
Past members	Jason Stollsteimer Don Blum Carrie Ann Smith Leann Banks Christy Hunt Marcie Bolen

The Von Bondies was an American alternative rock band active from 1997 to 2011.

The original line-up formed at the 1997 Cramps/Guitar Wolf show by Jason Stollsteimer and Marcie Bolen.^[1] They went through a variety of member changes and band names, including The Baby Killers, before settling on The Von Bondies in 2000. Don Blum joined the band around 1999 after attending numerous Baby Killers shows, while Leann Banks was picked via an audition. The Von Bondies got their break by playing a New Year's Eve show in Detroit, Michigan in 2000. In attendance at the show was Long Gone John, owner of the Sympathy for the Record Industry label. This led to Sympathy releasing the band's debut album Lack of Communication in 2001.

In 2003, the band released the live Raw and Rare through Dim Mak Records, which was followed by their 2004 breakthrough release, Pawn Shoppe Heart, on Sire Records. Pawn Shoppe was produced by Jerry Harrison of Talking Heads and co-produced by Stollsteimer.

The album reached a peak of No. 36 in the UK Albums Chart,^[2] and No. 8 on Billboard's Top Heatseekers chart and stayed in that chart for eight weeks.^[3] The hit single from this release was "C'mon C'mon", which reached No. 25 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart and garnered national radio play.

A shortened version of "C'mon C'mon" was the theme song to the TV series Rescue Me and was performed live by the band in Michael Winterbottom's film 9 Songs. MLB Network also uses a brief clip of the song as the opening of their show 30 Clubs in 30 Days.

In 2008, the band signed with indie label Majordomo Records,^[4] joining label mates The Airborne Toxic Event^[5] and Earlimart.^[6] Their label debut, Love, Hate and Then There's You, was released in February 2009 featuring the single "Pale Bride".

Known as a touring act, The Von Bondies have headlined tours of the United Kingdom/Europe, Australia, and the United States, taking along supporting bands like The Kills, Kasabian, Franz Ferdinand, Modey Lemon, SSM, The Subways, The Stills, Hot Panda and The Donnas.^[7] They have also appeared on Late Show with David Letterman, Last Call with Carson Daly and CD:UK.^[8]

The group disbanded in July 2011.^[9] Its lineup at the time was Jason Stollsteimer on vocals and lead guitar, Christy Hunt on rhythm guitar and Leann Banks on bass guitar.

Biography

Early days

In 2000, Stollsteimer and Marcie Bolen attended a concert by Japanese garage punk band Guitar Wolf. At the time, Stollsteimer was working a job as a bowling alley bartender and Marcie as a hairdresser. The performance spurred Stollsteimer to create his own band, The Baby Killers, which toured with fellow Detroit bands The Detroit Cobras, The Go and The White Stripes. After recruiting Lauren Wilcox on bass and Don Blum on drums the band changed their name to the Von Bondies.

While playing a handful of shows in the Detroit area, the quartet recorded singles "It Came from Japan", an ode to Guitar Wolf, and "Nite Train".

Lack of Communication (2001–2002)

Jack White produced the Von Bondies' debut album, Lack of Communication, in late 2001.^[10] It was recorded in three days.^[11] It was released in 2001 by Sympathy for the Record Industry, and in the UK by Sweet Nothing Records. The hidden bonus track was a cover of Sam Cooke's "Bring It On Home to Me", with Bolen on lead vocals. The band said this is the least expensive album they made.^[12]

Pawn Shoppe Heart (2003–2005)

The group relocated to a San Francisco recording studio in early 2002 with producer Jerry Harrison to begin work on Pawn Shoppe Heart.

Broken ties

On the evening of December 13, 2003, an altercation occurred between Stollsteimer and the White Stripes frontman Jack White during the record release party for the band Blanche at The Magic Stick (a Detroit music club). Stollsteimer was treated for injuries at Detroit Receiving Hospital.^[13] Detroit police arrested White and the Wayne County prosecutor's office charged him with aggravated assault.^[14] White pleaded guilty to assault and a judge sentenced him to anger management classes.^[15]

Love, Hate and Then There's You (2009–2011)

The Von Bondies' third album is Love, Hate and Then There's You.^[16] It was released on February 3, 2009. They released a limited-edition 7-inch single of "Pale Bride" from the album, backed with the non-album song "Falling in Love".^[17]

The Von Bondies celebrated their ninth year together with this release. This was the first time that a Von Bondies release saw Don Blum co-write with Stollsteimer. Love, Hate was produced by Jason Stollsteimer, with three songs by Butch Walker and three songs by Rick Parker. All songs were written by Jason Stollsteimer, except "Blame Game" and "Earthquake", which were co-written by Stollsteimer and Blum.

Members

• Jason Stollsteimer: Vocals and guitar (1997–2011)
• Leann Banks: Bass guitar and vocals (2006–2011)
• Christy Hunt: Guitar and vocals (2008–2011)
• Lauren Wilcox: Bass guitar (2001)
• Carrie Ann Smith: Bass guitar and vocals (2001–2004)
• Yasmine Smith: Bass guitar and vocals, touring member (2004–2006)
• Marcie Bolen: Guitar, (2001–2006)
• Alicia Gbur: Guitar, keyboards, vocals, touring member (November 2007–March 2008)
• Matt Lannoo: Guitar, touring member (November 2007–March 2008)
• Don Blum: Drums and percussion (1997–2011)

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

• "We Are Kamikazes" (Intheact Records, 2008)

Singles

• "Nite Train" 7" (D wreckED hiT Records, 2000)
• "It Came from Japan" 7" (Sympathy for the Record Industry, 2001)
• "It Came from Japan" CD single (Sweet Nothing, 2002)
• "Tell Me What You See" 7" (Must Destroy Music, 2002)
• "C'mon C'mon" 7" (WEA international, 2004)
• "C'mon C'mon" CD single (WEA International, 2004)
• "Tell Me What You See" CD single part 1 (WEA International, 2004)
• "Tell Me What You See" CD single part 2 (WEA International, 2004)
• "Tell Me What You See" 7" (Sire Records, 2004)
• "Pale Bride" 7" (Majordomo Records, 2008)

Compilations

• Sympathetic Sounds of Detroit LP/CD (Sympathy for the Record Industry, 2001, SFTRI 623)
• X-Mas Surprise Package Volume 4 7" (Flying Bomb Records, 2001, FLB-118)
• New Blood – The New Rock N Roll Vol 2 CD (Artrocker, 2002, RRR 33003)
• X-Ray CD01 (Swinstead Publishing Limited, 2002, CD01)
• Rough Trade Shops Rock and Roll 2xCD (Mute, 2002, CDStumm 212)
• The New Rock Revolution CD (NME magazine, 2002, NME CD 02-?)
• Dim Mak 2003 Sampler CD (Dim Mak, 2003, DM 045)
• X-Mas Surprise Package (The Collector's Edition) CD (Flying Bomb Records, 2002, FLB-122)
• Smash Music Sampler CD (Smash Music, 2004, smash 008)
• Sympathy for the Download 00 CD (Record Collection Music, 2004)
• House of Wax Soundtrack (Maverick Records, 2005)
• Rescue Me Soundtrack (Nettwerk Records, 2006)
• Lost Boys: The Tribe Soundtrack (Adrenaline Records, 2008)

Videography

Music videos

DVDs featuring the Von Bondies

• Later... with Jools Holland: Louder (2003) – features a live performance of "Lack of Communication" from May 2002.
• 9 Songs (2004) – features a live performance of "C'mon C'mon" as one of the nine songs.
• In Her Shoes (2005) – features the song "C'mon C'mon".

Media usage

• "C'mon C'mon" is the opening theme used for the FX series Rescue Me.
• "C'mon C'mon" has been used in the PlayStation 2 and Xbox game Burnout 3: Takedown.
• "C'mon C'mon" has been used in the PlayStation Portable game Gretzky NHL.^[21]
• "C'mon C'mon" has been used in the MVP Baseball series of video games.
• "C'mon C'mon" is featured as a download for the console game Rock Band/Rock Band 2.
• "C'mon C'mon" has been modified to fit into the video game Tribes: Vengeance on the MTV2 television show Video Mods.

Interviews

• Love for The Von Bondies – from Torontomusicscene.ca

References