White May Face Assault Rap

Detroit police are investigating a December 13th fight between the White Stripes' Jack White and Jason Stollsteimer -- frontman for another Motor City band, the Von Bondies -- and may file assault charges against the former.

Though White, 28, produced a Von Bondies record in 2001, he and Stollsteimer, 25, had a falling out since its release. Both were at the Magic Stick nightclub attending a record release party for local band Blanche. According to Stollsteimer, White grew angry when the Von Bondie refused to speak with him and pulled him to the ground. According to a police report, White "proceeded to punch him on the right eye approximately seven times" before fleeing to the rear of the venue.

White's account differs somewhat, as he claims that he and Stollsteimer were having a conversation when Stollsteimer pulled him to the ground and began hitting him, prompting White to throw punches "in defense of himself."

White sustained cuts on his left hand, while Stollsteimer suffered a swollen right eye and a bloody nose. Both filed complaints with police, though neither have been charged.

• 
  MUSIC 100 Greatest Debut Albums
• 
  MOVIES 'Star Trek' Is Crazy Good
• 
  TV 10 Shows to Watch This Summer
• 
  POLITICS No Price Big Banks Can't Fix

Song Stories

“1999”

Prince | 1982

“I don’t consider myself a great poet,” Prince told Rolling Stone. “I just know I’m here to say what’s on my mind.” In the case of the apocalyptic party anthem “1999,” he was worried about then-president Ronald Reagan’s foreign policies. The song’s melody is based on a riff borrowed from the Mamas and Papas’ “Monday, Monday,” and Prince originally envisioned the first verse with three-part harmony but later split the vocals between himself and members of the Revolution. Because Warner Bros., with whom Prince was locked in a contractual battle, owned the original’s masters, Prince rerecorded the song and appropriately released that version in 1999.

More Song Stories entries »

Twitter