It looks like Jack White’s broken finger has healed at least well enough to throw punches at other garage rockers.
The White Stripes frontman was involved in a brawl with Von Bondies singer/guitarist Jason Stollsteimer Saturday night in Detroit’s Magic Stick club, according to police reports.
Stollsteimer, who suffered a bloody nose and bruising to his right eye, was treated at Detroit Receiving Hospital and released. White sustained cuts to his left hand.
The Von Bondies singer told police that White had tried to speak with him in the club, which was hosting a record release party for alt-country rockers Blanche, and that when he refused, the Stripes frontman angrily threw him to the ground and punched him seven times in his right eye.
A press statement from the Von Bondies’ management claims “Stollsteimer was violently attacked by Jack White of the White Stripes without warning or provocation.” It continues: “White approached Stollsteimer during the concert, physically forcing him against the speakers, and began shouting. Stollsteimer attempted to turn his head [to] face White but refused to engage in conversation. Visibly angered by Stollsteimer’s unwillingness to argue or fight, White spat into Stollsteimer’s face and punched him in the head and face repeatedly. White then forced Stollsteimer to the ground and continued his attack until White was restrained by several crowd members.”
The Von Bondies singer filed a complaint against White, who may be hit with misdemeanor assault charges. White later filed his own complaint, insisting he fought back in self-defense after Stollsteimer threw him to the floor and began choking him. White’s publicist had no comment.
White played a major role in kick-starting the Von Bondies’ career, including them on the Sympathetic Sounds of Detroit album he produced in 2001, inviting them to open for the White Stripes, and producing their 2001 record, Lack of Communication.
Previous reports of a bitter feud between White and Stollsteimer had been denied by the Von Bondies singer.