So let’s talk briefly about the altercation.
I’m sure by now everyone and their brother has been made aware of the incident between Jack White and Jason Von Bondie. If you haven’t, I highly urge you to check Motor City Rocks and Whatevs for a briefing.
I don’t know what exactly happened that night at the Magic Stick, I was not there (though in some ways I wish I was). I don’t know what words were exchanged or the unfolding of events as they occurred. I don’t know whether or not it was about Marcie Von Bondie, or if it was about Jason vs. Jack or whatever it was about. All I can go on is the accounts of people who were there and other media outlets as my source. As such, it’s hard to paint a complete picture of the situation using only those sources and a press release issued by the Von Bondies.
Regardless of intent to instigate things, there’s two points inherently wrong with the situation:
1. This was Blanche’s record release party. After being on the cover of the Metro Times and receiving generous word of mouth from the Detroit area, this was supposed to be THEIR moment in the Detroit spotlight. This was supposed to be the moment where Jack stood on the sidelines and cheered his friends on. Now it will be remembered as the night that Jack assaulted his former friend/music peer…the group he championed for so long. Hopefully those in attendance will recall fondly Blanche’s performance as well as that of the opening band, Brendan Benson. This was supposed to be the night where two extremely promising and talented groups from Detroit were to get their slices of the pie. I feel horribly for both groups.
2. With that in mind, this was simply not the appropriate forum for anyone to air grievances with another person. And even if there was hostility/tension/animosity built up between the two a violent confrontation is not the answer to get anything solved. A few weeks ago Whatevs posted a quote about Jack White admonishing people for slam dancing at a concert during a Marlene Dietrich cover. Beyond that quote, I have heard in other interviews where Jack admonishes the act of violence as something that “frat boys” would do. If this assault isn’t calling the kettle black, I really don’t know what is.
I’ve known JVB for a long time. We grew up together in a small town called Plymouth and his brother Eric was an influence on me in high school. Both Eric and Jason are two of the gentlest people I can recall from those years, always joking around. Always laughing and having a good time. I can not fathom what led Jack to react the way he did, and there’s two sides of every story. But whatever it is, the situation could have been defused and resolved differently.
Instead, White just had to steal the spotlight away from his friends and throw a temper tantrum which could possibly cause a schism between Detroit rock musicians and the stable support system everyone worked so hard to construct. This kind of thing is exactly what Detroit doesn’t need.
I can only hope that the criminal justice system will rule in Jason’s favor, and that Jack will get everything that’s coming to him.