The Kills

The comparisons between transatlantic duo the Kills and Detroit, Michigan's White Stripes are inevitable, especially since both units are comprised of only two members (one female and one male), utilize the same instruments (just guitar and drums), and specialize in the same stripped-down, garage rock sound. Vocalist and guitarist Alison "VV" Mosshart originally comes from Florida, USA, where she was a member of local punk outfit Discount (appearing on several of their albums). After relocating to London, England in 1998, Mosshart began looking for another musical partner and ended up playing with her next-door neighbour in her apartment block. It had taken a while for Mosshart to work up the nerve to introduce herself, but soon after handing the stranger, Jamie "Hotel" Hince (ex-Scarfo), a tape of original songs, the duo formed the Kills (with Hince playing the drums). Mosshart moved back to the USA for a spell (during which the duo traded tapes back and forth), before returning to England. The five-track Black Rooster E.P. followed in 2002, before the duo signed a recording contract with the hip indie label Rough Trade Records, and issued their debut, Keep On Your Mean Side, a year later.