Indie rock supergroup formed by Jack White (b. John Anthony Gillis, 9 July 1975, Detroit, Michigan, USA; guitar/vocals) of the White Stripes, solo artist and producer Brendan Benson (b. Detroit, Michigan, USA; guitar/vocals), and Patrick Keeler (drums) and Jack Lawrence (bass) of the Detroit-based psychedelic band the Greenhornes. White and Benson were old friends from the Detroit rock scene of the late 90s, and their paths had crossed on several occasions as the White Stripes shot to mainstream success in the new millennium. White also played on an ad hoc basis with the Greenhornes and recruited Keeler and Lawrence to play on Loretta Lynn's 2004 album, Van Lear Rose.
The Raconteurs made their debut in January 2006 with the limited edition 7-inch single "Steady, As She Goes"/"Store Bought Bones". Featuring a terrific lead vocal from White, a hypnotic guitar riff, and an opening bassline bearing more than a passing similarity to Joe Jackson's "Is She Really Going Out With Him?", the single was fêted as a classic and had soon sold its initial run of 1,000 copies in the UK. A further 1,000 copies were released in the USA and the song was streamed on the band's website. The CD generation were finally allowed to catch up in April with the single's official release. The band's debut, Broken Boy Soldiers, followed in May. The album proved to be a further demonstration of White and Benson's love for 60s guitar pop, with notable tracks including "Hands", "Broken Boy Soldier" and "Intimate Secretary".
A follow-up album was released in March 2008, taking most of the music world by surprise. The band members had made no statements about the album's existence and information about the project only leaked out a week before its release. Where the debut had been concise, Consolers Of The Lonely saw the band stretching out and indulging their love of Led Zeppelin and the Who. The quartet is known as the Saboteurs in Australia owing to a copyright issue.
