Some bands start with an ad being answered in the classifieds. Some start because a record company is looking to fill a certain slot. And some bands, a precious few, start from the midst of friendship and divine inspiration, which usually ends up being the start of something great. The story of how The Bruises came to be goes a little something like this: In 2001 guitarist Jenni Black, formerly of The Velouria Beat, met up with singer Aja Blue. Both coming from similar Midwestern backgrounds, the two hit it off right away and began to notice that their common interests in music opened up the perfect gateway towards something much more than just a pastime. Black had fine tuned her skills as both a song writer and lead rocker in The Velouria Beat, an indie-rock outfit that had blanketed the US with tours and released an LP before it's demise in 2000. She was fascinated with the primarily acoustic background that Blue brought to the picture, and was eager to see how the two could mesh. After arduous practice sessions, bouncing one style off the other, the gritty rock of Black mixed with the honey toned medleys of Blue and the foundation of the Bruises came to be. 2003: Having recorded a full length CD entitled "Last Summer" and just having returned from a coast to coast summer tour, The Bruises received a visit from long time friend, drummer Alicia Warrington (Kelly Osbourne/Fudgegun). The girls enjoyed practicing their songs with a new twist provided by the expertise of Warrington, who had been residing in Los Angeles and keeping busy with Kelly Osbourne - touring 13 countries, laying down tracks for "Changes", and making numerous appearances including the 2003 American Music Awards and MTV's TRL. The three enjoyed their time spent together and their leisurely jam sessions were filled with such chemistry that it wasn't long before Warrington became a permanent member. Passing demos back and forth between L.A. and Illinois, they came up with a whole new supply of material. Heavier and more reliant on electric guitars, the Bruises deliver a sweet and sour blend of dueling vocals, explosive drums, and unforgettably catchy hooks. Recently recording an EP ("Ladies and Gentlemen...") in Los Angeles, their first ever project with Warrington- The Bruises work as a team towards their second full length endeavor. With a strong and ever growing fan base across the U.S and overseas The Bruises focus now on securing a record label to call home as well as a manager and booking agent.