Hailing from Akron, Ohio, guitarist/vocalist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick
Carney had known each other as neighbors since childhood when they decided to
make their musical debut as a duo in 2001. Their first album, The Big Come Up,
was recorded in the drummer's garage in 2002. Before long, the
garage-rock-influenced blues duo recorded a second album, Thickfreakness (#182
in the UK). The Black Keys see their song "Set You Free" used almost 300 times
in TV shows and commercials. The Rubber Factory album benefits from this
exposure, reaching #131 on the Billboard 200 in 2004. It ...