The White Stripes were an American rock duo formed in Detroit, Michigan, in 1997. The group consisted ofJack White (guitar, keyboards, piano, vocals) andMeg White (drums, percussion, vocals). They were a leading group of 2000sindie rock and the decade'sgarage rock revival.
Beginning in the late 1990s, the White Stripes sought success within theDetroit music scene, releasing six singles and two albums. They first found commercial success with their acclaimed third album,White Blood Cells (2001), which propelled the band to the forefront of the garage rock movement. Their fourth album,Elephant (2003), drew further success, winning the band their firstGrammy Awards. It produced the single "Seven Nation Army", which became asports anthem and the band'ssignature song. Theyexperimented extensively on their fifth album,Get Behind Me Satan (2005). They returned to theirblues roots with their sixth and final album,Icky Thump (2007), which was praised like the band's earlier albums. By the end of the 2000s, the White Stripes accumulated three entries on the USBillboard Hot 100, eleven entries on the USAlternative Airplay chart, and thirteen entries on theUK singles chart. After a lengthy hiatus from performing and recording, the band dissolved in 2011.
The White Stripes used alow-fidelity approach to writing and recording. Their music featured a melding ofgarage rock andblues influences and a raw simplicity of composition, arrangement, and performance. The duo were noted for their mysterious public image, their fashion and design aesthetic which featured a simple color scheme of red, white, and black—which was used on every album and single cover they released—and their fascination with the number three. They made selective media appearances, includingJim Jarmusch's anthology filmCoffee and Cigarettes (2003) and the documentaryUnder Great White Northern Lights (2009).
The White Stripes released six studio albums, two live albums, one compilation album, and one extended play. They receivednumerous accolades, including six Grammy Awards from eleven nominations. TheRock and Roll Hall of Fame includedWhite Blood Cells on their "200 Definitive Albums" list.Rolling Stone rankedWhite Blood Cells andElephant on their list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time", and named the band the sixth greatest duo of all time in 2015. The White Stripes wereinducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2025, after being nominated in 2023 (the band's first year of eligibility).
In high school,Jack Gillis (as he was then known)[1] metMeg White at the Memphis Smoke—the restaurant where she worked and where he would read his poetry atopen mic nights.[2] The two started dating and began frequenting the coffee shops, local music venues, and record stores of the area.[3] Gillis was an established drummer during this period, performing with his upholstery apprenticeship mentor, Brian Muldoon,[4][5] the Detroitcowpunk bandGoober & the Peas,[6][7][8] thegarage punk bandthe Go,the Hentchmen, andTwo-Star Tabernacle.
Gillis and White were married in 1996.[9][10] Contrary to convention, he took his wife's surname.[4][11] OnBastille Day 1997,[12] Meg started learning to play the drums. In Jack's words, "When she started to play drums with me, just on a lark, it felt liberating and refreshing. There was something in it that opened me up."[4] The couple then became a band and, while they considered calling themselves Bazooka and Soda Powder,[13] they settled on the White Stripes.[14]
The White Stripes had their first live performance on August 14, 1997, at the Gold Dollar bar in Detroit.[15] They began their career as part of the Michiganunderground garage rock scene, playing with local bands such asthe Hentchmen,the Dirtbombs,the Gories, and Rocket 455.[16] In 1998, Dave Buick—owner of anindependent, Detroit-based, garage-punk label calledItaly Records—approached the band at a bar and asked if they would like to record a single.[17] Jack initially declined, believing it would be too expensive, but he eventually reconsidered when he realized that Buick was offering to pay for it.[18] Their debut single, "Let's Shake Hands", was released on vinyl in February 1998 with an initial pressing of 1,000 copies.[19] This was followed in October 1998 by the single "Lafayette Blues" which, again, was only released on vinyl with 1,000 copies.[20][21][22]
In 1999, the White Stripes signed with the California-based labelSympathy for the Record Industry.[23][24] In March 1999, they released the single "The Big Three Killed My Baby", followed by their debut album,The White Stripes, on June 15, 1999.[23] The self-titled debut was produced by Jack and engineered by American music producerJim Diamond at hisGhetto Recorders studio in Detroit.[25] The album was dedicated to the seminal MississippiDelta blues musicianSon House, an artist who influenced Jack.[26][27] The track "Cannon" fromThe White Stripes contains part of ana cappella version, as performed by House, of the traditional Americangospel blues song "John the Revelator". The White Stripes also covered House's song "Death Letter" on their follow-up album,De Stijl. Looking back on their debut during a 2003 interview withGuitar Player, Jack said, "I still feel we've never topped our first album. It's the most raw, the most powerful, and the most Detroit-sounding record we've made."[28] AllMusic said of the album: "Jack White's voice is a singular, evocative combination of punk,metal, blues, andbackwoods while his guitar work is grand and banging with just enough lyrical touches ofslide and subtlesolo work... Meg White balances out thefretwork and the fretting with methodical, spare, and boomingcymbal,bass drum, andsnare... AllD.I.Y. punk-country-blues-metal singer-songwriting duos should sound this good."[23]
The White Stripes at Club Shinjuku Jam, Tokyo in 2000, where they played to an audience of 10–20 people in their first Japanese tour.
The White Stripes released "Hand Springs" as a 7" split single with fellow Detroit bandthe Dirtbombs on theB-side in 2000; it was recorded in late 1999. Several copies came free with the pinball fanzineMultiball.[29] Jack and Meg divorced in March of that same year.[30] The White Stripes were scheduled to perform at a local music lounge soon after they separated. Jack assumed the band was over and asked Buick and nephew Ben Blackwell to perform with him in the slot that had been booked for the White Stripes. However, the day they were supposed to perform, Meg convinced Jack that the White Stripes should continue and the band reunited.[31]
The White Stripes' second album,De Stijl (Dutch for "The Style"), was released on the Sympathy for the Record Industry label on June 20, 2000.[32] The songs were recorded on an8-trackanalog tape in Jack's living room,[33][34]De Stijl displays the simplicity of the band's blues and "scuzzy garage rock" fusion prior to their breakthrough success.[35][36] The album title derives from the Dutchart movement of the same name;[35] common elements of theDe Stijlaesthetic are demonstrated on the album cover, which sets the band members against anabstract background of rectangles and lines in red, black and white.[26] The album was dedicated to furniture designer and architectGerrit Rietveld of the De Stijl movement, as well as to the influentialGeorgia bluesmanBlind Willie McTell.[37]De Stijl eventually reached number 38 onBillboard Magazine'sIndependent Albums chart in 2002, around the time the White Stripes' popularity began establishing itself. OneNew York Times critic at the time said that the Stripes typified "what many hip rock fans consider real music."[38]
The White Stripes' third album,White Blood Cells, was released on July 3, 2001, onSympathy for the Record Industry.[41] The band enjoyed its first significant success the following year with themajor labelre-release of the album onV2 Records.[42][43] Its stripped-downgarage rock sound drew critical acclaim in the UK,[44] and in the US soon afterward, making the White Stripes one of the most acclaimed bands of 2002.[15][42] Several outlets praised their "back to basics" approach.[45][46] After their first appearance on network TV (a live set onThe Late Late Show With Craig Kilborn), Joe Hagan ofThe New York Times declared, "They have made rock rock again by returning to its origins as a simple, primitive sound full of unfettered zeal."[47]
White Blood Cells peaked at number 61 on theBillboard 200, reaching Gold record status by selling over 500,000 albums. It reached number 55 in the United Kingdom,[48] being bolstered in both countries by the single "Fell in Love with a Girl" and its accompanyingLego-animation music video directed byMichel Gondry.[49] The video won three awards at the2002 MTV Video Music Awards: Breakthrough Video, Best Special Effects, and Best Editing, and the band played the song live at the event.[12] It was also nominated for Video of the Year, but fell short of winning.[50] It also spawned the acclaimed singles "Hotel Yorba", "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground", and "We're Going to Be Friends".[51]Stylus Magazine ratedWhite Blood Cells as the fourteenth greatest album of 2000–2005,[52] whilePitchfork ranked it eighth on their list of the top 100 albums from 2000 to 2004.[53]
In 2002, George Roca produced and directed a concert film about the band titledNobody Knows How to Talk to Children.[54] It chronicles the White Stripes' four-night stand at New York City'sBowery Ballroom in 2002, and contains live performances and behind-the-scenes footage. Its 2004 release was suppressed by the band's management, however, after they discovered that Roca had been showing it at the Seattle Film Festival without permission.[55] According to the band, the film was "not up to the standards our fans have come to expect";[55] even so, it remains a highly prizedbootleg.[56] Also in 2002, they appeared as musical guests onSaturday Night Live.[57]
The White Stripes' fourth album,Elephant, was recorded in 2002 over the span of two weeks with Britishrecording engineerLiam Watson at hisToe Rag Studios in London.[58] Jack self-produced the album with antiquated equipment, including aduct-taped8-tracktape machine and pre-1960s recording gear.[58] In a 2017 interview withThe New Yorker, Jack said "We had no business being in the mainstream. We assumed the music we were making was private, in a way. We were from the scenario where there are fifty people in every town. Something about us was beyond our control, though. Now it's five hundred people, now it's a second night, what is going on? Is everybody out of their minds?"[24] Promotional work for the album was postponed after Meg broke her wrist in New York.[59]Elephant was released in 2003 onV2 in the US, and onXL Recordings in England.[24][60] It marked the band'smajor label debut and was their first UK chart-topping album, as well as their first US Top 10 album (at number six).[24] The album eventually reached doubleplatinum certification in Britain,[61] and platinum certification in the United States.[62] To promote the album, they made several appearances onLate Night with Conan O'Brien in 2003, and they collaborated withConan O'Brien frequently afterwards.[63]
Elephant garnered critical acclaim upon its release.[15] It received a perfect five-out-of-five-star rating fromRolling Stone magazine, and enjoys a 92-percent positive rating onMetacritic.[64][65] AllMusic said the album "sounds even more pissed-off, paranoid, and stunning than its predecessor... Darker and more difficult thanWhite Blood Cells."[66]Elephant was notable for Jack's first guitar solos and Meg's first leading vocal performance on "In the Cold, Cold Night";[67] critics also praised Meg's drumming.[68][69]Rolling Stone placed Jack at number 17 on its list of "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" and included Meg on its list of the "100 Greatest Drummers of All Time".[70][71]Elephant was ranked number 390 on the magazine's list of the500 Greatest Albums of All Time.[72] In 2009, the album came in at number 18 in NME's "Top 100 Greatest Albums of the decade".NME referred to the album as the pinnacle of the White Stripes' time as a band and one of Jack White's best works of his career.[73][74]
The White Stripes performing atBell Centre in 2005
In 2005, Jack began working on songs for the band's next album at his home.[80] He played with different techniques than in past albums, trading in his electric guitar for anacoustic on all but a few of the tracks, as his trademarkriff-based lead guitar style is overtaken by a predominantly rhythmic approach.[81] The White Stripes' fifth album,Get Behind Me Satan, was released in 2005 on theV2 label.[82] The title is an allusion to a Biblical quotation Jesus made to theApostle Simon Peter from theGospel of Matthew 16:23 of theNew Testament (in theKing James Version, the quotation is slightly different: "Get thee behind me, Satan"[83]). Another theory about this title is that Jack and Meg White read James Joyce's story collection "Dubliners" (published 1914) and used a line from the story "Grace" to title this album. The title is also a direct quotation fromWho bassistJohn Entwistle's solo song "You're Mine".
With its reliance on piano-driven melodies and experimentation withmarimba on "The Nurse" and "Forever For Her (Is Over For Me)",Get Behind Me Satan did not feature the explicit blues and punk styles that dominated earlier White Stripes albums.[84] However, despite this, the band was critically lauded for their "fresh, arty reinterpretations of their classic inspirations."[82] It has garnered positive reactions from fans, as well as critical acclaim, receiving more Grammy nominations as well as making them one of the must-see acts of the decade.[85][86]Rolling Stone ranked it the third best album of the year[87] and it received theGrammy forBest Alternative Music Album in 2006.
The White Stripes after a performance in 2005
Three singles were released from the album, the first being "Blue Orchid", a popular song on satellite radio and some FM stations.[88][89] The second and third singles were "My Doorbell" and "The Denial Twist", respectively, and music videos were made for the three singles. "My Doorbell" was nominated forBest Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.[90] The White Stripes postponed the Japanese leg of their world tour after Jack strained his vocal cords, with doctors recommending that Jack not sing or talk for two weeks.[91] After a full recovery, he returned to the stage inAuckland, New Zealand to headline theBig Day Out tour.[82][92] While on the British leg of the tour, Jack changed his name from Jack White to "Three quid".[93]
On October 12, 2004,Jim Diamond—the owner and operator of Ghetto Recorders recording studio—filed a lawsuit against the band and Third Man Records for "breach of contract".[94] In the suit, he claimed that as the co-producer, mixer, and editor on the band's debut album, and mixer and engineer onDe Stijl, he was due royalties for "mechanical rights".[94][95] The band filed a counterclaim on May 16, 2005, requesting damages against Diamond and an official court declaration denying him rights to the material.[94] Diamond lost the suit on June 15, 2006, with the jury determining that he was not instrumental in crafting the band's sound.[95][96] The White Stripes released a cover version ofTegan and Sara's song "Walking with a Ghost" on iTunes in November 2005. The song was later released in December as theWalking with a Ghost EP featuring four other live tracks.[97]
In October 2006, it was announced on the official White Stripes website that there would be an album ofavant-garde orchestral recordings consisting of past music written by Jack calledAluminium. The album was made available for pre-order on November 6, 2006, to great demand from the band's fans; the LP version of the project sold out in a little under a day. The project was conceived byRichard Russell, founder ofXL Recordings, who co-produced the album withJoby Talbot.[98] It was recorded between August 2005 and February 2006 at Intimate Studios inWapping, London using an orchestra. Before the album went out of print, it was available exclusively through theAluminium website in a numbered limited edition of 3,333 CDs with 999 LPs.[99]
On January 12, 2007, V2 Records announced that, due to being under the process of reconstruction, it would no longer release new White Stripes material, leaving the band without a label.[100] However, as the band's contract with V2 had already expired, on February 12, 2007, it was confirmed that the band had signed a single album deal withWarner Bros. Records.[101][102] Their sixth album,Icky Thump, was released on June 19, 2007.[49][103] Following the well-receivedGet Behind Me Satan,Icky Thump marked a return to the punk, garage rock and blues influences for which the band is known.[49] It was recorded atBlackbird Studio inNashville and took almost three weeks to record—the longest of any White Stripes album. It would also be their first album with a title track. The album's release came on the heels of a series of concerts in Europe and one in North America at Bonnaroo.[104][105] Prior to the album's release, three tracks were previewed toNME: "Icky Thump", "You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do as You're Told)" and "Conquest".NME described the tracks as "an experimental, heavy sounding 70s riff", "a strong, melodic love song" and "an unexpected mix of big guitars and a bold horn section", respectively.[106]
On the US Billboard Charts dated May 12, 2007, "Icky Thump"—the first single—became the band's first Top 40 single, charting at number 26, and later charted at number 2 in the UK.Icky Thump entered theUK Albums Chart at number one,[107] and debuted at number two on theBillboard 200 with 223,000 copies sold.[107][108] By late July,Icky Thump was certified gold in the United States. As of March 8, 2008, the album has sold 725,125 copies in the US. On February 10, 2008, the album won aGrammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album.
On April 25, 2007, the duo announced that they would embark on a tour of Canada, performing in all 10 provinces, plusYukon,Nunavut andNorthwest Territories. In the words of Jack: "Having never done a tour of Canada, Meg and I thought it was high time to go whole hog. We want to take this tour to the far reaches of the Canadian landscape. From the ocean to the permafrost. The best way for us to do that is ensure that we perform in every province and territory in the country, from the Yukon to Prince Edward Island. Another special moment of this tour is the show which will occur in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia on July 14, the White Stripes' Tenth Anniversary." Canadian fiddlerAshley MacIsaac opened for the band at theSavoy Theatre, Glace Bay show; earlier in 2007, MacIsaac and Jack had discovered that they were distantly related.[109] It was also at this time that White learned he was related to Canadian fiddle playerNatalie MacMaster.[110]
The White Stripes giving an impromptu show for fans on a bus inWinnipeg, Manitoba in 2007
On June 24, 2007, just a few hours before their concert at Deer Lake Park, the White Stripes began their cross-Canada tour by playing a 40-minute set for a group of 30 kids at the Creekside Youth Centre inBurnaby. The Canadian tour was also marked by concerts in small markets,[13] such asGlace Bay,Whitehorse andIqaluit, as well as by frequent "secret shows" publicized mainly by posts on The Little Room, a White Stripes fan messageboard. Gigs included performances at a bowling alley inSaskatoon, a youth center inEdmonton, aWinnipeg Transit bus andThe Forks park inWinnipeg, a park in Whitehorse, theYMCA in downtown Toronto, the Arva Flour Mill inArva, Ontario,[13] and Locas on Salter (a pool hall) inHalifax, Nova Scotia. They also played a historic one-note show onGeorge Street inSt. John's,Newfoundland, in an attempt to break aGuinness World Record for the shortest concert.[111] It was inducted briefly in 2009, but was discontinued the following year.[112] Media publications have continued to call it the shortest concert.[113][114] They played a full show later that night at theMile One Centre in downtown St. John's.[113] Video clips from several of the secret shows have been posted to YouTube.[115] As well, the band filmed its video for "You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do as You're Told)" in Iqaluit.
After the conclusion of the Canadian dates, they embarked on a brief US leg of their tour, which was to be followed by a break before more shows in the fall.[13] But before their last show—inSouthaven, Mississippi—Ben Blackwell (Jack's nephew and the group's archivist) says that Meg approached him and said, "This is the last White Stripes show". He asked if she meant of the tour, but she responded, "No. I think this is the last show, period."[13] On September 11, 2007, the band announced the cancellation of 18 tour dates due to Meg's struggle with acuteanxiety.[91] A few days later, the duo canceled the remainder of their 2007 UK tour dates as well.[116] In his review ofUnder Great White Northern Lights forVanity Fair, Bill Bradley commented on the tour cancellations, saying that it was "impossible" not to see Meg as "road-weary and worn-out" at the end of the film.[117]
The band was on hiatus from late 2007 to early 2011. While on hiatus, Jack formed a group calledthe Dead Weather, although he insisted that the White Stripes remained his top priority.[118] Dominique Payette, a Quebecois radio host, sued the band for $70,000 in 2008 for sampling 10 seconds of her radio show in the song "Jumble Jumble" without permission.[119] The matter was ultimately settled out of court.[120] In early 2008, the band released limited-editionHolga cameras stylized around Jack and Meg.[121]
The White Stripes performed live for the first time since September 2007 on the final episode ofLate Night with Conan O'Brien on February 20, 2009, where they performed an alternate version of "We're Going to Be Friends".[122][123][124] In an article dated May 6, 2009, with MusicRadar.com, Jack mentioned recording songs with Meg before the Conan gig had taken place, saying, "We had recorded a couple of songs at the new studio." About a new White Stripes album, Jack said, "It won't be too far off. Maybe next year." Jack also explained Meg's acute anxiety during the Stripes' last tour, saying, "I just came from a Raconteurs tour and went right into that, so I was already full-speed. Meg had come from a dead-halt for a year and went right back into that madness. Meg is a very shy girl, a very quiet and shy person. To go full-speed from a dead-halt is overwhelming, and we had to take a break."[125] The Conan gig proved to be their final live performance as a band.
In 2009 Jack reported that the White Stripes were working on their seventh album.[126][127] A concert film,Under Great White Northern Lights, premiered at theToronto International Film Festival on September 18, 2009.[128][129][130] The film documents the band's summer 2007 tour across Canada and contains live concert and off-stage footage.[131] Jack and Meg White appeared at the premiere and made a short speech before the movie started about their love of Canada and why they chose to debut their movie in Toronto.[132] The tour was in support of the albumIcky Thump, and they performed in every province.[133] Jack conceived the idea of touring Canada after learning that Scottish relatives on his father's side had lived for a few generations in Nova Scotia before relocating to Detroit to work in the car factories.[134] Additionally, their 10th anniversary occurred during the tour on the day of their show at theSavoy Theatre inGlace Bay, Nova Scotia,[133] and in this shot, Jack and Meg are dancing at the conclusion of the concert. The film was directed by a friend of the duo,Emmett Malloy.[135]
In an interview withSelf Titled, Jack alluded to the creation of a White Stripes film,Under Nova Scotian Lights, to be released later in 2009.[136] In an interview withcontactmusic.com, Jack claimed that working with the White Stripes would be "strange". "It would definitely be strange to go into the White Stripes again and have to rethink my game," adding: "But that would be the best thing about it, because it would be a whole new White Stripes."[137]
In February 2010, aSuper Bowl ad by the USAir Force Reserve caused the White Stripes to "take strong insult and objection to the Air Force Reserve presenting this advertisement with the implication that we licensed one of our songs to encourage recruitment during a war that we do not support."[138] In November 2010, the White Stripes contributed a previously released cover version of the song "Rated X" to the compilation albumCoal Miner's Daughter: A Tribute To Loretta Lynn.[139] In late 2010, the White Stripes reissued their first three albums on Third Man Records on a 180-gram vinyl along with 500 limited-edition, "split-colored" records to accompany it.[140][141] Jack hinted at a possible White Stripes reunion in a 2010 interview withVanity Fair. He said, "We thought we'd do a lot of things that we'd never done: a full tour of Canada, a documentary, coffee-table book, live album, a boxed set... Now that we've gotten a lot of that out of our system, Meg and I can get back in the studio and start fresh."[142]
On February 2, 2011, the duo announced that they had officially ceased recording and performing music as the White Stripes. The announcement specifically denied any artistic differences or health issues, but cited "a myriad of reasons ... mostly to preserve what is beautiful and special about the band".[143][144]
Jack (pictured in 2012) embarked on a solo music career following the breakup of the White Stripes, beginning with his debut albumBlunderbuss (2012).
Following the band's breakup, Jack continued his music career while Meg retired and returned to Detroit.[145] In a 2014 interview, Jack toldRolling Stone that Meg's emotionally reserved nature had been a source of tension when the duo was together, as she had little to say about the band's success. He spoke positively, however, of her musical acumen, saying "She was the antithesis of a modern drummer. So childlike and incredible and inspiring. All the not-talking didn't matter, because onstage? Nothing I do will top that." He also said that he believes a reunion is unlikely.[146]
Several unreleased recordings andmemorabilia of the band have been released through Third Man, typically through theThird Man Records Vault, a "rarity-excavating" quarterly subscription service.[147] This began with a 2009 package that included amono mix ofIcky Thump. The latest package is 2023'sElephant XX, a mono mix of the aforementioned album which celebrates its 20th anniversary.[148][149] In 2016, the previously unheard "City Lights" was released as a promotional single after Michel Gondry surprised Jack with a music video.[150] It was additionally featured on Jack'scompilation albumAcoustic Recordings 1998–2016 and received a nomination forBest American Roots Song at the59th Annual Grammy Awards.[151][152]
During the campaigning for the2016 United States presidential election, thenRepublican candidateDonald Trump used "Seven Nation Army" in a campaign video against the Stripes' wishes. Jack and Meg made a joint post on the White Stripes Facebook page, stating that they were "disgusted by this association, and by the illegal use of their song" and that they had "nothing whatsoever to do with this video".[153] They also released a limited edition T-shirt that read "Icky Trump" on the front.[154][155]
On October 6, 2020, agreatest hits album titledThe White Stripes Greatest Hits was announced through Third Man not as a vault exclusive.[156] It consists of twenty-six songs including "Ball and Biscuit" which was released as apromotional single.[157][158] The band relaunched theirInstagram account to promote the album.[159] It was released in the United States byThird Man andColumbia Records on December 4, 2020,[160][156] and was internationally released on February 26, 2021.[161][162]Wartella-directed music videos for "Let's Shake Hands" and "Apple Blossom" were released simultaneously.[163][164] AllMusic's Heather Phares wrote: "The White Stripes Greatest Hits is filled with the same detail, wit, and willingness to subvert expectations that made the band so dynamic when they were active... the collection's hand-curated feel is much more personal than the average best-of or streaming play list."[165]The New Yorker'sAmanda Petrusich called the album "a good reminder of how odd and inventive the band was... It feels old-fashioned, even deliberately so, but it sounds awfully good."[166]
In May 2023, Third Man Books announcedThe White Stripes Complete Lyrics 1997-2007, a book featuring lyrics written during the band's activity in addition to rough drafts and unseen content.[167][168] When compiling the lyrics, Jack said that "I couldn't get through any of those songs; I would cry halfway through each of those songs... some of them are the first songs I really had ever written, or among the earliest... humbly, I don't really know why anyone would get anything out of them... but people reflect back at you and keep mentioning that and you go 'OK, I guess people are getting something out of that.'"[169] It was released in October of that same year.[170][171] Also in 2023, in their first year of eligibility, the White Stripes were nominated for theRock and Roll Hall of Fame but were not inducted.[172]
The Trump campaign again used "Seven Nation Army" during the2024 United States presidential election,[173][174] which resulted in Jack and Meg filing acopyright infringement lawsuit in September 2024.[175][176][177][178] Their complaint accuses Trump of "flagrant misappropriation" and clarifies that they "vehemently oppose the policies adopted and actions taken by Defendant Trump when he was President and those he has proposed for the second term he seeks".[179][180] The lawsuit was dropped in November 2024.[181]
In January 2025, the White Stripes were nominated a second time for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.[182] Andy Greene ofRolling Stone remarked that the chances of a reunion were slim due to Meg retreating from the music industry and media, and wrote, "Let's hope that Meg at least watches theDisney+ livestream and smiles when the White Stripes are inducted. Great moments don't always need to play out in public. And Meg White doesn't owe us anything."[183] In November of that same year, they wereinducted byIggy Pop into the hall of fame.[184][185] Meg did not attend the ceremony; Jack accepted the award for the band and gave a speech written by him and Meg. He said, "she said she's very sorry she couldn't make it tonight, but she's very grateful for the folks who have supported her throughout all the years, it really means a lot to her tonight."[186] He also read a poem dedicated to her.[187]
With few exceptions, Jack displayed a continued partiality towards amps and pedals from the 1960s.[42] Jack used a number of effects to create his sound, such as a DigiTech Whammy IV to reach pitches that would be otherwise impossible with a regular guitar.[195] When performing live, Jack used a Randy Parsons custom guitar, a 1964JB Hutto Montgomery Airline, a Harmony Rocket, a 1970s Crestwood Astral II, and a 1950s Kay Hollowbody. Also, while playing live, he used anMXR Micro Amp, Electro-HarmonixBig Muff Pi distortion/sustainer, and an Electro-Harmonix POG (a polyphonic octave generator). He also used a Boss TU-2 tuner pedal. He plugged this setup into a 1970sFender Twin Reverb, and two 100-WattSearsSilvertone 1485 amplifiers paired with two 6x10 Silvertone cabinets.[196] In addition to standardguitar tuning, Jack also used severalopen tunings. He also played other instruments such as a black F-Style Gibsonmandolin, Rhodes bass keys, and a Steinway piano. He played aMusser M500 grand concertmarimba on "The Nurse", "Forever for Her (Is Over for Me)". He played a custom-made red and whiteMusser M250 grand concertmarimba for theGet Behind Me Satan tour.[197][198]
Meg extensively used theLudwig Classic Maple kit withPaiste cymbals,[199][200] and also used Remo and Ludwig drumheads, various percussion instruments and Vater drumsticks. From the band's inception toGet Behind Me Satan, the resonantheads of the toms and bass drum featured peppermint swirls.[201][202][203] While recordingFrom the Basement: The White Stripes, the design on the bass drum was switched to an image of her hand holding the apple from theGet Behind Me Satan cover. Beginning in 2006, White used a pair of Paiste 14" Signature Medium Hi-Hats, a 19" Signature Power Crash, and a 22" 2002 Ride.[201][204] On theIcky Thump tour, the bass drum head design was switched to a button inspired by thePearlies clothing Jack and Meg wore for the album cover.
The White Stripes were notable for having only two musicians, limiting the instruments they could play live, and lack of a bass player.[26][209] Jack, the principal writer, said that this was not a problem, and that he "always centered the band around the number three. Everything was vocals, guitar and drums or vocals, piano and drums."[4] Meg herself said that it was "difficult just being two people" but she was comfortable nonetheless.[210] Fans and critics drew comparisons between Jack's prowess on the guitar and Meg's simplistic, reserved drumming.[38] The band additionally drew attention for their preference for antiquated recording equipment. In a 2001New York Times concert review, Ann Powers noted that Jack's "ingenious" playing was "constrained by [Meg's] deliberately undeveloped approach", and that "he created more challenges by playing an acoustic guitar with paper taped over the hole and a less-than-high-quality solid body electric."[38]
Meg's style of drumming is an enduring discussion among musicians andcritics.
Meg'sminimalistic drumming style was a prominent part of the band's sound. Meg never had formal drum lessons. She playedLudwig Drums withPaiste cymbals, and says her pre-show warm-up consisted of "whiskey andRed Bull".[211] Jack downplayed criticisms of her style, insisting: "I never thought 'God, I wishNeil Peart was in this band.' It's kind of funny: When people critiquehip hop, they're scared to open up, for fear of being called racist. But they're not scared to open up on female musicians, out of pure sexism. Meg is the best part of this band. It never would have worked with anybody else, because it would have been too complicated... It was my doorway to playing the blues."[4] Of her playing style, Meg herself said: "I appreciate other kinds of drummers who play differently, but it's not my style or what works for this band. I get [criticism] sometimes, and I go through periods where it really bothers me. But then I think about it, and I realize that this is what is really needed for this band. And I just try to have as much fun with it as possible ... I just know the way [Jack] plays so well at this point that I always know kind of what he's going to do. I can always sense where he's going with things just by the mood he's in or the attitude or how the song is going. Once in a while, he throws me for a loop, but I can usually keep him where I want him."[211]
Although Jack was the lead vocalist, Meg did sing lead vocals for "In the Cold, Cold Night" (fromElephant)[195] and "Passive Manipulation" (fromGet Behind Me Satan) among other tracks. She also accompanied Jack on the songs "Your Southern Can Is Mine" fromDe Stijl, "Hotel Yorba" and "This Protector" fromWhite Blood Cells, "Rated X",[212] "You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do as You're Told)" and "Rag & Bone" fromIcky Thump,[213] and accompanied Jack andHolly Golightly on the song "It's True That We Love One Another" fromElephant.[214]
Several White Stripes recordings were completed rapidly.White Blood Cells was recorded in less than four days, andElephant andGet Behind Me Satan were both recorded in about two weeks.[215][216][210] For live shows, the White Stripes were known for Jack's employment of heavydistortion, as well asaudio feedback andoverdrive. The duo performed considerably more recklessly and unstructured live, never preparingset lists for their shows, believing that planning too closely would ruin the spontaneity of their performances.[217] Other affectations included Jack using two microphones onstage.[38]
Jack explained the origin of the band's name: "Meg loves peppermints, and we were going to call ourselves the Peppermints. But since our last name was White, we decided to call it the White Stripes. It revolved around this childish idea, the ideas kids have—because they are so much better than adult ideas, right?"[218][219]
Early in their career, the band provided various descriptions of their relationship. Jack claimed that he and Meg weresiblings, the youngest two of ten.[12][220][221] As the story went, they became a band when, onBastille Day 1997, Meg went to the attic of their parents' home and began to play on Jack's drum kit.[12] This claim was widely believed and repeated despite rumors that they were, or had been, husband and wife.[222][223] In 2001, proof of their 1996 marriage emerged,[224][225] as well as evidence that the couple had divorced in March 2000, just before the band gained widespread attention.[226][227] Even so, they continued to insist publicly that they were brother and sister.[228] In a 2005 interview withRolling Stone magazine, Jack claimed that thisopen secret was intended to keep the focus on the music rather than the couple's relationship: "When you see a band that is two pieces, husband and wife, boyfriend and girlfriend, you think, 'Oh, I see...' When they're brother and sister, you go, 'Oh, that's interesting.' You care more about the music, not the relationship—whether they're trying to save their relationship by being in a band."[229]
The White Stripes (pictured in 2007) exclusively donned red, white and black colors in public appearances and performances.
They made exclusive use of a red, white and black color scheme when conducting virtually all professional duties, from album art to the clothes worn during live performances.[4][24] Jack has explained that they used these colors to distract from the fact that they were young, white musicians playing "black music".[230] Early in their history, they turned down a potential deal with Chicago label Bobsled, because the label wanted to put its green logo on the CD.[13] He toldRolling Stone in 2005 that "The White Stripes' colors were always red, white, and black. It came from peppermint candy. I also think they are the most powerful color combination of all time, from a Coca-Cola can to a Nazi banner. Those colors strike chords with people. In Japan, they are honorable colors. When you see a bride in a white gown, you immediately see innocence in that. Red is anger and passion. It is also sexual. And black is the absence of all that."[4] He also explained that they aspired to invoke an innocent childishness without any intention of irony or humor.[12] Meg said that "like a uniform at school, you can just focus on what you're doing because everybody's wearing the same thing."[26] They also cited theminimalist anddeconstructionist aspects ofDe Stijl design as a source of inspiration.[231] They also heavily used the number "three".[26]
The media and fans alike varied between intrigue and skepticism at the band's appearance and presentation. Andy Gershon, president of the V2 label at the time of their signing, was reluctant to sign them, saying, "They need a bass player, they've got this red-and-white gimmick, and the songs are fantastic, but they've recorded very raw...how is this going to be on radio?"[12] In a 2002Spin magazine article,Chuck Klosterman wondered, "how can two media-savvy kids posing as brother and sister, wearingDr. Seuss clothes, represent blood-and-bones Detroit, a city whose greatest resource is asphalt?"[12] However, in 2001, Benjamin Nugent withTime magazine commented that "it's hard to begrudge [Jack] his right to nudge the spotlight toward his band, and away from his private life, by any means available. Even at the expense of the truth."[232] Klosterman also commented that "his songs—about getting married in cathedrals, walking to kindergarten, and guileless companionship—are performed with an almost naive certitude."[233]
The White Stripes selectively made media appearances, and were noted for their general refusal to be interviewed separately.[26][49] Jack and Meg appeared inJim Jarmusch's filmCoffee and Cigarettes in 2003,[234][235] in a segment entitled "Jack Shows Meg His Tesla Coil". This particular segment contains extensions of White Stripes motifs such as childhood innocence andNikola Tesla.[236] They appeared in the 2005 documentaryThe Fearless Freaks, which covers the bandthe Flaming Lips.[237] The band appeared as themselves inThe Simpsons episode "Jazzy and the Pussycats" in 2006.[238] Meg had previously expressed interest in aSimpsons role in 2003, saying that "A guest appearance would be amazing. I wouldn't want to be in aLisa episode. They're kind of boring. Maybe aHomer one would be better."[239][240] Jack is one of three guitarists featured in the 2009 documentaryIt Might Get Loud, and Meg appears in segments that include the White Stripes.[241]
The critical and commercial success of the White Stripes has established Jack and Meg White as key figures of both thegarage rock andindie rock revival of the 2000s.[6][242] Following the release ofWhite Blood Cells,Daily Mirror dubbed them "the greatest band sinceThe Sex Pistols"[243][244] andRolling Stone magazine declared "Rock is Back!" on its September 2002 cover.[245] Subsequently christened by the media as the "The" bands, the White Stripes, along withthe Strokes andthe Hives, are credited byNME for bringing about both a "new garage rock revolution" and a "new rock revolution".[246][247] They were deemed "the saviours of rock 'n' roll" byChris Smith.[248]Q magazine listed the White Stripes as one of "50 Bands to See Before You Die".[249]Alternative Press hailed the White Stripes and the Hives for expanding the legacy of garage rock.[250] Profiling the band in 2025, theRock and Roll Hall of Fame wrote: "The White Stripes reimagined minimalist garage and punk rock for a new generation and brought blues into the twenty-first century. [...] They proved that a band could create massive, genre-defining sound with only two people, inspiring a wave of rock & roll revivalists and making a lasting mark on popular music."[251]
Music by the White Stripes was used by British choreographerWayne McGregor for his productionChroma, a piece he created forthe Royal Ballet in London, England.[265][266] The orchestral arrangements forChroma were commissioned byRichard Russell, head ofXL Recordings, as a gift to the White Stripes and were produced by the British classical composerJoby Talbot. Three of these songs, "The Hardest Button to Button", "Aluminium" and "Blue Orchid", were first played to the band as a surprise in Cincinnati Music Hall, Ohio.[267][268] McGregor heard the orchestral versions and decided to create a ballet using the music. Talbot re-orchestrated the music for the Royal Opera House orchestra, also writing three additional pieces of his own composition. The world premiere of the ballet took place on November 16, 2006, at theRoyal Opera House inCovent Garden, London. The ballet subsequently won the 2007Laurence Olivier Award forBest New Dance Production.[269]
The White Stripes have sold over 8 million units in the US,[287][288] where they have oneMulti-platinum album, onePlatinum album, and threeGold albums, as well as one Multi-platinum single and one Platinum single.[288] In the UK, the White Stripes have one Multi-platinum album, two Platinum albums, four Gold albums, and twoSilver albums, as well as one Multi-platinum single, one Gold single, and three Silver singles.[289] In Canada, the White Stripes have three Platinum albums and one Gold album, as well as one Multi-platinum single and one Gold single.[290]
The White Stripes have three albums onNME's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" list:De Stijl at 395,[303]Elephant at 116,[304] andWhite Blood Cells at 77.[305][a] The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame placedWhite Blood Cells at 178 on their "Definitive 200 Albums of All Time" list.[306]White Blood Cells andElephant appear on various editions ofRolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" list: on its 2012 edition,White Blood Cells ranked 497 andElephant ranked 391;[307] on its 2020 edition,Elephant ranked 449.[308]Rolling Stone also included "Seven Nation Army" on their "250 Greatest Songs of the 21st Century So Far" list and multiple editions of their "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list.[309][310][311] In 2025,The Guardian included "Seven Nation Army" on their list of defining events in popular culture of the 21st century.[312]
In 2015,Rolling Stone dubbed the White Stripes the sixth greatest duo of all time.[313] The same publication included Jack on its list of "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" in 2010, and Meg on its list of the "100 Greatest Drummers of All Time" in 2016.[314][71] In 2024,American Songwriter included the White Stripes on their list of the "Greatest (And Most Influential) Rock Music Duos Ever".[315] In 2025,Ultimate Classic Rock placed the band first on their list of "Top 20 American Rock Bands of the 2000s."[316]
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