The
White Stripes: Biography
One of a new breed of back-to-basics
rock acts to emerge from Detroit,
Michigan, USA, the White Stripes comprises
enigmatic bass-free duo Jack White
(b. John Anthony Gillis, Detroit,
Michigan, USA; guitar/vocals) and
Meg White (b. Megan Martha White,
Detroit, Michigan, USA; drums). The
Whites, variously assumed to be husband
and ex-wife or brother and sister,
but both denied, formed their new
band in 1997. Judging from their facial
looks it initially seemed likely the
duo were brother and sister, but the
matter was confused by Jack White
stating that the couple were once
married and the posting of a marriage
license and divorce certificate on
the Internet.
Jack had previously played guitar
in garage rock band the Go, but his
new project's musical output is equally
informed by folk blues, country 60s
Britpop and Broadway show tunes. The
Whites' striking stage presence, dressed
in minimalist red and white outfits,
is allied to their thrilling grasp
of the rudiments of timeless rock
music. The duo released 1997's debut
7-inch single, "Let's Shake Hands",
on the Italy Records imprint. After
one further single ("Lafayette
Blues") for the label, they relocated
to the leading independent Sympathy
For The Record Industry, debuting
with the single "The Big Three
Killed My Baby". Their self-titled
long-playing debut garnered immediate
praise, mixing astute cover versions
(Robert Johnson's "Stop Breaking
Down Blues" and Bob Dylan's "One
More Cup Of Coffee") with some
devastating originals.
By the time of the following year's
De Stijl, named after the Dutch
abstract art movement led by Gerrit
Rietveld, the media buzz surrounding
the White Stripes had reached new
heights. Of particular note was
the duo's incredible reception in
the UK, where their music was lauded
by a wide range of media outlets
including The Daily Telegraph, The
Sun and even Radio 4's Today programme,
not normally known for its liberal
music policy. The influential John
Peel was quoted as comparing their
importance to that of Jimi Hendrix
and the Sex Pistols. The dispute
here is that both these acts were
originators, whereas the Whites
are very good interpreters. There
are just too many shades of early
Kinks, the Doors, Television and
late 60s American garage/punk bands
to warrant a major place in twenty-first
century rock history. At least the
Whites went some way to justifying
the media hype surrounding them
when they released an excellent
third album, White Blood Cells.
The follow-up Elephant was recorded
at London's tiny Toe Rag Studios
using analogue equipment and only
eight tracks. The album offered
a welcome respite from the deadening
digital conformity of music in the
new millennium.
Source: MTV.com
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