The White Stripes
The true history of The White Stripes is something that we can never fully know for sure. A boy-girl two-piece from Detroit, USA, the question over their relations with one another – Wife and husband? Sister and brother? Blah, blah, blah – has been an intriguing, if tiring, topic of conversation since their initial emergence on to the scene.
Musically, it’s been far more interesting, however. Dirty, sleazy, timeless rock ‘n’ roll, assisted by Jack White’s distinctive howl and devilish guitar, along with Meg’s minimalist drumming. They come from a long line of archetypal acts from such a similar past of legends, and presently form a scene inclusive of the most exciting guitar-acts for years.
But, before the rock-resurgence of the last couple of late, their notoriety was a far more low-key affair. Lucky to pack out small, club-shows, their break really arose after overseas support from the likes of veteran broadcaster John Peel in the UK, along with high-profile plugs and mentions throughout mainstream radio. By the time they first arrived to British shores to indulge in the buzz themselves with their first ever live-shows in 2001, the excitement was near fever-pitch, with magazines gracing them amidst their front-covers and airplay increasing overnight.
They’d already had two records to their credit and name – as released on the Sympathy For The Record Industry label, their eponymous debut, and ‘De Stijl’ – whilst ‘White Blood Cells’ would be their true ticket to an A&R eruption and – eventually – mainstream success. XL Recordings snapped them up in the Isles where the fuss first started, whilst V2 grabbed the pair back home in the US of A. Perfect.
All that needed to follow was substance to the furore. Of course, how could they fail? Sell-out tours ensued, eagerly-received festival-appearances, and top-40 singles, plus a reputation as one of the ‘coolest’ acts in history. With their fourth album ‘Elephant’ due in Spring, accompanied by their largest concerts to date, all is still vibrant and swinging in the world of Jack and Meg: a place where intricately-styled music and exuberant image ride hand-in-hand to form one of the most compelling, original ensembles in recent times.
OFFICIAL SITE: Photography, artwork, choice hyperlinks and recommended press - all in the band\'s unique red-white colour-scheme.
HOTEL YORBA: Fast-growing fan-site; enthusiastically-run and with an easy-to-navigate design.