Today is a sad day in music indeed. I can remember being in high school and picking up a copy of White Blood Cells and thinking this band was going to represent the new wave of an alternative music scene. A new band that was ready to be heard not just through burnt CD’s and mix tapes but a band that would ultimately gain an iconic stance and stand beside artists such as Nirvana and R.E.M. Boy was I ever right.
With a career spanning over 13 years with 6 studio albums and several EP’s, The White Stripes have set their place in music history. With the release of their self-titled album and second release De Stijl, The White stripes gained small critical acclaim. They garnered the attention of a small but vital population of music-goers dwelling on an underground music scene consisting of Interpol, The Strokes, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs, all of whom were to launch their own successful careers in time. Jack and Meg were different however, and their concept of a color scheme, two-piece duo, and a female drummer could have driven many off but it didn’t. It did the complete opposite by attracting a population of music lovers from almost all genres. It wasn’t until their third release White Blood Cells, where everyone was able to truly hear what The White Stripes had to say. The album was a critical success gaining them an immense popularity that fans and the band members themselves never truly expected. Elephant brought a hard grungier sound and gave way to one rock and rolls most profound anthem of all time, “Seven Nation Army”, which was immensely successful worldwide. Although their later releases Get Behind Me Satan and Icky Thump were a tad stray from their grunge rock roots, it only showed how further and creative the band could push their limits and prove how far they had come from a band that started out in Detroit playing bars every Friday night to headlining large music festivals and sold out stadiums.
The White Stripes were able to show us how loud, creative, and original they were with just two straightforward instruments; a drum set and guitar. The music population shouldn’t mourn the loss of this duo but should be pleased with the outcome of their 13-year career span and should be thankful for their catalog that will surely be played over for many many years to come. Although the small void created today in rock history will never be filled, we look forward to the many bands to come with a sound greatly influenced by The White Stripes. Jack and Meg, thank you. You will truly be missed.
“The White Stripes do not belong to Meg and Jack anymore. The White Stripes belong to you now and you can do with it whatever you want. The beauty of art and music is that it can last forever if people want it to. Thank you for sharing this experience. Your involvement will never be lost on us and we are truly grateful.”
-Meg and Jack
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