Meg White

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Meg White
White performing in 2006
White performing in 2006
Background information
Birth nameMegan Martha White
Born (1974-12-10) December 10, 1974 (age 49)
Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • singer
Instruments
  • Drums
  • percussion
  • vocals
Years active1997–2011
Labels
Formerly ofThe White Stripes
Spouses
  • (m. 1996; div. 2000)
  • Jackson Smith
    (m. 2009; div. 2013)

Megan Martha White (born December 10, 1974[1]) is an American musician who achieved international fame as the drummer of the rock duo the White Stripes. Though she typically performed backing vocals for the band, she occasionally sang lead for one song on each album, including "In the Cold, Cold Night" and "Passive Manipulation".

White began playing the drums on Bastille Day in 1997, and she formed the White Stripes with then-husband Jack White that same year. Their 2001 breakthrough album, White Blood Cells, brought them international fame. Her simultaneous solo ventures include acting, appearing in the 2003 film Coffee and Cigarettes and a 2006 episode of The Simpsons, and briefly modeling. While the band were on tour in support of their 2007 album, Icky Thump, she suffered a bout of acute anxiety, and the remaining dates of the tour were canceled. The band disbanded in 2011 following a lengthy hiatus and she ceased performing.

White is a key artist of the 2000s garage rock revival, and her style of drumming has been called "minimalistic" and "simplistic" by critics. Reviews of her playing were initially ambivalent, but it has earned retrospective praise and continues to be discussed. She is also noted for her elusive media image, calling herself "very shy" and reclusive. With the White Stripes, she won a Brit Award and six Grammy Awards. In 2015, Rolling Stone included her on their "100 Greatest Drummers of All Time" list. She and Jack were nominees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2023, but were not inducted.

Early life

Megan Martha White was born in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, on December 10, 1974[1] to parents Catherine and Walter Hackett White Jr.[2][3] She has an older sister, Heather. She was not "brought up in any religion".[4] She attended Grosse Pointe North High School and, according to one classmate, was "always the quiet, obviously artistic type, and she just kept very much to herself".[5]

While still in high school, White decided not to go to college and instead pursue a career as a chef.[5][6] She worked at Memphis Smoke, a restaurant in downtown Royal Oak, where she met budding musician Jack Gillis, a fellow high school senior from a Detroit neighborhood known as Mexicantown.[5][6][7] They formed a relationship and frequented the coffee shops, local music venues, and record stores of the area.[8][7]

Career

On Bastille Day in 1997, White began learning to play the drums after attempting to do so on Jack Gillis's drumkit.[6][9][10] Gillis said that "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."[11] The two then formed the White Stripes, where they stuck to certain motifs: Gillis and White presented themselves as siblings to an unknowing public,[12][13] and kept to a chromatic theme, dressing only in red, white, and black.[14][15] They played their first gig at the Gold Dollar in Detroit,[16][17] and achieved popularity in Michigan's underground garage rock scene,[14][6][18] opening for and playing with established local bands such as Bantam Rooster and the Dirtbombs, among others.[19][6]

White at Club Shinjuku Jam, Tokyo in 2000

In 1998, they were approached by Dave Buick, the owner of Detroit-based independent record label Italy Records,[20] who offered to pay for their debut single. "Let's Shake Hands" was then released in February 1998.[21][22] In 1999, the band signed with the California-based label Sympathy for the Record Industry, and released their self-titled debut album.[15] AllMusic said that White's drumming "balances out the fretwork and the fretting with methodical, spare, and booming cymbal, bass drum, and snare…"[23]

Following their divorce in 2000, White insisted that they keep the band going.[24][25] Their second album, De Stijl, was released in 2001.[26] Rolling Stone's Jenny Eliscu said that White's drumming "forces a smile because, like everything about the White Stripes, it proves that you don’t need bombast to make a blues explosion."[27] It became a sleeper hit in 2002 after the White Stripes gained popularity, reaching 38 on Billboard's Independent Albums chart in 2002.[28]

The White Stripes rose to widespread recognition in 2001 with the release of their album White Blood Cells. She shared vocal duties with Jack on the tracks "Hotel Yorba" and "This Protector", and also on the Loretta Lynn cover "Rated X" which features as the B-side to "Hotel Yorba".[29] White Blood Cells would have a major label re-release with V2 Records in 2002, which brought them to the forefront of the garage rock revival and made them one of the most acclaimed bands of the year.[30][6][31] It was their last album to be released with the Sympathy for the Record Industry. Chris Deville of Stereogum praised White for bashing "the bejesus out of her drums" and called the pair "too compelling for the rest of the world to ignore."[32] The album included the groundbreaking single "Fell in Love with a Girl", which won them three awards at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards.[33]

The White Stripes released their fourth studio album, Elephant, through V2 Records and XL Recordings in 2003.[15] The album was acclaimed, and is often considered the band's best work.[34] Their continued success helped establish Meg and Jack White as key figures of 2000s rock, and Elephant, along with White Blood Cells, were included on numerous editions of Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" list.[35][36] Several writers for AllMusic coined White's drumming on Elephant as "hypnotic" and "explosively minimal", and Bram Teltelman of Billboard described it as "simple but effective".[37][38][39] Additionally, the track "In The Cold, Cold Night" features White singing lead for the first time.[40] Tom Breihan of Stereogum described her voice as "magnetic",[41] and Andrew Katchen with Billboard wrote that she sounded "delicate and sweet".[42] Wanda Jackson later covered the track as a tribute.[43][44] Elephant's first single, "Seven Nation Army", became the band's signature song and a sports anthem.[45] The album won a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album and "Seven Nation Army" won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song.[46]

In 2004, she starred in the band's first music film Under Blackpool Lights, which was shot entirely on super 8 film.[47][48] Jamie Russell of BBC described her as "orgasmically pounding the drums" and "exhilarating".[49] The band's fifth album Get Behind Me Satan saw the pair experimenting, with White using percussion bells, maracas and tambourines. She also performed lead vocals on "Passive Manipulation", for which Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone described her vocals as "chilling",[50] while Matthew Murphy of Pitchfork thought that the song "begs the gentle suggestion that Meg not be allowed to sing lead."[51] It won the band their second Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album.[52]

The White Stripes performing at the Wireless Festival in 2007

The White Stripes released their sixth and final album, Icky Thump, in 2007. Winning the Grammys for Best Alternative Music Album and Best Rock Song,[53][54] the album was praised and saw the band returning to styles present on their first album.[55] White spoke on the bagpipe-heavy track "St. Andrew (This Battle Is in the Air)" and provided backing vocals for the tracks "You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do as You're Told)" and "Rag and Bone".[56][57]

In the summer of 2007, before a show in Southaven, Mississippi, Ben Blackwell (Jack White's nephew and the group's archivist) says that Meg White 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."[58][59] On September 11, 2007, the White Stripes announced via their website that they were canceling 18 tour dates due to White's acute anxiety.[60][61] The following day, the duo canceled the remainder of their 2007 UK tour dates as well.[62] Jack White worked with other artists in the meantime, but Meg White remained largely out of the public eye, though in June 2008 she appeared briefly onstage during an encore set of a Detroit show with one of Jack's bands, the Raconteurs.[63][64]

White at Primavera Sound in Barcelona in 2007

In an interview with Music Radar, Jack explained that Meg's acute anxiety had been due to the combination of a very short pre-tour rehearsal time—that was further reduced by the birth of his son—and a hectic, multi-continental touring schedule.[65] He said, "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."[65]

Jack revealed the band's plan to release a seventh album by the summer of 2009.[66][67] On February 20, 2009—and on the final episode of Late Night with Conan O'Brien—the band made their first, and what would be their last, live appearance after the cancellation of their tours, performing the song "We're Going to Be Friends".[68][69][70] A documentary about their Canadian tour—titled The White Stripes: Under Great White Northern Lights—premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 18, 2009.[71][72][73] Directed by Emmett Malloy, the film documents the band's summer 2007 tour across Canada and contains live concert and off-stage footage.[74][75] Bill Bradley for Vanity Fair opined that it was "impossible" not to see Meg as "road-weary and worn-out" at the end of the film.[76]

A second feature titled Under Nova Scotian Lights was prepared for the DVD release. On February 2, 2011, the band reported on their official website that they were disbanding. The statement emphasized that it was not due to health issues or artistic differences, but "mostly to preserve what is beautiful and special about the band".[77] White has not been active in the industry since.[78]

Other ventures

White appears on the cover of Whirlwind Heat's single "Pink" wearing a bunny costume; the photo was taken while the White Stripes and Whirlwind Heat toured together in Japan.[79] She made her film debut appearing with Jack White in Jim Jarmusch's 2003 film Coffee and Cigarettes.[80] They star in the segment "Jack Shows Meg His Tesla Coil", which expands on White Stripes motifs such as childhood innocence and Nikola Tesla.[81]

In 2004, White starred as Little Red Riding Hood in the music video for "Cha Cha Twist" by the Detroit Cobras.[82] White modeled for Marc Jacobs' 2006 Spring line.[83] Two of her pictures appeared in the March 2006 issue of ELLE. She was chosen by Bob Odenkirk to compose a drum theme for Dax Shepard's character in the 2006 film Let's Go to Prison; against Odenkirk's wishes however, the studio removed it from the film.[84][85]

The White Stripes guest starred on The Simpsons in an episode titled "Jazzy and the Pussycats", which first aired on September 17, 2006.[86] White had previously expressed interest in a Simpsons role, saying that "A guest appearance would be amazing. I wouldn't want to be in a Lisa episode. They're kind of boring. Maybe a Homer one would be better."[87][88] White appeared with Jack in the 2009 documentary It Might Get Loud.[89]

Artistry

White performing on her signature pair of peppermint-themed Ludwig Drums with Paiste cymbals in 2005

White's musical influences are wide and varied. Bob Dylan is her favorite artist and primary inspiration, and she is also a fan of Loretta Lynn.[90][91] She has said of her influences: "I don't want to know about my biggest idols. I don't want to read their autobiographies, I don't want to find out what they're really like."[13] Her pre-show warm up included "whiskey and Red Bull."[92]

In reference to her "primal" approach to drumming,[19] White remarked, "That is my strength. A lot of drummers would feel weird about being that simplistic". She expanded by saying that "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".[92] On her style, Jack said "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."[11] The New York Times's Kelefa Sanneh said her "drumming is more sophisticated than many fans (and many more non-fans) realize. She refuses to imitate a metronome, refuses to flatten the songs by making them conform to a steady pulse. Instead she seems to hear the music the way Mr. White does: as a series of phrases, each with its own shape and tempo."[93]

Throughout her tenure with the White Stripes, White extensively used the Ludwig Classic Maple kit with Paiste cymbals.[94][95] From their early years to Get Behind Me Satan, the resonant heads of the toms and bass drum almost exclusively featured peppermint swirls.[96][97][98] The idea to do so came from Jack, when he and Meg "walked into a drugstore and saw this bag of peppermint candy and I said 'That should be painted on your bass drum because you've been drumming like a little kid".[99] The peppermint decor became signature in her kit, and appeared in several live shows and music videos such as "The Hardest Button to Button" and "Seven Nation Army".[100] She donated her last Ludwig kit to the 2009 Jim Shaw Rock 'N' Roll Benefit, an auction to raise money for the Detroit musician who was suffering from cancer.[101][100]

While recording From the Basement: The White Stripes, the design on the bass drum was switched to an image of her hand holding the apple from the Get 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.[96][102] On the Icky Thump tour, the bass drum head design was switched to a button inspired by the Pearlies clothing Jack and Meg wore for the album cover. She also used Remo and Ludwig drumheads, various percussion instruments and Vater drumsticks.

White's Pearl Export bass drum—complete with original peppermint-painted bass drum that she used with the band's first show—and the Pearly Queen outfit she wore in the photos for the Icky Thump album, were featured in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame "Women Who Rock" exhibition.[103]

Legacy

White is considered a key figure in the garage rock revival of the 2000s. Her minimalistic and simplistic drumming style divided audiences and critics of the time, but she has since been praised for her "primal" style.[104][105][106] She is one of the most discussed drummers in rock music, and her style continues to be evaluated after her retirement. She received several accolades with the White Stripes, which includes winning one Brit Award from six nominations[107][108][109][110][111] and winning six Grammy Awards from eleven nominations.[46][52][53] Rolling Stone included White on its 2016 list of the "100 Greatest Drummers of All Time".[112][113] NME included her on their 2018 list of "32 of the best drummers to grace rock 'n' roll."[114] She appeared on the Universal Music Group's 2022 list of "100 Best Drummers" and was called "rock music's most compelling stickswoman".[115] Robin Murray of Clash titled her "One of Rock's Greatest Drummers" in 2023.[116]

White's style of drumming continues to be discussed. Musicians such as Dave Grohl (left) and Nandi Bushell (right) have praised White.

Following the White Stripes' breakthrough, White's drumming received attention. Writers of Pitchfork in 2001 said that "Meg White's kit is bashed with such force you'd imagine her as some kind of incredible hulk, though in photos, she appears the prototypical indie girl-- waifish, with pigtails and a nasty smirk. Yet she whips all of her 98 pounds into a tornadic fury like E. Honda's hundred-hand slap."[117] After the White Stripes' breakthrough in 2001, UK newspaper The Times said that White "reduced the art of drumming to its primary components, bashing the snare and cymbal together on alternating beats with the bass drum in a way that recalled Moe Tucker of the Velvet Underground."[18] In a 2002 The Washington Post article analyzing the band's style, writer Richard Harrington described White's drumming as "a surprisingly full sound, loud and raucous -- like the Carpenters on steroids".[99] Of a 2002 concert in Cleveland, Ohio, Chuck Klosterman said, "[Meg] never grimaced and didn't appear to sweat; yet somehow her drums sounded like a herd of Clydesdales falling out of the sky, one after another. Clearly this is a band at the apex of its power".[118]

During the White Stripes' years, there was criticism of White's performances and technique. In 2003, Associated Press called White's playing "maddeningly rudimentary".[119] The satirical news site The Onion featured the 2007 headline "Meg White Drum Solo Maintains Steady Beat For 23 Minutes".[120] In a review of their 2007 Madison Square Garden performance, a writer for Vulture said of her singing: "Oh, God, it was awful … Meg, great as she looks onstage, is pure amateur hour".[121] In response to negative comments, Jack stated Meg's drumming to be the "best part of this band",[11] and called her a "strong female presence in rock and roll".[122] He called her detractors "sexist".[11]

Several musicians have praised White. Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters and previously Nirvana stated in an interview that White is "one of my favorite fucking drummers of all time. Like, nobody fucking plays the drums like that."[123][124][125] Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine wrote in an Instagram post that White "has style and swag and personality and oomph and taste and awesomeness that's off the charts and a vibe that's untouchable".[126][127][128] Nandi Bushell cited White as one of her influences, and said that "I saw Meg playing the drums and thought she was the coolest person in the world. I still do." She wrote on Twitter that the White Stripes "moved me at 5 years old to want to play the drums and still move me today! My screams are for you Meg! You are and always will be my role model and hero!"[129][130] Tré Cool of Green Day called Meg White one of his favorite drummers.[131]

In March 2023, National Review magazine published an article celebrating the 20 year anniversary of "Seven Nation Army".[132] In response to a tweet concerning the article on Twitter, journalist Lachlan Markay wrote "The tragedy of the White Stripes is how great they would've been with a half decent drummer. Yeah yeah I've heard all the "but it's a carefully crafted sound mannnn!" takes. I'm sorry Meg White was terrible and no band is better for having shitty percussion."[132][133][134][135] The tweet went viral, and Jack, along with several musicians and critics, came to her defense.[136][137][138][139][140][141][142][143] Markay later apologized and deleted his comments.[144] He wrote that "It was an over-the-top take … I don’t know if Meg White herself saw that tweet. I hope not, because I imagine it wouldn’t feel great to see a stranger dumping on you like that, so to Meg White: I am sorry. Really. And to women in the music business generally, who I think are disproportionately subject to this sort of shit, I am sorry to have fed that as well."[144] As a result, White trended that month.[133][145][144]

On the enduring discussion of White's drumming, Chris Willman of Variety magazine observed in 2023 that "Years after she disappeared from the scene, either too shy or just too disinterested to continue a rock ‘n’ roll career, she seems to have been absorbed into rock orthodoxy as a great drummer by near-acclamation, and ironically stands as more of an icon than she ever did in her active years — although naysayers obviously persist."[133] In a 2024 Euronews article, Jonny Walfisz likened White to Ringo Starr of the Beatles, calling her a "sheer genius of a drummer" who, like Starr, had a deceptively simple style which showed creativity through minimalism to best support each song.[146] Erica Banas at WRAT called her "Rock's Favorite Recluse" in 2024, quipping that "No other drummer can rattle a rearview mirror quite like Meg White".[147]

Personal life

White and Jack White dated in the mid-1990s, and were married on September 21, 1996,[148] with Jack taking her last name. They divorced on March 24, 2000.[24] In May 2009, she married guitarist Jackson Smith in a small ceremony in Jack White's backyard in Nashville, Tennessee. Jackson is the son of musicians Patti Smith and Fred "Sonic" Smith. They divorced in July 2013.[149][150][151] White resides in Detroit as of 2016.[152] She loves peppermint, and it inspired many of the White Stripes' artistic schemes.[153][154]

White suffers from acute anxiety, and has described herself as "very shy".[11][60][65][155][156] She told Rolling Stone in 2005 that "the more you talk, the less people listen".[157] Her strict maintenance of her privacy and giving few interviews has been the subject of significant commentary.[158][159] She said in 2006 that she "never really cared about all the things that other people cared about, you know? Like, people recognizing me on the street never interested me. I've always been kind of suspicious of the world, anyway, so it's pretty easy for me to live in my own little world."[160] As of 2023, she has not made any public appearances since 2009.[161]

During the 2016 United States presidential election, White made a joint statement with Jack criticizing Donald Trump after "Seven Nation Army" appeared in his campaign without their consent.[162] After the Trump campaign used the song again in the 2024 United States presidential election, she and Jack reunited to file a copyright infringement lawsuit.[163][164][165][166]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2003 Coffee and Cigarettes Herself Segment: "Jack Shows Meg His Tesla Coil" [80]
2004 Under Blackpool Lights Direct-to-video film [47]
2005 The Fearless Freaks Documentary [167]
2008 It Might Get Loud [89]
2009 Under Great White Northern Lights Rockumentary [76]

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2002 Saturday Night Live Herself Episode: "Senator John McCain/The White Stripes" [168]
2003–2009 Late Night with Conan O'Brien Herself (host) Also performer; 9 episodes [169][170]
2004 Pancake Mountain Herself Unknown episode [171]
2005 From the Basement Episode: "Pilot" [172]
2006 The Simpsons Herself (voice) Episode: "Jazzy and the Pussycats" [87]

Music videos

Discography

References

  1. ^ a b White, Jack (April 17, 2024). ""HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the incredible, intelligent, talented, sweet, and angelic Meg White." -JW3 #megwhite #thewhitestripes". Instagram. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  2. ^ "Revealing the White Stripes: The inside story of the early years". www.freep.com. July 24, 2019. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  3. ^ "Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan". QuinStreet, Inc. Retrieved January 10, 2015.
  4. ^ Gross, Terry (June 9, 2005). "A White-Striped Trip: 'Get Behind Me Satan'". NPR.
  5. ^ a b c "Meg White Biography". Biography.com. Retrieved October 14, 2014.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Klosterman, Chuck (October 2002). "The Garage". Spin. Vol. 18, no. 10. pp. 64–68.
  7. ^ a b "Jack White's Detroit: A pocket travel guide". faroutmagazine.co.uk. January 22, 2022. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  8. ^ Handyside 2004, p. 25.
  9. ^ Powers, Ann (February 27, 2001). "Pop Review; Intellectualizing the Music Or Simply Experiencing It". Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  10. ^ "The White Stripes: Raw Rock Revivalists". August 10, 2001. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  11. ^ a b c d e Fricke, David (September 8, 2005). "White on White". Rolling Stone. No. 982. pp. 66–72.
  12. ^ Heaney, Mick (April 28, 2002). "The White Stripes". The Sunday Times.
  13. ^ a b Cameron, Keith (March 29, 2003). "The sweetheart deal". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  14. ^ a b Killingsworth, Jason (July 27, 2007). "The White Stripes Play Us a Little Number". Paste Magazine. Retrieved August 5, 2014.
  15. ^ a b c Wilkinson, Alec (March 5, 2017). "Jack White's Infinite Imagination". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  16. ^ "The White Stripes Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  17. ^ Scaggs, Austin (May 1, 2003). "Jack White". Rolling Stone. No. 921. p. 16.
  18. ^ a b Sinclair, David (August 7, 2001). "Genuine trendy success without trying". The Times.
  19. ^ a b McCollum, Brian (September 2003). "Red, White, and Cool". Spin. Vol. 19, no. 9. pp. 68–74.
  20. ^ "Motor City Is Burning". trakMARX. Archived from the original on November 22, 2006. Retrieved August 26, 2008.
  21. ^ "Motor City Cribs (Metro Times Detroit)". May 2, 2008. Archived from the original on May 2, 2008. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  22. ^ "See White Stripes' Animated 'Let's Shake Hands' Video". Rolling Stone. December 4, 2020. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  23. ^ The White Stripes - The White Stripes | Album | AllMusic, retrieved April 12, 2024
  24. ^ a b Brown, Jake (June 9, 2002). "White Stripes Divorce Certificate". Glorious Noise.
  25. ^ Shlanger, Talia (September 21, 2018). "Meg White Is The 21st Century's Loudest Introvert". NPR Music.
  26. ^ "White Stripes – De Stijl". MusicStack. Archived from the original on November 20, 2007. Retrieved August 26, 2008.
  27. ^ Eliscu, Jenny (November 23, 2000). "De Stijl". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  28. ^ De Stijl - The White Stripes | Album | AllMusic, retrieved April 18, 2024
  29. ^ Betts, Stephen L. (January 29, 2015). "Watch the White Stripes Do Loretta Lynn Proud". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  30. ^ "White Stripes: Biography : Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. October 28, 2008. Archived from the original on October 28, 2008. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  31. ^ Cameron, Keith (March 29, 2003). "The sweetheart deal". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  32. ^ "The White Stripes Released 'White Blood Cells' 20 Years Ago This Week". Stereogum. July 2, 2021. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  33. ^ "Rock On The Net: 2002 MTV Video Music Awards". www.rockonthenet.com. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  34. ^ Elephant - The White Stripes | Album | AllMusic, retrieved April 12, 2024
  35. ^ "The RS 500 Greatest Albums of All Time : Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. June 23, 2008. Archived from the original on June 23, 2008. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  36. ^ Wenner, Jann S. (2012). Rolling Stone – Special Collectors Issue – The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Rolling Stone. ISBN 978-7-09-893419-6.
  37. ^ "Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes – Track Info". AllMusic. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  38. ^ Singles. Nielsen Business Media. March 29, 2003.
  39. ^ "The White Stripes – Elephant". AllMusic. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  40. ^ Ratliff, Ben (April 21, 2003). "ROCK REVIEW; Contradictory and Proud of It". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  41. ^ "The White Stripes' 'Elephant' Turns 20". Stereogum. March 30, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  42. ^ Katchen, Andrew (March 29, 2003). "White Stripes Stay Pure on 'Elephant'". Billboard. Vol. 115, no. 13. p. 9.
  43. ^ "Wanda Jackson Covers the White Stripes - Song Premiere". Rolling Stone. November 12, 2013. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  44. ^ "Listen: Wanda Jackson Sings the White Stripes' "In the Cold, Cold Night" for Jack White Covers Album". Pitchfork. November 12, 2013. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  45. ^ "Jack White's Infinite Imagination". The New Yorker. March 6, 2017. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  46. ^ a b "Rock On The Net: 46th Annual Grammy Awards - 2004". www.rockonthenet.com. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  47. ^ a b Bradshaw, Peter (November 5, 2004). "The White Stripes Under Blackpool Lights". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  48. ^ "The White Stripes: Under Blackpool Lights". The A.V. Club. December 27, 2004. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  49. ^ "BBC - Movies - review - The White Stripes: Under Blackpool Lights". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  50. ^ "Get Behind Me Satan". Rolling Stone. June 16, 2005. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  51. ^ "The White Stripes: Get Behind Me Satan". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  52. ^ a b "Rock On The Net: 48th Annual Grammy Awards - 2006". www.rockonthenet.com. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  53. ^ a b "Rock On The Net: 50th Annual Grammy Awards - 2008". www.rockonthenet.com. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  54. ^ "When The White Stripes brought the blues to The Grammys". Far Out Magazine. November 2, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  55. ^ "Greetings from The White Stripes". August 14, 2014. Archived from the original on August 14, 2014. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  56. ^ NME (April 24, 2007). "World exclusive – White Stripes to make their return with NME". NME. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  57. ^ "Icky Thump". EW.com. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  58. ^ Irwin, Corey (July 31, 2022). "When Meg White Predicted the White Stripes' Final Concert". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  59. ^ Eells, Josh (April 5, 2012). "Jack Outside the Box". The New York Times. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
  60. ^ a b "9.11.07". WhiteStripes.com. Archived from the original on September 2, 2007. Retrieved September 12, 2007.
  61. ^ "White Stripes shelve US concerts". September 12, 2007. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  62. ^ "The White Stripes cancel UK tour". BBC News. September 13, 2007. Retrieved September 14, 2007.
  63. ^ Kreps, Daniel (June 9, 2008). "Meg White Makes Cameo During Raconteurs Concert". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
  64. ^ Graff, Gary (June 9, 2008). "Meg White Surprises With Raconteurs In Detroit". Billboard. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  65. ^ a b c "Jack White on The White Stripes' future". Music Radar. May 6, 2009. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
  66. ^ "Meg White Surprises With Raconteurs In Detroit". Billboard. June 9, 2008.
  67. ^ "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself". delawareonline.com. The News Journal. February 11, 2009. Archived from the original on January 4, 2016. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
  68. ^ "When Conan O'Brien reunited The White Stripes for a farewell". faroutmagazine.co.uk. April 18, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  69. ^ "The White Stripes Take Their Final Bow on 'Conan'". Rolling Stone. March 24, 2016. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  70. ^ Lee, Jamie (February 1, 2023). "Where Is Meg White Now? A Look at Her History With the White Stripes and Where She Is Today". Distractify. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  71. ^ "Whitestripes.com". Whitestripes.com. Archived from the original on April 21, 2010. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
  72. ^ Dehaas, Josh (July 22, 2009). "TIFF's documentary films observe an askew planet (ours)". Toronto Life. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  73. ^ "White Stripes Canadian tour doc to premiere at TIFF". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). July 21, 2009. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  74. ^ "Whitestripes.com". Whitestripes.com. Archived from the original on April 3, 2010. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
  75. ^ "Juno team returns to TIFF". The Globe and Mail. July 22, 2009. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  76. ^ a b "Buy It, Steal It, Skip It: The White Stripes' Under Great White Northern Lights". Vanity Fair. March 15, 2010. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  77. ^ "White Stripes have finally split, band members tell fans". The Guardian. February 2, 2011. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  78. ^ "Music artists who walked away at the top of their game". Yardbarker. January 31, 2023. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  79. ^ NME (February 9, 2004). "WHITE RABBIT!". NME. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  80. ^ a b "The White Stripes make movies, too". EW.com. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  81. ^ pbadmin (May 12, 2004). "The White Stripes on Coffee and Cigarettes". ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  82. ^ a b "R.I.P. Rachel Nagy, Lead Singer of The Detroit Cobras Has Died". January 15, 2022. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  83. ^ "Meg White becomes a model". NME. 2006. Archived from the original on January 5, 2006. Retrieved June 2, 2006.
  84. ^ "Let's Go To Prison". WorstPreviews. 2006. Archived from the original on October 29, 2018. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
  85. ^ Hutchinson, Sean (October 10, 2014). "15 Things You Probably Didn't Know About 'Let's Go to Prison'". MentalFloss. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
  86. ^ Montgomery, James (2006). "White Stripes Get Entangled In A Simpson Family Feud". MTV. Archived from the original on February 6, 2006.
  87. ^ a b NME (September 18, 2006). "Watch The White Stripes' 'Simpsons' appearance". NME. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  88. ^ Schmidt, Katie (December 17, 2020). "10 'Simpsons' band cameos that'll make you wish you lived in Springfield". Alternative Press Magazine. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  89. ^ a b Snierson, Dan (September 4, 2009). "Jimmy Page and Jack White talk about 'It Might Get Loud', their new documentary with the Edge". EW. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
  90. ^ Dunn, Jancee (May 27, 2004). "Loretta Lynn: Honky-Tonk Woman". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  91. ^ Perry, Andrew (November 14, 2004). "What's eating Jack?". London: The Observer. Retrieved August 14, 2007.
  92. ^ a b "Drumming for the New Duos". www.jimdero.com. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  93. ^ Sanneh, Kelefa (July 26, 2007). "If Something's Missing, All the Better". The New York Times. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  94. ^ "How to play the drums like Meg White". faroutmagazine.co.uk. December 10, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  95. ^ Osborn, Kevin (July 9, 2018). "3 Iconic Drum Kits and the Stories Behind Them". inSync. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  96. ^ a b DeRogatis, Jim (November 2002). "Drumming for the New Duos". Retrieved June 20, 2008.
  97. ^ "Meg White: 3 Reasons Why She's A Drumming Genius - Drumeo Beat". Free Online Drum Magazine | The Drumeo Beat. July 7, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  98. ^ Porter, Tom (January 29, 2009). "White Stripes' Meg White auctioning Ludwig kit"
  99. ^ a b "The White Stripes, Plain and Simple". Washington Post. January 23, 2024. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  100. ^ a b Porter, Tom (January 29, 2009). "White Stripes' Meg White auctioning Ludwig kit" Archived November 6, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, MusicRadar.com. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
  101. ^ Breihan, Tom (January 30, 2009). "Meg White Auctions Drums for Charity", Pitchfork. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
  102. ^ Powers, Ann (February 27, 2001). "POP REVIEW; Intellectualizing the Music Or Simply Experiencing It". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  103. ^ "Ladies First", RockHall.com. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
  104. ^ Stegall, Tim. "The best punk drummers of the 2000s, from Travis Barker to Meg White". Alternative Press Magazine. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  105. ^ Cameron, Keith (March 28, 2003), "The sweetheart deal". The Guardian. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  106. ^ POWERS, ANN (February 27, 2001). "POP REVIEW; Intellectualizing the Music Or Simply Experiencing It Archived March 6, 2016, at the Wayback Machine". Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  107. ^ "Brit Awards › 2004". May 12, 2008. Archived from the original on May 12, 2008. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  108. ^ "Full list of Brit Awards 2004 nominations". January 12, 2004. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  109. ^ "History". BRIT Awards. Archived from the original on March 21, 2019. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  110. ^ "Kaiser Chiefs lead Brit Award nominations | News | NME.COM". NME. January 4, 2008. Archived from the original on January 4, 2008. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  111. ^ "Radio X". Radio X. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  112. ^ Weingarten, Christopher R.; Dolan, Jon; Diehl, Matt; Micallef, Ken; Ma, David; Smith, Gareth Dylan; Wang, Oliver; Heller, Jason; Runtagh, Jordan; Shteamer, Hank; Smith, Steve; Spanos, Brittany; Grow, Kory; Kemp, Rob; Harris, Keith; Gehr, Richard; Wiederhorn, Jon; Johnston, Maura; Greene, Andy (March 31, 2016). "100 Greatest Drummers of All Time". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  113. ^ Madarang, Charisma (March 16, 2023). "Jack White Weighs In on That Meg White Drumming Controversy". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  114. ^ Barker, Emily (May 21, 2018). "32 of the best drummers to grace rock 'n' roll". NME. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  115. ^ Team, uDiscover (December 27, 2022). "The 100 Best Drummers Of All Time". uDiscover Music. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  116. ^ Murray, Robin (March 15, 2023). "Meg White Is One Of Rock's Great Drummers | Features". Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  117. ^ "The White Stripes: White Blood Cells". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  118. ^ Klosterman, Chuck (June 2002), "The White Stripes". Spin. 18(6):38
  119. ^ THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (April 4, 2003). "The White Stripes (Third Man Records)", The Canadian Press.
  120. ^ (June 5, 2007). "Meg White Drum Solo Maintains Steady Beat For 23 Minutes", The Onion. (43):23
  121. ^ "The White Stripes Triumphantly Bring Amateur Hour to the Garden". Vulture. July 25, 2007. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  122. ^ TALBOTT, CHRIS (May 31, 2014). "Jack White issues apology to Black Keys and others, explains comments that drew criticism". The Canadian Press.
  123. ^ Hiatt, Brian (June 29, 2018). "Dave Grohl on the Foos' Tour, Lost Nirvana Reunion Footage". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  124. ^ Renshaw, David (January 28, 2013). "Dave Grohl raves about Meg White's drumming style". NME. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  125. ^ "Dave Grohl's five favourite drummers of all time". faroutmagazine.co.uk. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  126. ^ "RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE's TOM MORELLO defends "untouchable" MEG WHITE of THE WHITE STRIPES". lambgoat.com. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  127. ^ Daly, Rhian (March 19, 2023). "Tom Morello calls Meg White one of rock'n'roll's "greatest drummers"". NME. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  128. ^ "Tom Morello defends Meg White's drumming". faroutmagazine.co.uk. March 19, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  129. ^ "Nandi Bushell Dedicates White Stripes Cover to 'Role Model' and 'Hero' Meg White". Rolling Stone. March 19, 2023. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  130. ^ "Nandi Bushell Screams, Bashes Her Way Through White Stripes' 'Seven Nation Army' in Tribute to Meg White". Billboard. March 20, 2023. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  131. ^ The Howard Stern Show (January 17, 2024). Tré Cool Answers Who the Greatest Drummer of All Time Is. Retrieved September 20, 2024 – via YouTube.
  132. ^ a b "The Song of the Century Turns 20". National Review. March 11, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  133. ^ a b c Willman, Chris (March 15, 2023). "Meg White's Drumming Chops Are the Hot Topic of the Day, and Yes, It's 2023". Variety. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  134. ^ DiVita, Joe. "Twitter Comes After Ex-Political Reporter Who Dissed Meg White's 'Terrible' Drumming". Loudwire. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  135. ^ "Reporter apologises to Meg White after calling her "terrible" on Twitter". Radio X. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  136. ^ "Twitter rallies to defend The White Stripes' Meg White from sexist slander". www.audacy.com. March 14, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  137. ^ Roskopp, Jack (March 15, 2023). "In defense of Meg White, the iconic (and talented) drummer of the White Stripes". WDIV. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  138. ^ "Jack White Posts Tribute to Meg White as World Considers the Viral and Bad White Stripes Take". Pitchfork. March 16, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  139. ^ "Karen Elson leads support for Meg White after White Stripes criticism". The Independent. March 15, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  140. ^ Singh, Surej (March 15, 2023). "Karen Elson defends Meg White: "Keep my ex-husband's ex-wife name out your mouth"". NME. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  141. ^ Richards, Will (March 14, 2023). "Questlove joins social media debate defending Meg White's drumming ability". NME. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  142. ^ Snapes, Laura (March 16, 2023). "Jack White defends Meg White's drumming with poem addressing critics". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  143. ^ "Jack White pens poetic ode to Meg White after White Stripes drummer was maligned". Los Angeles Times. March 16, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  144. ^ a b c Wilkes, Emma (March 15, 2023). "Journalist apologises for calling Meg White "terrible" after backlash". NME. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  145. ^ "Jack White Posts Loving Poem Honoring Former White Stripes Drummer Meg White, Calling out 'Demons, Cowards and Vampires'". Billboard. March 16, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  146. ^ "World Drummer's Day: The five types of drummers who changed the world". euronews. April 4, 2024. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  147. ^ Banas, Erica (June 14, 2024). "Meg White: Rock's Favorite Recluse Who's Impossible to Ignore". WRAT. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  148. ^ Handyside 2004, p. 32.
  149. ^ "Meg White and Jackson Smith wed in Nashville". The Seattle Times. seattletimes.com. May 26, 2009. Archived from the original on October 20, 2014. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  150. ^ WEINER, JONAH (June 5, 2014). "Jack White." Rolling Stone. 1210:52-78
  151. ^ Smith vs White, 2013-805938-DO (Mich. 6th Cir. 2013), archived from the original. Note: User-search required.
  152. ^ "Jack White says he 'almost never' talks to Meg White, says she's 'always been a hermit'". MLive.com. May 23, 2014. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
  153. ^ Stamberg, Susan (June 12, 2002). "Profile: Band The White Stripes". Morning Edition. NPR.
  154. ^ "THE WHITE STRIPES". August 30, 2009. Archived from the original on August 30, 2009. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  155. ^ Wilson, Staci Layne (March 28, 2023). "After the Music: Rockstars Living Other Lives". Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  156. ^ Gray, Tyler (March 14, 2010). "Jack White on making beautiful music with his ex-wife Meg". New York Post. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  157. ^ Fricke, David (September 8, 2005). "The White Stripes: Jack White Comes Clean". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  158. ^ Uitti, Jacob (December 29, 2022). "7 Rock Stars Who Walked Away Too Early—From Bill Wyman to Meg White". American Songwriter. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  159. ^ Yeniocak, Su (June 22, 2022). "Why Meg White Lives In Seclusion". Rock Celebrities. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  160. ^ "Interview: The White Stripes: getting to know the most interesting band in music today - Interview". May 12, 2006. Archived from the original on May 12, 2006. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  161. ^ "Searching for Meg White". ELLE. June 1, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  162. ^ Krieg, Gregory (October 6, 2016). "The White Stripes give Trump an Icky Thump | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  163. ^ Torres, Eric (September 9, 2024). "The White Stripes Sue Donald Trump". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  164. ^ Levin, Bess (August 30, 2024). "You Can Add ABBA and the White Stripes to the Long List of Musical Acts Who Want Nothing to Do With Donald Trump". Vanity Fair. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  165. ^ Wile, Rob (September 10, 2024). "The White Stripes sue Trump for using 'Seven Nation Army' in a campaign video". www.nbcnews.com. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  166. ^ Specter, Emma (September 10, 2024). "Trump Has Made a Powerful New Legal Enemy, and It's…the White Stripes?". Vogue. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  167. ^ Adams, David (June 2, 2005). "The Flaming Lips: The Fearless Freaks". IGN. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  168. ^ Shaffer, Claire (December 14, 2020). "The White Stripes Release Two Classic 'SNL' Performances Online". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  169. ^ Susman, Gary (March 28, 2003). "White Stripes will play four nights on Conan". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  170. ^ Yoo, Noah (October 12, 2017). "Conan O'Brien Tells Story of How the White Stripes Closed "Late Night": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  171. ^ Kirchner, Stephanie (May 15, 2008). "Pancake Mountain". TIME. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  172. ^ Martoccio, Angie (February 17, 2021). "The White Stripes Drop Full 2005 'From the Basement' Performance". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 28, 2024.

Works cited

Further reading