John Anthony White (born July 9, 1975) is an American musician and record producer. He was the guitarist and lead singer of the rock band the White Stripes. He played an important role in the indie and garage rock scenes of the 2000s, known for his unique musical style, unusual personality, and use of old-fashioned recording equipment. After the White Stripes ended their work together in 2011, White continued to have success with his own music and other business projects.

White started his career by playing drums and guitar in small, underground bands in Detroit. He met Meg White in the 1990s, and the two started the White Stripes in 1997. Their 2001 album White Blood Cells helped them gain worldwide attention. This album, along with three more albums the band released in the 2000s, made White a major figure in the revival of rock music during that time. In the second half of the 2000s, he formed two other rock bands, the Raconteurs and the Dead Weather. He also recorded a song for a James Bond movie with Alicia Keys, which was the only Bond theme ever performed by a duet. He worked with many other musicians during this time.

White’s first solo album, Blunderbuss (2012), received positive reviews and sold well. His second solo album, Lazaretto (2014), set a record for the most vinyl records sold in one week since 1991, a record that remained until 2021. His next three albums also received praise and achieved commercial success. His most recent album, No Name (2024), was released in a special way and became his most highly praised work.

In 2001, White co-founded Third Man Records, a record label and studio. It produces vinyl records of his music and the work of other artists, including local school children. In 2013, he joined the Library of Congress’s National Recording Preservation Foundation. Outside of music, he has appeared in movies such as Cold Mountain, Coffee and Cigarettes, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, and Killers of the Flower Moon.

White has won twelve Grammy Awards. Rolling Stone magazine listed him as one of the greatest guitarists of all time in 2010 and 2023. The New York Times called him “the coolest, weirdest, [and] savviest rock star of our time” in 2012. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the White Stripes in 2025.

Early life

John Anthony Gillis, named after a religious figure, was born in Detroit, Michigan, on July 9, 1975. He is the youngest of ten children of Teresa (née Bandyke; 1930–2026) and Gorman M. Gillis (1927–2006). His mother’s family was Polish, and his father was of Scottish heritage from Canada. Because his parents were older when he was born and his older siblings were much older, his siblings helped care for him. He compared them to having extra parents.

Gillis grew up in Mexicantown, a neighborhood in Southwest Detroit. His family lived in an area with many Mexican and African-American residents and was one of the few families who stayed in the neighborhood instead of moving away. He was raised Catholic, and both of his parents worked for the Archdiocese of Detroit. His father was a building maintenance supervisor, and his mother was a secretary in the cardinal’s office. Gillis became an altar boy, which led to a small role in the 1987 movie The Rosary Murders, filmed mostly at Most Holy Redeemer Church in southwest Detroit. In 1987, Gillis met Pope John Paul II during a visit to Detroit and received a blessing.

Gillis’s early interest in music came from his older brothers, three of whom played in a band called Catalyst. He learned to play instruments his brothers left behind when they moved out. He started playing the drums in first grade after finding a drum kit in the attic. He became very focused on learning music, so he removed his bed to make space for his instruments and slept on foam. As a child, he liked classical music, but in elementary school, he began listening to bands like The Doors, Pink Floyd, and Led Zeppelin. As a teenager with short hair and braces, he started listening to blues and 1960s rock, which influenced his later music. His favorite blues musicians were Son House and Blind Willie McTell, and he said Son House’s song “Grinnin’ in Your Face” is his favorite of all time. His drumming heroes included Gene Krupa, Stewart Copeland, and Crow Smith from Flat Duo Jets.

In 2005, on 60 Minutes, Gillis told Mike Wallace that his life could have been different. “I was accepted into a religious school in Wisconsin and was going to become a priest, but at the last minute, I decided to go to public school instead. I had just bought a new amplifier for my bedroom and didn’t think I could take it with me.” At 15, he began a three-year apprenticeship in upholstery with a family friend, Brian Muldoon. Muldoon introduced him to punk music while they worked together. Gillis had only thought of himself as a drummer, but Muldoon encouraged him to form a band. “He played drums,” Gillis said. “Well, I guess I’ll play guitar then.” He started learning the guitar to play along with music he liked and to have others to perform with. The two recorded an album, Makers of High Grade Suites, as the Upholsterers.

Gillis attended Cass Technical High School in Detroit. As a senior, he met Meg White at a coffee shop in either Ferndale or Hamtramck. They spent time together at local coffee shops, music venues, and record stores. After dating, they married on September 21, 1996. He legally took her last name, which was unusual.

After finishing his apprenticeship, Gillis started his own business called Third Man Upholstery. His business slogan was “Your Furniture’s Not Dead,” and it used yellow and black colors, including a yellow van, uniform, and clipboard. Although his business was busy, he said it was not profitable because he was not focused on money and had unprofessional practices, like writing bills in crayon and putting poetry inside furniture. By 1997, he had bought his family’s home from his parents and paid the mortgage himself. It was in this home that The White Stripes recorded their second album, De Stijl.

Career

Jack White is known for his strong emotions and genuine expression. He shares everything from his heart during performances, always giving his full effort on stage. People notice and appreciate this dedication.

At 19 years old, White joined his first professional band, Goober & the Peas, as a drummer. He stayed with the band until it ended in 1996. During this time, he learned how to tour and perform onstage. After the band broke up, he worked as an upholsterer during the day and played in local bands or performed solo at night. Meg White, who was a bartender, began learning to play drums in 1997. She said playing drums with Jack felt freeing and exciting. The couple formed a band called the White Stripes. Their first performance was on July 14, 1997, at the Gold Dollar in Detroit. One of the songs they played, "Jimmy the Exploder," later appeared on their first album in 1999. Though married until 2000, they publicly acted like siblings. They wore only red, white, and black clothing and were part of Michigan’s underground garage rock scene. They performed with other local bands, including Bantam Rooster, the Dirtbombs, Two-Star Tabernacle, Rocket 455, and the Hentchmen.

In 1998, the White Stripes signed with Italy Records, a small garage punk label in Detroit. Their first album, released in 1999, was followed by a second album called De Stijl in 2000. The first album reached number 38 on Billboard’s Independent Albums chart. In 2001, they released White Blood Cells, which received strong praise for its simple garage rock sound. This album helped the White Stripes become a major band in the garage music revival of the early 2000s. John Peel, a British DJ, called them the most exciting band he had heard since Jimi Hendrix. The New York Times described Jack White as "one of the most original rockers since Kurt Cobain."

In 2003, the band released Elephant, which was both a commercial and critical success. The album’s first single, "Seven Nation Army," became the band’s most famous song. It reached number one on Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks chart, won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Song, and became an anthem for sports and protests. In 2003, rumors spread that White had helped write a song for Electric Six called "Danger! High Voltage." Both White and Electric Six denied this, and the vocals were credited to someone else. Later, members of Electric Six said White had helped but was not paid. In the same year, White played guitar and sang background vocals on a song from Mark Ronson’s debut album. He also worked with Loretta Lynn on her 2004 album Van Lear Rose, which he produced and performed on.

The White Stripes’ fifth album, Get Behind Me Satan, was released in 2005. It was recorded in White’s home and showed a new musical direction, with more use of piano and marimba. The album received strong praise. In 2005, White and Brendan Benson, a musician from Michigan, wrote a song called "Steady, as She Goes." This inspired them to form a new band, The Raconteurs, with Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler from the Greenhornes. They recorded their debut album, Broken Boy Soldiers, in 2006. It reached the Top Ten in the U.S. and U.K. and was nominated for Best Rock Album at the 2006 Grammy Awards. The album’s first single, "Steady, As She Goes," was also nominated for Best Rock Performance. The Raconteurs toured with Bob Dylan as their opening act.

The White Stripes’ sixth album, Icky Thump, was released in 2007. Unlike their earlier albums, it was recorded at Blackbird Studio in Nashville. The album returned to the band’s earlier blues and garage-rock style. It debuted at number two on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart and reached number one in the U.K. It sold over 300,000 vinyl copies in England. White said he loved vinyl records because they let fans hold and see the artwork. To support the album, the band toured Canada, playing in every province and territory. However, in 2007, the band canceled 18 tour dates due to Meg’s struggle with anxiety and later canceled the rest of their U.K. tour.

In 2008, White helped release limited-edition Holga cameras inspired by the White Stripes. He also worked with The Raconteurs on their second album, Consolers of the Lonely, which was released in March 2008. The album reached number seven on the Billboard 200 and was nominated for Best Rock Album. Later that year, White collaborated with Alicia Keys on the James Bond film Quantum of Solace theme song, "Another Way to Die."

While touring for Consolers of the Lonely, White developed bronchitis and lost his voice. Alison Mosshart, the lead singer of the Kills, filled in for him. Their collaboration led to the formation of a new band, the Dead Weather, in 2009. The group included Mosshart, White, Jack Lawrence, and Dean Fertita. Their debut album, Horehound, was released in 2009. White also planned to release the White Stripes’ seventh album by summer 2009. The band made their first live appearance after the Icky Thump tour cancellation in February 2009. A documentary about their Canadian tour, The White Stripes: Under Great White Northern Lights, was shown at the Toronto International Film Festival later that year.

In 2010, the Dead Weather released their second album, Sea of Cowards, on Third Man Records. The first single, "Die by the Drop," was released in March 2010.

Other ventures

Jack White has also acted in movies and performed music. He played a character named Georgia in the 2003 film Cold Mountain and sang five songs for the movie’s soundtrack: "Sittin' on Top of the World," "Wayfaring Stranger," "Never Far Away," "Christmas Time Soon Will Be Over," and "Great High Mountain." He appeared in the 2003 film Coffee and Cigarettes with Jack and Meg in a segment called "Jack Shows Meg His Tesla Coil." He also played Elvis Presley in the 2007 movie Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. In 2016, he sang "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" on The Muppets and later released the song on 7-inch vinyl. In 2017, he appeared in the documentary The American Epic Sessions, recording music on a 1920s sound system. His songs "Matrimonial Intentions," "Mama's Angel Child," "2 Fingers of Whiskey" (with Elton John), and "On the Road Again" and "One Mic" (with Nas) were on the soundtrack of The American Epic Sessions. He helped produce the film. He had a small role as an altar boy in The Rosary Murders and appeared briefly in Martin Scorsese’s 2023 film Killers of the Flower Moon.

Jack White started a record company called Third Man Records in 2001 with Ben Swank. After moving to Nashville, he bought a space in 2009 to use as a studio for his label. He explained that he wanted his own studio to have specific equipment, such as tape machines, microphones, and amplifiers, to create music exactly as he wanted. Third Man Records uses the slogan "Your Turntable's Not Dead" and presses vinyl records for artists, Jack White’s projects, and other companies.

In 2015, Third Man Records helped launch TIDAL, a music streaming service owned by Jay-Z and other artists. Later that year, Jack White partnered with Shinola, a watch company, to open a store in Detroit.

Jack White has supported organizations in his hometown of Detroit. In 2009, he donated about $170,000 to fix a baseball diamond in Clark Park. In 2013, he paid $142,000 to save the Detroit Masonic Temple from being taken over. The temple renamed its second-largest theater the Jack White Theater to honor him. He also gave $200,000 to the National Recording Preservation Foundation to help save old sound recordings. He serves on the foundation’s board.

In 2016, Jack White joined Nashville’s 45-Gender Equity Council. In 2018, he donated $30,000 to preserve The Outsiders House Museum. In 2019, Wayne State University gave him an honorary doctor of humane letters degree for his work in Detroit and his contributions to the arts.

Jack White has also created special musical equipment, including a Fender Jack White Pano Verb amplifier, a hot-rod Jack White TripleCaster Telecaster guitar, and a Jack White TripleSonic Acoustasonic guitar.

Artistry and public image

Jack White owns many musical instruments and has used specific ones for different projects or performances. He prefers vintage guitars, many of which were used by famous blues musicians. Much of his gear is custom-made for both technical and visual reasons. White is skilled in playing guitar, bass, mandolin, percussion, and piano. During his time with the White Stripes, he mainly used three guitars, though he played others as well. The first was a 1964 red Airline "JB Hutto" model originally sold by Montgomery Ward. Because of White's connection to this guitar, its popularity grew, leading Eastwood Guitars to create a replica in 2000. Another guitar, a 1950s-era Kay Hollowbody, was a gift from his brother. This guitar was popularized by Howlin' Wolf and was used on the song "Seven Nation Army." White began using a 1915 Gibson L-1 acoustic guitar during the Get Behind Me Satan Tour, calling it his favorite in an interview with Gibson. Other guitars he used include a three-pickup Airline Town & Country, a Harmony Rocket, a 1970s-era Crestwood Astral II, and the first of three custom Gretsch Rancher Falcon acoustics. While with the White Stripes, any equipment not matching their red/black/white color scheme was painted red.

In 2013, Third Man Records launched the Bumble Buzz pedal, an octave fuzz pedal designed by Vancouver's Union Tube and Transistor. The pedal was reviewed by Premier Guitar in 2014 and is part of Jack's pedal setup.

Before the Raconteurs formed, White asked luthier Randy Parsons to build a custom guitar called the Triple Jet, inspired by the Duo Jet model. The first version was painted copper, but White later used a second version with a completely copper body. For the Raconteurs' first tour, White played a Gretsch Anniversary Jr. with a Bigsby vibrato tailpiece and three Filtertron pickups. He later added a custom Gretsch Anniversary Jr. with two cutaways, a lever-activated mute system, a retractable microphone, and a light-activated theremin, which he called the "Green Machine." This guitar was featured in It Might Get Loud. White also played a Gibson J-160E, a Gretsch Duo Jet in Cadillac Green, and a second Gretsch Rancher acoustic. For the Raconteurs' 2008 tour, he had Analog Man paint all his pedals copper. In 2020, he completed his Three-Wheel-Motion Low Rider, a highly customized Fender Telecaster B-Bender. He later acquired a custom white "Billy Bo" Jupiter Thunderbird with a gold pickguard, seen in the music video for "Another Way to Die." White found a 1957 Gretsch G6134 White Penguin in 2007 during a Texas tour, which he used in the "Icky Thump" music video and later matched the Dead Weather's color scheme. He also uses a black left-handed Gretsch since the Sea of Cowards album.

White owns three Gretsch Rancher Falcons because he prefers their bass tones for live performances. He calls them his "girlfriends," each with a classic movie star image on the back: Claudette Colbert (used with the White Stripes), Rita Hayworth (acquired with the Raconteurs), and Veronica Lake (added with the Dead Weather in 2010).

Since 2018, White has played EVH Wolfgang guitars, a model designed by Eddie Van Halen.

White uses many effects to create his live sound, including a DigiTech Whammy WH-4 for pitch modulation in solos. He produces a "fake" bass tone by playing the Kay Hollowbody and JB Hutto guitars through a Whammy IV set to one octave lower, a sound used on "Seven Nation Army." Other effects include an MXR Micro Amp and a custom Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Distortion/Sustainer. For the 2005 single "Blue Orchid," he used an Electro-Harmonix Polyphonic Octave Generator (POG) to blend octave effects with a dry signal. His setup includes a 1970s Fender Twin Reverb "Silverface" and two 100-Watt Sears Silvertone 1485 6×10 amplifiers. He also used a 1960s Fender Twin Reverb "Blackface." White plays other instruments, such as a Black Gibson F-4 mandolin ("Little Ghost"), piano (on Get Behind Me Satan and other tracks), and an electric piano on songs like "The Air Near My Fingers" and "I'm Finding It Harder to Be a Gentleman." He also plays percussion, including the marimba ("The Nurse"), drums, and tambourine. For the White Stripes' 2007 tour, he used a custom Hammond A-100 organ with a Leslie 3300 speaker, later loaned to Bob Dylan and now at Third Man Studios. On Broken Boy Soldiers, he and Benson are credited with playing synths and organ. With the Dead Weather, White uses a custom Ludwig Classic Maple drum kit in Black Oyster Pearl, featuring two-snare drums. For the 2009 Full Flash Blank tour, he used a drum head with an image of "The Three Brides of Dracula," later replaced with a head showing Harry Lime from The Third Man. During the 2010 tour, he used a drum head with his image from the Sea of Cowards album cover, called "Sam Kay" by fans.

"I love analog because of what it makes you do," White said. "Digital recording gives you too many choices to change sounds, which are usually not good for an artist. Mechanics add tiny flaws and hisses that make things feel beautiful and romantic. Perfection, with everything perfectly in time and free of noise, is not something to aim for."

White has supported analog equipment and methods for years. As a child, he and his friend Dominic Suchyta recorded cover songs in White's attic using a four-track reel-to-reel tape

Achievements

White has been praised by critics and has been popular with audiences. He is often recognized as an important artist in the garage rock revival of the 2000s. For his work with others and his own music, White has received awards at local, national, and international levels, including twelve Grammy Awards (from 33 total nominations). Three of his solo albums have reached number one on the Billboard charts. Reporters mention that he gets ideas from many different types of music and times.

Rolling Stone magazine placed him at number 70 on its 2010 list of "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time." David Fricke's 2011 list ranked him at number 17. In 2011, the mayor of Nashville, Karl Dean, gave White the title of "Nashville Music City Ambassador." In May 2015, the Music City Walk of Fame announced that White, along with Loretta Lynn, would receive a medallion when the Walk of Fame reopened in Nashville. On February 8, 2017, White was honored by the Producers and Engineers Wing of the Recording Academy during Grammy Week for his work to keep the quality and honesty of recorded music. In 2025, he and Meg White were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Personal life

Jack White is careful about keeping his personal life private. He rarely shares details about his family and has spread false information about himself. He believes that his personal life is not important to his work as an artist. He once said, "It's the same thing as asking Michelangelo, 'What kind of shoes do you wear?' … In the end, it doesn't really matter … the only thing that's going to be left is our records and photos."

Jack White collects special items, including Lead Belly's New York City arrest record, James Brown's Georgia driver's license from the 1980s, and Action Comics 1, which shows Superman's first appearance in June 1938. In January 2015, an online bidder won an auction for Elvis Presley's first recording, an acetate of the songs "My Happiness" and "That's When Your Heartaches Begin," for $300,000. Billboard magazine reported that the buyer was Jack White.

From 1996 to 2000, Jack White was married to Meg White, his bandmate. In 2003, he was in a relationship with actress Renée Zellweger after meeting during the filming of Cold Mountain. From 2005 to 2013, he was married to Karen Elson, a model and singer. They met when she appeared in a music video for The White Stripes' song "Blue Orchid" and eloped in Manaus, Brazil, three weeks later. Meg White was the maid of honor at their wedding. Later that summer, they had a legal ceremony in Nashville at the Ryman Auditorium. They have two children together.

In 2009, Jack White met Olivia Jean, an American musician, at a The Dead Weather concert. They married in 2022 at a concert in the same venue where Olivia Jean first saw Jack perform with The White Stripes. They live in Nashville.

In October 2016, Jack White criticized Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump for using the White Stripes song "Seven Nation Army" in campaign materials. The band sold shirts with the message "Icky Trump," a play on the song "Icky Thump," through their record label. In 2020, Jack White supported Senator Bernie Sanders for the Democratic Party presidential nomination. He performed at a Sanders event in October 2019, saying he trusted Sanders and believed the Electoral College should be abolished. He stated, "I have this silly notion that the person who gets the most votes should be elected" and called the Electoral College "the reason we're in the mess we're in now."

In November 2022, Jack White wrote to Elon Musk, criticizing Musk for allowing Donald Trump to return to Twitter. He called the action "absolutely disgusting" and "an asshole move." In August 2024, Jack White threatened to sue the Trump 2024 campaign for using "Seven Nation Army" without permission, calling Trump and his staff "fascists." He and Meg White filed a copyright lawsuit in September 2024, but it was dropped in November 2024. In August 2025, Jack White allowed California Governor Gavin Newsom to use "Seven Nation Army" in a social media post about redistricting efforts in several states. He said, "Fans of this song and also democracy, notice that I'm ok with this track being used in this manner. Not so much when Trump and his gestapo try to use one of my songs. Keep hitting him back Gavin!"

On December 13, 2003, Jack White was involved in a physical fight with Jason Stollsteimer, the lead singer of the Von Bondies, at a Detroit club. Stollsteimer was hospitalized. Jack White was charged with misdemeanor aggravated assault but pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of assault and battery. He was fined $750 and required to take anger management classes.

Jack White has spoken about conflicts with other artists in Detroit's underground music scene after The White Stripes became famous. In a 2006 interview, he said he left Detroit because he could not handle the negativity. He later wrote a poem called "Courageous Dream's Concern" to express his love for his hometown. The poem includes lines:
"I so love your heart that burns
That in your people's body yearns
To perpetuate, and permeate, the lonely dream that does encapsulate,
Your spirit, that God insulates,
With courageous dream's concern."

During his 2013 divorce from Karen Elson, evidence was presented of an email Jack White sent her that included negative comments about the Black Keys. In a 2014 interview, Jack White defended his remarks, saying, "I'll hear TV commercials where the music's ripping off sounds of mine, to the point I think it's me. Half the time, it's the Black Keys." He later apologized for the comments. In September 2015, Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney claimed Jack White tried to fight him in a bar. Jack White denied the claim, saying Carney should speak directly to him. The next day, Carney said he spoke to Jack White and found him to be "cool." Jack White tweeted, "From one musician to another, you have my respect Patrick Carney."

On February 1, 2015, the University of Oklahoma's newspaper, OU Daily, published details about Jack White's upcoming show, including his tour rider. The rider included a guacamole recipe and a ban on bananas backstage. The story received media attention, and Jack White's booking agency, William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, later banned its acts from performing at the university. On February 15, Jack White released an open letter to journalists, explaining the guacamole recipe was a joke and the banana ban was due to an unnamed tour member's food allergy. He apologized to journalists for the confusion and reaffirmed his support for Oklahoma.

Backing bands

• Dominic Davis – bass, backing vocals
• Patrick Keeler – drums
• Bobby Emmett – keyboards

Fear of the Dawn and Entering Heaven Alive Band Members

• Dominic Davis – bass, backing vocals
• Daru Jones – drums
• Quincy McCrary – keyboards, samples, electronic keyboard, organ, backing vocals

Boarding House Reach Era Band Members

• Carla Azar – acoustic drums, percussion, backing vocals
• Dominic Davis – bass
• Neal Evans – piano, electronic keyboard, organ, keyboards, electronic drums, backing vocals
• Quincy McCrary – keyboards, samples, backing vocals

Lazaretto Era Band Members

Lazaretto Era Previous Members

Blunderbuss Era Band Members

The Buzzards (an all-male band)

The Peacocks (an all-female band)

Filmography

• The Rosary Murders (1987) – uncredited altar boy
• Cold Mountain (2003) – Georgia
• Coffee and Cigarettes (2003) – Jack
• Under Blackpool Lights (2004) – Himself
• The Fearless Freaks (2005) – Himself
• Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007) – Elvis Presley
• Shine a Light (2008) – Himself
• It Might Get Loud (2009) – Himself
• Mutant Swinger from Mars (2009) – Mikey
• Under Great White Northern Lights (2009) – Himself
• Conan O'Brien Can't Stop (2011) – Himself
• American Pickers (2012) – Himself
• Portlandia, season 3, episode 1 (2012) – Himself
• The Muppets, season 1, episode 16 (2016) – Himself
• American Epic (2017) – Himself
• The American Epic Sessions (2017) – Himself
• Jack White: Kneeling at The Anthem D.C. (2018) – Himself
• Killers of the Flower Moon (2023) – Radio Show Actor