The White Stripes were an American rock band formed in Detroit, Michigan, in 1997. The group included Jack White, who played guitar, keyboards, piano, and sang, and Meg White, who played drums, percussion, and sang. They were part of a movement that brought back indie and garage rock in the 2000s.

Starting in the late 1990s, the White Stripes worked to gain attention in the Detroit music scene by releasing six singles and two albums. Their third album, White Blood Cells (2001), became popular and helped them become famous in the garage rock movement. Their fourth album, Elephant (2003), earned them their first Grammy Awards. This album included the song "Seven Nation Army," which became a sports anthem and the band's most well-known song. Their fifth album, Get Behind Me Satan (2005), showed new musical ideas. Their sixth and final album, Icky Thump (2007), returned to their blues roots and was praised like their earlier albums. By the end of the 2000s, the White Stripes had three songs on the US Billboard Hot 100, eleven songs on the US Alternative Airplay chart, and thirteen songs on the UK singles chart. The band stopped performing and recording in 2011.

The White Stripes used simple and clear sounds in their music. Their style combined garage rock and blues influences with direct compositions, arrangements, and performances. The band kept a private and mysterious image, often wearing clothing and designing album covers with a simple color scheme of red, white, and black. They also had an interest in the number three. They appeared in a few media projects, such as the film Coffee and Cigarettes (2003) and the documentary Under Great White Northern Lights (2009).

The White Stripes received many awards, including a Brit Award from six nominations and six Grammy Awards from eleven nominations. The album White Blood Cells is listed on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s "200 Definitive Albums," and both White Blood Cells and Elephant are on Rolling Stone’s "500 Greatest Albums of All Time." Rolling Stone also named the band the sixth greatest duo of all time in 2015. The White Stripes were added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2025 after being considered in 2023 (their first year of eligibility). Billboard named them the 33rd best rock band of all time in 2025.

History

Jack Gillis met Meg White at the Memphis Smoke, a restaurant where she worked and where he performed poetry at open mic nights. They began dating and spent time at local coffee shops, music venues, and record stores. During this time, Gillis was already a drummer, performing with several bands, including Goober & the Peas, the Go, the Hentchmen, and Two-Star Tabernacle.

Gillis and White married in 1996. Unlike usual practice, he took her surname. In 1997, the White Stripes played their first concert on Bastille Day, two months after Meg began learning to play drums. Jack said, "When she started playing drums with me, it felt freeing and refreshing. It opened me up." The couple formed the band, and after considering other names, they chose "The White Stripes."

Their first live performance was on August 14, 1997, at the Gold Dollar bar in Detroit. They began their career in the Michigan underground garage rock scene, performing with local bands like the Hentchmen, the Dirtbombs, the Gories, and Rocket 455. In 1998, Dave Buick, owner of Italy Records, asked the band to record a single. Jack initially refused but agreed when Buick offered to pay for it. Their first single, "Let's Shake Hands," was released on vinyl in February 1998 with 1,000 copies. A second single, "Lafayette Blues," followed in October 1998 with the same number of copies.

In 1999, the White Stripes signed with Sympathy for the Record Industry, a California-based label. They released the single "The Big Three Killed My Baby" in March 1999, followed by their debut album, The White Stripes, on June 15, 1999. The album was produced by Jack and engineered by Jim Diamond at Ghetto Recorders in Detroit. It was dedicated to Son House, a Mississippi Delta blues musician who influenced Jack. The track "Cannon" included a version of the gospel song "John the Revelator," performed by House. The album was praised for its raw, powerful sound and Detroit roots.

In 2000, the White Stripes released "Hand Springs" as a 7" split single with the Dirtbombs. Jack and Meg divorced in March 2000, but after a disagreement about the band's future, they reunited. Their second album, De Stijl, was released in June 2000. It was recorded on an 8-track analog tape in Jack's living room and featured a design inspired by the Dutch art movement of the same name. The album was dedicated to Gerrit Rietveld, a designer from the De Stijl movement, and Blind Willie McTell, a Georgia blues musician.

In December 2000, the White Stripes released Party of Special Things to Do, a 7" single featuring three songs originally performed by Captain Beefheart. Their third album, White Blood Cells, was released in July 2001. It gained significant attention after being re-released on V2 Records in 2002. The album's stripped-down garage rock style received critical acclaim, and the single "Fell in Love with a Girl," featuring a Lego-animation music video, won three MTV Video Music Awards.

In 2002, the band appeared on Saturday Night Live and released a concert film titled Nobody Knows How to Talk to Children, which documented their performance at New York City's Bowery Ballroom. The film was later suppressed by the band's management due to unauthorized screenings. Their fourth album, Elephant, was recorded in 2002.

Artistry

Jack preferred guitars and effects from the 1960s. He used tools like a DigiTech Whammy IV to produce sounds not possible with a regular guitar. During live performances, he played several guitars, including a Randy Parsons custom model, a 1964 JB Hutto Montgomery Airline, a Harmony Rocket, a 1970s Crestwood Astral II, and a 1950s Kay Hollowbody. He also used effects such as an MXR Micro Amp, an Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi distortion/sustainer, an Electro-Harmonix POG (a polyphonic octave generator), and a Boss TU-2 tuner pedal. His setup was connected to a 1970s Fender Twin Reverb amplifier and two 100-Watt Sears Silvertone 1485 amplifiers with 6×10 Silvertone cabinets. Jack used both standard guitar tuning and open tunings. He also played other instruments, including a black F-Style Gibson mandolin, Rhodes bass keys, a Steinway piano, and a Musser M500 grand concert marimba on specific songs. For the Get Behind Me Satan tour, he used a custom Musser M250 grand concert marimba.

Meg used a Ludwig Classic Maple drum kit with Paiste cymbals, Remo and Ludwig drumheads, percussion instruments, and Vater drumsticks. From the band's start until the Get Behind Me Satan tour, the toms and bass drum had peppermint swirls on their drumheads. During the recording of From the Basement: The White Stripes, the bass drum’s design changed to an image of Meg’s hand holding an apple from the Get Behind Me Satan album cover. Beginning in 2006, she used Paiste 14" Signature Medium Hi-Hats, a 19" Signature Power Crash, and a 22" 2002 Ride. For the Icky Thump tour, the bass drum head design became a button inspired by the Pearlies clothing Jack and Meg wore for the Get Behind Me Satan album cover.

The White Stripes were influenced by blues musicians like Son House, Blind Willie McTell, and Robert Johnson, garage rock bands such as the Gories and the Sonics, the Detroit protopunk sound of the MC5 and the Stooges, and groups like the Cramps, the Velvet Underground, and the Gun Club. Jack said the blues is the main influence on his songwriting and the band’s music. He praised the Gun Club’s songs, asking why they are not taught in schools. Bands like AC/DC and Led Zeppelin also influenced the group, as Jack claimed he "can't trust anybody who doesn't like Led Zeppelin."

Traditional country music, such as that of Hank Williams and Loretta Lynn, rockabilly acts like the Flat Duo Jets, Wanda Jackson, and Gene Vincent, surf rock by Dick Dale, and folk music by Lead Belly and Bob Dylan also shaped the band’s sound. Meg said Bob Dylan is one of her favorite musicians, and Jack performed with Dylan, calling him one of his "three fathers" along with his biological father and God. In his 2025 Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame induction speech, Jack honored Pavement, Jethro Tull, The Damned, and Emerson, Lake & Palmer.

The White Stripes were described as garage rock, blues rock, alternative rock, punk blues, and indie rock. They emerged from Detroit’s garage rock revival scene in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Their contemporaries included bands like the Von Bondies, the Dirtbombs, and the Detroit Cobras. Jack and Meg co-wrote the band’s first three albums, after which Jack became the primary songwriter.

The White Stripes were known for having only two members, which limited their live instrumentation and excluded a bass player. Jack said this was not a problem, explaining he always centered the band around three elements: vocals, guitar, and drums or vocals, piano, and drums. Meg said being two people was challenging but manageable. Fans and critics compared Jack’s guitar skills to Meg’s simple, reserved drumming. The band also preferred old recording equipment, such as an acoustic guitar with paper taped over the sound hole and a low-quality electric guitar.

Meg’s drumming style was minimalistic and a key part of the band’s sound. She never took formal drum lessons and warmed up with whiskey and Red Bull before shows. Jack defended her style, saying it was essential for the band’s success and that it allowed him to connect with the blues. Meg said she respected other drummers but believed her style suited the band best. She also said she sometimes felt criticism but reminded herself that her approach was necessary for the group.

Although Jack was the lead vocalist, Meg sang lead on songs like "In the Cold, Cold Night" from Elephant and "Passive Manipulation" from Get Behind Me Satan. She also accompanied Jack on several tracks, including "Your Southern Can Is Mine" from De Stijl, "Hotel Yorba" and "This Protector" from White Blood Cells, "Rated X", "You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do as You're Told)", and "Rag & Bone" from Icky Thump. She also sang with Holly Golightly on "It's True That We Love One Another" from Elephant.

Many White Stripes recordings were made quickly. White Blood Cells was recorded in less than four days, and Elephant and Get Behind Me Satan were completed in about two weeks. During live shows, Jack used heavy distortion, audio feedback, and overdrive. The duo performed without set lists, believing that planning too much would reduce the spontaneity of their shows. Other features included Jack using two microphones onstage.

Public image

Jack explained the origin of the band's name: "Meg loves peppermints, and we were going to call ourselves the Peppermints. But since our last name was White, we decided to call it the White Stripes. It was based on a simple idea, the kind of ideas children have—because they are often more creative than adult ideas, right?"

Early in their career, the band shared different stories about their relationship. Jack said he and Meg were siblings, the youngest two of ten children. According to this story, they started the band when, on Bastille Day in 1997, Meg went to the attic of their parents' home and began playing on Jack's drum kit. Many people believed this story, even though rumors later suggested they had been married. In 2001, proof of their marriage in 1996 and their divorce in March 2000 was found. Despite this, they continued to say publicly that they were brother and sister. In a 2005 interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Jack said this was done to keep attention on their music rather than their personal lives: "When you see a band that is two people, husband and wife, or boyfriend and girlfriend, you think, 'Oh, I see…' When they're brother and sister, you go, 'Oh, that's interesting.' You care more about the music, not the relationship—whether they're trying to save their relationship by being in a band."

The band used red, white, and black colors in all their professional work, including album art and clothing during live performances. Jack explained that they chose these colors to draw attention away from the fact that they were young, white musicians playing music often associated with Black culture. Early in their career, they refused a deal with a Chicago label called Bobsled because the label wanted to use its green logo on the CD. In a 2005 interview with Rolling Stone, Jack said, "The White Stripes' colors were always red, white, and black. It came from peppermint candy. I also think they are the most powerful color combination of all time, from a Coca-Cola can to a Nazi banner. Those colors connect with people. In Japan, they are seen as honorable colors. When you see a bride in a white gown, you see innocence. Red represents anger and passion, and it is also linked to romance. Black means the absence of all that." He also said they wanted to show innocence and childhood without using irony or humor. Meg said, "Like a school uniform, wearing the same clothes helps you focus on what you're doing because everyone is dressed the same." They also took inspiration from the minimalist and design style of De Stijl. They often used the number "three" in their work.

The media and fans had mixed reactions to the band's appearance and style. Andy Gershon, president of the V2 label when they signed with the company, was hesitant to work with them, saying, "They need a bass player, they have this red-and-white strategy, and their songs are fantastic, but they've recorded very raw…how is this going to be on radio?" In a 2002 article in Spin magazine, Chuck Klosterman asked, "How can two young people who are skilled at using the media and pretend to be brother and sister, wearing clothes inspired by Dr. Seuss, represent Detroit, a city known for its roads?" However, in 2001, Benjamin Nugent of Time magazine wrote, "It's hard to argue with Jack's right to shift attention to his band and away from his personal life, no matter the cost." Klosterman also said, "His songs—about getting married in cathedrals, walking to kindergarten, and simple friendship—are performed with a sense of honesty and simplicity."

The White Stripes made few media appearances and rarely agreed to be interviewed separately. Jack and Meg appeared in Jim Jarmusch's film Coffee and Cigarettes in 2003, in a segment called "Jack Shows Meg His Tesla Coil." This part of the film includes themes from the White Stripes, such as childhood innocence and the inventor Nikola Tesla. They also appeared in the 2005 documentary The Fearless Freaks, which focuses on the band the Flaming Lips. The band appeared as themselves in a The Simpsons episode titled "Jazzy and the Pussycats" in 2006. Meg had previously said in 2003 that she would like to appear on The Simpsons, but not in an episode about Lisa, saying, "They're kind of boring. Maybe an episode about Homer would be better." Jack was one of three guitarists featured in the 2009 documentary It Might Get Loud, and Meg appeared in parts of the film that include the White Stripes.

Legacy

The White Stripes became very popular and successful in the 2000s, making Jack and Meg White important figures in indie rock and garage rock. After their album White Blood Cells was released, Daily Mirror called them "the greatest band since The Sex Pistols," and Rolling Stone said "Rock is Back!" on its September 2002 cover. The media later called them "The" bands, along with the Strokes and the Hives. NME credited them with starting a new garage rock revival and a new rock revival. Chris Smith called them "the saviours of rock 'n' roll." Q magazine listed the White Stripes as one of "50 Bands to See Before You Die." Alternative Press said they helped continue the legacy of garage rock. Billboard called them one of the best and most consistent bands of their time. In 2025, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame wrote that the White Stripes brought blues into the 21st century and showed that two people could create powerful music, inspiring many others.

Many famous musicians have said the White Stripes influenced them. Olivia Rodrigo said she listened to their album Elephant the most and called Jack her "hero of all heroes" and Meg "one of the best drummers of our time." Beyoncé said the White Stripes and Jack influenced her 2024 album Cowboy Carter. Nandi Bushell said the band inspired her to play drums at age 5 and still inspires her today. Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters and Nirvana called Meg "one of my favorite drummers of all time." Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine praised Meg for her style and energy. Many artists have covered or sampled the White Stripes' songs, including Jermaine Dupri, Pitbull, Rizzle Kicks, Jurassic 5, and "Weird Al" Yankovic. Others who covered their music include Dave Grohl, Arctic Monkeys, Ryan Adams, Kelly Clarkson (with a marching band), Bob Dylan, Wanda Jackson, of Montreal, Tracey Thorn, the Flaming Lips, the Golden Filter, Bright Eyes, First Aid Kit, Bigga Haitian, and Wanda Jackson.

In 2004, Drew Barrymore and Jimmy Fallon played Meg and Jack in a Saturday Night Live skit where they performed "Seven Nation Army." The White Stripes' music was used in a ballet called Chroma, created by British choreographer Wayne McGregor for the Royal Ballet. Richard Russell, head of XL Recordings, asked British composer Joby Talbot to arrange the music as a gift for the White Stripes. Three songs were first played to the band in Cincinnati, Ohio. McGregor used the music to create the ballet, and Talbot rewrote it for the Royal Opera House orchestra, adding three new pieces. The ballet premiered on November 16, 2006, at the Royal Opera House in London and won the 2007 Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Dance Production.

The White Stripes' music has been used in movies, TV shows, and ads. Their song "We're Going to Be Friends" appeared in Napoleon Dynamite (2004), Wonder (2017), and Mr. Harrigan's Phone (2022). "Instinct Blues" was in The Science of Sleep (2006). "Why Can't You Be Nicer to Me?" was in a The Simpsons episode in 2010. "Ball and Biscuit" was in The Social Network (2010). "Icky Thump" was in The Other Guys (2010), Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021), and a Dancing with the Stars performance in 2025. "Catch Hell Blues" was in Footloose (2011). "Little Ghost" was in ParaNorman (2012). "Hello Operator" and "Fell in Love with a Girl" were in Silver Linings Playbook (2012). Their songs were in Peaky Blinders (2013) and The Hateful Eight (2015). "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" was in a 2023 Calvin Klein ad campaign.

Achievements

The White Stripes have sold more than 8 million units in the United States. In the US, they have one Multi-platinum album, one Platinum album, and three Gold albums. They also have one Multi-platinum single and one Platinum single. In the UK, they have one Multi-platinum album, two Platinum albums, four Gold albums, and two Silver albums. They also have one Multi-platinum single, one Gold single, and three Silver singles. In Canada, they have three Platinum albums and one Gold album. They also have one Multi-platinum single and one Gold single.

The White Stripes received a Brit Award, six Grammy Awards, one Meteor Music Award, five MTV Video Music Awards, one MTV Europe Music Award, one MuchMusic Video Award, and one NME Award. They also set a Guinness World Record in 2009 for the shortest concert. They were nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2023, their first year of eligibility, and were inducted in 2025.

Three of The White Stripes’ albums appear on NME’s "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" list: De Stijl at number 395, Elephant at number 116, and White Blood Cells at number 77. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame listed White Blood Cells at number 178 on their "Definitive 200 Albums of All Time" list. White Blood Cells and Elephant are also on different editions of Rolling Stone’s "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" list. In 2012, White Blood Cells ranked number 497 and Elephant ranked number 391. In 2020, Elephant ranked number 449. Rolling Stone also included the song "Seven Nation Army" on their "250 Greatest Songs of the 21st Century So Far" list and on multiple editions of their "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list. In 2025, The Guardian included "Seven Nation Army" on their list of defining events in popular culture of the 21st century.

In 2015, Rolling Stone named The White Stripes the sixth greatest duo of all time. The same publication included Jack on its list of "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" in 2010 and Meg on its list of "The 100 Greatest Drummers of All Time" in 2016. In 2024, American Songwriter included The White Stripes on its list of the "Greatest (And Most Influential) Rock Music Duos Ever." In 2025, Ultimate Classic Rock ranked the band first on their list of "Top 20 American Rock Bands of the 2000s." That same year, Billboard magazine placed them at number 33 on their list of "Best Rock Bands of All Time." In 2025, Forbes ranked the band at number 17 on its list of the "35 Top Bands And Musical Artists Of The 2000s."

Discography

The following is a list of albums by The White Stripes and their release years:
• The White Stripes (1999)
• De Stijl (2000)
• White Blood Cells (2001)
• Elephant (2003)
• Get Behind Me Satan (2005)
• Icky Thump (2007)