Well, it's official -- the White Stripes are broken up. We can't claim to be too surprised. After all, the band haven't done much since 2007, when they toured behind the album Icky Thump. Still, the news that they're done for good has caused us to reflect on some of the highlights of the much-loved garage rock duo's career.
Looking back over their six official LPs and legendary live performances, what really strikes us is this: the White Stripes were weird. We mean, really, a minimal blues duo dressed in candy-cane colours that managed to translate their lo-fi racket into a mega-successful money-making machine? We're still not sure how the hell that happened, but we're sure glad it did.
To commemorate the end of this great band, here's a list of the ten weirdest moments of the White Stripes' career. From the awesome, the frustrating and the downright baffling, here are some of the things that we'll remember Jack and Meg for.
The 10 Weirdest Things the White Stripes Ever Did:
10. Jack's Get Behind Me Satan-era goatee
The White Stripes were always a flashy-looking band, but really -- what was Jack thinking? This patchy bit of fluff on his chin was probably supposed to look devilish, but it ended up coming off like a cross between Orlando Bloom and Guy Fawkes. Unfortunately, Jack doesn't appear to have learned from this unfortunate look, as he's started sporting the goatee once again.
9. That MTV Movie Awards performance from 2002
This was the moment that the White Stripes officially hit the big time. And we, like the rest of the world, sat in front of our televisions thinking, "What the hell is going on?" Jack and Meg performed on a towering stage, with literally dozens of red-and-white-clad dancers running around on stage. The weirdest part comes when they segue from "Fell in Love with a Girl" into "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground" and everyone suddenly starts doing the robot in slow motion.
8. "Who's a Big Baby"
The B-side to the 2005 single "Blue Orchid" was this genuinely baffling track, which features a computerized Meg White yelling out phrases like "Let's go shopping," "I want my mommy," and "Waaah!" It's hilarious and creepy and unlistenable, as the whole track sounds as if it was warped with bizarre tape effects.
7. Releasing singles on Triple Inchophone, a three-inch vinyl format
Jack White has an obsession with the number three, even going so far as to sign his name "Jack White III," despite being born John Gillis. That's probably what inspired him to release the Triple Inchophone, an ultra-limited-edition record player that only played three-inch records. He then remixed and reissued a number of White Stripes singles especially for three-inch vinyl. One single, "Top Special," was only ever made available in this format.
6. Their ultra-dapper roadies
We're used to seeing grizzly old dudes with greasy hair and pit stains getting on stage to check the microphones and tune the guitars. The White Stripes, however, recruited a team of well-dressed gentlemen, all of whom wore suits and hats. It set a classy vibe for the shows, as they all looked a bit like they wandered off of Wall Street circa 1928.
You can see one of the roadies sitting beside Jack in the video below:
5. Playing every province and territory in Canada, including a one-note show in Newfoundland
We were thrilled when the White Stripes announced that they would be playing a show in every province and territory in Canada on their 2007 tour. But let's be honest -- it was kind of an unusual idea. We mean, playing a show in Iqaluit and having a jam session with the Inuit elders? It was amazing, and totally unlike anything we've ever seen. And then there was that show in St. John's, NL, which was only one-note long, and left the crowd chanting "One more note! One more note!" (The White Stripes did not oblige.)
4. Only wearing red, white and black their entire career
We were sure that this peppermint-coloured gimmick wouldn't last. As soon as we first saw Jack and Meg in their red, white and black get-ups, we were already waiting for them to break away from the colour scheme. Like Kiss going without face paint, we were sure the White Stripes were going to record a blue album before long. We were wrong.
3. Recording an album with marimba
In 2003, the White Stripes released the biggest album of their career, Elephant. It showcased Jack in full guitar-god mode, with face-melting solos and titanic rock riffage. The 2005 followup, Get Behind Me Satan, was a complete about-face, showcasing softer songwriting with lots of acoustic guitars and pianos. Strangest of all were the tracks recorded with a marimba, particularly the freak-calypso track "The Nurse." Naturally, when the band hit the road, the minimal blues duo had to bring the marimba with them.
2. Meg White's breakdown
Meg was always a little shy, but we really didn't see this one coming. She always seemed happy enough, bashing away at the skins like Bamm-Bamm from The Flintstones and smiling demurely while Jack took centre stage. But in 2007, the band had to cancel their tour plans, citing Meg's acute anxiety as the cause. Aside from a one-off appearance on Late Night with Conan O'Brien in 2009, they never played live again.
1. The husband/wife/brother/sister controversy
In the early days, whenever the subject of the White Stripes was broached, the nature of Jack and Meg's relationship inevitably came up for debate. They initially claimed to be brother and sister, but documents were eventually uncovered proving that they were an ex-married couple who had tied the knot in 1996 and were divorced in 2000. To their credit, the musicians stuck with the lie, as Jack continued to introduce Meg as his "big sister." We have to admit that we're impressed that the couple got divorced but still managed to stay in a band together for another decade.
When it comes to the weird stunts that set the White Stripes apart, it didn't get anymore outlandish than this.
Looking back over their six official LPs and legendary live performances, what really strikes us is this: the White Stripes were weird. We mean, really, a minimal blues duo dressed in candy-cane colours that managed to translate their lo-fi racket into a mega-successful money-making machine? We're still not sure how the hell that happened, but we're sure glad it did.
To commemorate the end of this great band, here's a list of the ten weirdest moments of the White Stripes' career. From the awesome, the frustrating and the downright baffling, here are some of the things that we'll remember Jack and Meg for.
The 10 Weirdest Things the White Stripes Ever Did:
10. Jack's Get Behind Me Satan-era goatee
The White Stripes were always a flashy-looking band, but really -- what was Jack thinking? This patchy bit of fluff on his chin was probably supposed to look devilish, but it ended up coming off like a cross between Orlando Bloom and Guy Fawkes. Unfortunately, Jack doesn't appear to have learned from this unfortunate look, as he's started sporting the goatee once again.
9. That MTV Movie Awards performance from 2002
This was the moment that the White Stripes officially hit the big time. And we, like the rest of the world, sat in front of our televisions thinking, "What the hell is going on?" Jack and Meg performed on a towering stage, with literally dozens of red-and-white-clad dancers running around on stage. The weirdest part comes when they segue from "Fell in Love with a Girl" into "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground" and everyone suddenly starts doing the robot in slow motion.
8. "Who's a Big Baby"
The B-side to the 2005 single "Blue Orchid" was this genuinely baffling track, which features a computerized Meg White yelling out phrases like "Let's go shopping," "I want my mommy," and "Waaah!" It's hilarious and creepy and unlistenable, as the whole track sounds as if it was warped with bizarre tape effects.
7. Releasing singles on Triple Inchophone, a three-inch vinyl format
Jack White has an obsession with the number three, even going so far as to sign his name "Jack White III," despite being born John Gillis. That's probably what inspired him to release the Triple Inchophone, an ultra-limited-edition record player that only played three-inch records. He then remixed and reissued a number of White Stripes singles especially for three-inch vinyl. One single, "Top Special," was only ever made available in this format.
6. Their ultra-dapper roadies
We're used to seeing grizzly old dudes with greasy hair and pit stains getting on stage to check the microphones and tune the guitars. The White Stripes, however, recruited a team of well-dressed gentlemen, all of whom wore suits and hats. It set a classy vibe for the shows, as they all looked a bit like they wandered off of Wall Street circa 1928.
You can see one of the roadies sitting beside Jack in the video below:
5. Playing every province and territory in Canada, including a one-note show in Newfoundland
We were thrilled when the White Stripes announced that they would be playing a show in every province and territory in Canada on their 2007 tour. But let's be honest -- it was kind of an unusual idea. We mean, playing a show in Iqaluit and having a jam session with the Inuit elders? It was amazing, and totally unlike anything we've ever seen. And then there was that show in St. John's, NL, which was only one-note long, and left the crowd chanting "One more note! One more note!" (The White Stripes did not oblige.)
4. Only wearing red, white and black their entire career
We were sure that this peppermint-coloured gimmick wouldn't last. As soon as we first saw Jack and Meg in their red, white and black get-ups, we were already waiting for them to break away from the colour scheme. Like Kiss going without face paint, we were sure the White Stripes were going to record a blue album before long. We were wrong.
3. Recording an album with marimba
In 2003, the White Stripes released the biggest album of their career, Elephant. It showcased Jack in full guitar-god mode, with face-melting solos and titanic rock riffage. The 2005 followup, Get Behind Me Satan, was a complete about-face, showcasing softer songwriting with lots of acoustic guitars and pianos. Strangest of all were the tracks recorded with a marimba, particularly the freak-calypso track "The Nurse." Naturally, when the band hit the road, the minimal blues duo had to bring the marimba with them.
2. Meg White's breakdown
Meg was always a little shy, but we really didn't see this one coming. She always seemed happy enough, bashing away at the skins like Bamm-Bamm from The Flintstones and smiling demurely while Jack took centre stage. But in 2007, the band had to cancel their tour plans, citing Meg's acute anxiety as the cause. Aside from a one-off appearance on Late Night with Conan O'Brien in 2009, they never played live again.
1. The husband/wife/brother/sister controversy
In the early days, whenever the subject of the White Stripes was broached, the nature of Jack and Meg's relationship inevitably came up for debate. They initially claimed to be brother and sister, but documents were eventually uncovered proving that they were an ex-married couple who had tied the knot in 1996 and were divorced in 2000. To their credit, the musicians stuck with the lie, as Jack continued to introduce Meg as his "big sister." We have to admit that we're impressed that the couple got divorced but still managed to stay in a band together for another decade.
When it comes to the weird stunts that set the White Stripes apart, it didn't get anymore outlandish than this.
