The White Stripes were an American rock duo formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1997 — Jack White on guitar and vocals, Meg White on drums, everything in red, white, and black. Elephant (2003) gave the world Seven Nation Army; White Blood Cells (2001) is every bit as essential. Find The White Stripes vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
The White Stripes formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1997, consisting of Jack White (vocals, guitar) and Meg White (drums). The two, who presented themselves publicly as siblings though they had been married, built a striking minimalist identity around a strict red, white, and black color scheme. The band rose from the Detroit underground to international prominence and became one of the defining acts of the 2000s garage rock revival before disbanding in 2011.
The White Stripes played garage rock, blues rock, and punk-influenced rock stripped to its essentials: Jack White's raw guitar and vocals and Meg White's primal, deliberately simple drumming. Drawing deeply on Delta blues, punk, and classic rock, their pared-down approach and Jack White's songwriting made them hugely influential on subsequent rock acts.
The White Stripes catalog, much of it on Third Man Records, is heavily collected, with Elephant and other titles issued in numerous colored-vinyl and anniversary editions. Original Sympathy for the Record Industry pressings of the early albums command strong collector interest.
Listeners new to The White Stripes often start with Elephant (2003) or White Blood Cells (2001). For related listening, see and .
