The White Stripes are a minimalist rock and roll duo from Detroit, formed in 1997. Billing themselves as brother and sister, guitarist and singer Jack White and drummer Meg White released their self-titled debut album in 1999. (In reality, they are ex-husband-and-wife; Meg is only seven months older than Jack.) They were a struggling local band in Detroit for a long time, even after touring with Pavement and Sleater-Kinney. The second release from the White Stripes, De Stijl (2000), was named after the minimalist Dutch art movement, which they cited as a source for the approach to their music and image. The De Stijl album cover pictures a sample art piece from this movement, made in 3 colors - red, white, and black - characteristic of the band's uniforms. The number 3 also has significance for this band, not only for their tri-colored uniforms but their 3 instruments: vocals, guitar and drums, although Jack occasionally plays organ.

Their stripped-down, garage rock sound made them a much hyped-band in 2002, as a result of the critical raves given to the major label release of White Blood Cells in 2001. The White Stripes enjoyed their first significant success in the UK in 2001, with the critical acclaim, especially for the band's energetic stage performances, spreading to the US in the following months. The band has no bass player, and several musicians have produced bootlegs of bass-added tracks.

In 2002, Q magazine named The White Stripes as one of the "50 Bands To See Before You Die".

Their follow-up to White Blood Cells, entitled Elephant, was released on April 1, 2003, again to widespread critical acclaim. On February 8, 2004 the song "Seven Nation Army" won a Grammy for best Rock Song, and the album Elephant won for best Alternative Album.

Released in 2004, the Under Blackpool Lights DVD has a special treat for fans who collect their bootlegs - it contains every major live cover that the band played during 2003-2004 tours, approximately a dozen songs. Jack White alerted fans to secrets within the film on his site postings, one of which was sure to be the writing on his arm. Recorded over two nights shows, this writing says NOXIOUS which changes to OBNOXIOUS at certain point when film from a different night is used.

In 2003, Jack and Meg White appeared in Jim Jarmusch's Coffee and Cigarettes in a segment entitled "Jack Shows Meg His Tesla Coil."

A fifth album, "Get Behind Me Satan" is due to be released on June 7, 2005.[1]

Discography

• The White Stripes (1999, Sympathy for the Record Industry)
• De Stijl (2000, Sympathy for the Record Industry)
• White Blood Cells (2001, Sympathy for the Record Industry)
• Elephant (2003, V2 Records, XL Records)
• Get Behind Me Satan (2005, V2 Records, XL Records)

Singles

• Hotel Yorba (2001) #26 UK
• Feel In Love With A Girl (2002) #21 UK
• Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground (2002) #27 UK
• Seven Nation Army (2003) #7 UK
• I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself (2003) #13 UK
• The Hardest Button To Button (2003) #23 UK
• Jolene - Live Under Blackpool Lights (2004) #16 UK
• Blue Orchid (2005)

External links

• Official site
• Fansite and Message Board
• Triple Tremelo
• White Stripes tablature
• Redcandycane French fansite