Remembering the White Stripes
Whether you’re a fan or not, the massive outpouring of grief this week in response to the news that minimalist rock band the White Stripes were to split up might seem puzzling.
In their exit statement on Thursday, the Detroit duo said they hoped the news would not be “met with sorrow by [our] fans”, emphasising that the split was not due to health issues or artistic differences. Prolific singer/guitarist/songwriter Jack White will continue to write, perform and record with his other groups the Raconteurs and the Dead Weather, and is indeed likely putting the finishing touches to another such project as you read this. And if rock history has taught us anything, it’s that bands only stay split up until the first date of the lucrative reunion tour.
