April A to Z Challenge Letter "W" = The White Stripes #AtoZChallenge @AprilA2Z

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Welcome to day twenty-three of the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge.Today's letter is "W" and my topic is = THE WHITE STRIPES.


Okay y'all. I have been waiting the entire event for this very day. I think this might actually be my favorite topic. Yes, I'm going to admit it.. I totally dig Jack White. Wait. Meg, too. They are both uber-talented, smokin' hot and neither one of them show any arrogance or conceitedness to each other or anyone else. They are straight up true-blue. Wait. Black and white. Ha.

So, let me tell you a little bit about two of my favorite musicians. Check it out.

John Anthony Gillis married local bartender Megan Martha White on September 21, 1996. In unorthodox fashion he took Meg White's surname. [Is that not so effing hot?] While the newly-christened Jack White continued to play in multiple bands, Meg White first began to learn to play the drums in 1997. [Yesss! Female drummers are hot.]


In Jack White's words. "When she started to play drums with me, just on a lark, it felt liberating and refreshing. There was something in it that opened me up." [Good god! He is liberating. That just makes me want to melt.] The duo then became a band, calling themselves The White Stripes. 


How did they come up with the name? Well Jack says: "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 revolved around this childish idea, kids have - because they are so much better than adult ideas, right?" 

  

Yum.

The White Stripes first performed publicly August 14, 1997 at the Gold Dollar in Detroit. During the early phase of their career, Jack and Meg White provided various descriptions of their relationship. 

In many early interviews, Jack claimed that he and Meg were siblings, this claim was widely believed and repeated despite rumors that they were, or had been, husband and wife., In 2001, proof of their 1996 marriage emerged, yet they continued to insist publicly that they were brother and sister. 

The couple were divorced in March 2000 just before the band gained widespread attention. In a 2005 interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Jack White claimed that this open secret was intended to keep the focus on the music rather than the couple's relationship:

"When you see a band that is two pieces, husband and wife, 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."

Meg White played the drums and vocals. Jack White played bass, guitars, piano, keyboards and vocals. They would play shows in random places like pool halls, bowling alleys and rec centers, giving folks nearly 10 minutes notice before showing up. They believed that when they did that "Beautiful things would happen." Meg also said: " it keeps it interesting when doing small side shows and it's also a way for us to see the town."

A few facts about Jack: 

1. His guitar is named Rita (after Rita Hayworth)


2. He makes things difficult for himself on purpose. For example: If he drops a guitar pick he has to go to the back of the stage to get another one.


3. He puts the Organ just far away enough so that he has to leap to get to it to play different parts of a song. "It's not handy. I always try to push it a little further away so I have to work harder and get somewhere."


4. NO SET LIST. EVER. Therefore each show has it's own life to it.


5. Fascination with the number 3. "It's actually all based around the number three, even though there's two of us.It's vocals, guitar and drums, and then rhythm, melody and storytelling." "It forces us to create." 

Also - if you ever get the chance to get an autograph from him he will usually sign it "Jack White III" 


6. When they play live they pretty much stick to the red, black, and white. Jack: "And we thought it would be a good stage aesthetic to dress in the colors of the peppermint, so that people would think like kids when they saw us, or at least remember who we were. I think it's the best color combination of all time. It's just more powerful. For some reason, it just makes people think about stuff." 

That. Is. So. Hot.

The White Stripes discography consists of six studio albums, one live album, two extended plays (EP), one concert film, one tour documentary, twenty-six singles, and fourteen music videos.

On September 11, 2007 The White Stripes announced the cancellation of 18 tour dates due to Meg's suffering from acute anxiety problems. [Most people didn't know this about Meg. Sad isn't it?] Following this, the duo cancelled the remainder of their 2007 tour dates including their scheduled tour of the UK.

The White Stripes at the 2007 O2 Wireless festival in London

From Jack and Meg White: 2.02.11 The White Stripes would like to announce that today, February 2, 2011, their band has officially ended and will make no further new recording or perform live.The reason is not due to artistic differences or lack of wanting to continue, nor any health issues as both Meg and Jack are feeling fine and in good health. It is for a myriad of reasons, but mostly to preserve What is Beautiful and special about the band and have it stay that way. Meg and Jack want to Thank every one of their fans and admirers for the incredible support they have given throughout the 13 plus years of the White Stripes' intense and incredible career. Third Man Records will continue to put out unreleased live and studio recordings from The White Stripes in their Vault Subscription record club, as well as through regular channels. Both Meg and Jack hope this decision isn't met with sorrow by their fans but that it is seen as a positive move done out of respect for the art and music that the band has created. It is also done with the utmost respect to those fans who have shared in those creations, with their feelings considered greatly.  With that in mind the band have this to say:

"The White Stripes do not belong to Meg and Jack anymore. The White Stripes belong to you now and you can do with it what ever you want. The beauty of art and music is that it can last forever if people want it to. Thank you for sharing this experience. Your involvement will never be lost on us and we are truly grateful."

Sincerely,

Jack and Meg White

The White Stripes