The Second Coming of Jack White
posted in: Features • Rock
Let’s face it, sometimes the past should stay dead. But when an awesome artist fades from popularity, their fans later wonder, Where are they now? You may not know it, but many artists you’ve loved in the past are still hard at work writing new albums or preparing to tour once more. Fortunately, you now have Second Coming to reintroduce some of your favorite acts of the last few decades and give you the scoop on what you can expect from them in the future.
THEN: Husband-and-wife blues/garage rock duo The White Stripes made their debut in 1997. With Jack White on guitar and vocals and Meg White on drums, the band became well-known for their lo-fi aesthetic and strange tendency to tell the media they were brother and sister (actually, Jack took Meg’s last name when they married). The White Stripes had a few indie releases around the turn of the century, but it was 2001’s White Blood Cells that brought them into the alt rock limelight. Though the couple divorced in 2000, the band continued on, a decision that would turn out to have some pretty awesome results. With hits like “Fell In Love With A Girl” “Seven Nation Army” and “Icky Thump,” The White Stripes quickly became one of the most prominent alternative bands of the early 2000’s. Jack also became involved in successful side project The Raconteurs, whose song “Steady, As She Goes” was a smash hit, and was nominated for a GRAMMY award in 2007. Additionally, he was tapped to produce and perform on Loretta Lynn’s album, Van Lear Rose. The album proved to be the most successful crossover record of Lynn’s career.
NOW: Starting in 2007, The White Stripes were forced to delay touring and recording plans for a few years while Meg struggled with acute anxiety. In 2009, Jack formed supergroup The Dead Weather with Alison Mosshart, Dean Fertita and Jack Lawrence. The band released two successful LPs and a live album, while Jack continued to keep The Raconteurs and The White Stripes on the back burner. In February of 2011, The White Stripes announced that they would no longer write or record together, stating that the breakup was for “a myriad of reasons…mostly to preserve what is beautiful and special about the band.” Fifteen years after The White Stripes’ first release, Jack White has embarked on a solo career. He also remarried in 2005, this time to British model Karen Elson, with Meg White as the maid of honor (your guess is as good as ours). After having two kids together, the couple divorced in 2011. Jack released his first track, “Love Interruption,” in January, which will be the lead single from his upcoming solo debut, and performed the song live on Saturday Night Live. White’s album, Blunderbuss, will be released on April 24. The release will be followed by performances at Rock Werchter, Fuji Rock Festival, Radio 1’s Hackney Weekend.
Fun fact: This video is made entirely of LEGOs! Check out “Fell In Love With A Girl”:
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