# The White Stripes have called it quits **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 2, 2011, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-stripes-have-called-it-quits/569929 "2011-02-02T19:19:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2011, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-stripes-have-called-it-quits/569929/1 "2011-02-02T19:19:35Z")
> **[Dotdash Meredith - America's Largest Digital & Print Publisher](https://www.dotdashmeredith.com)** > > Dotdash Meredith is America's largest digital and print publisher, with brands including PEOPLE, Better Homes & Gardens, Allrecipes, Investopedia, Verywell, and more! Learn about career opportunities, our leadership team, and how we can help you... Only been around since 1997, but had a significant impact on music. Clearly Jack White is the more talented of the duo and we should not expect him to disappear from the music industry. His ex-wife (claimed sibling), Meg, on the other hand will probably disappear into obscurity. I also love the grammar debate that goes on in the comments section of the linked article. Could have lifted it straight from the SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2011, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-stripes-have-called-it-quits/569929/2 "2011-02-02T19:24:57Z")
It was always a solo act anyway. The drummer is utterly expendable and wasn’t even that good. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2011, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-stripes-have-called-it-quits/569929/3 "2011-02-02T19:41:14Z")
…on [HuffPo](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/02/the-white-stripes-are-don_n_817574.html). > [@](#): > > NEW YORK — The White Stripes are done. > > The groundbreaking rock duo announced Wednesday they are splitting up and “will make no further new recordings or perform live.” > > Jack White and Meg White say there are a “myriad of reasons” for the breakup, but the main reason is to “preserve what is beautiful and special about the band.” > > The last recording by the White Stripes was the live album “Under the Great White Northern Lights,” released last year. > > Over the years, Jack White has focused attention on other projects, including the bands the Dead Weather and the Raconteurs, as well as his Nashville, Tenn.-based Third Man Records. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2011, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-stripes-have-called-it-quits/569929/4 "2011-02-02T19:54:59Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Clearly Jack White is the more talented of the duo and we should not expect him to disappear from the music industry. Well, yeah. He’s in about six other bands and since he’s been devoting most of his energy toward those projects, I guess this was kind of a formality. I was never a huge White Stripes fan - some of their stuff is excellent, other times the shtick got in the way of the music for me - but their best stuff is very good. [Modding]I merged the threads started by **Omar Little** and **WordMan**.[/Modding] ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2011, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-stripes-have-called-it-quits/569929/5 "2011-02-02T20:08:29Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > It was always a solo act anyway. The drummer is utterly expendable and wasn’t even that good. I shoot videos of the School of Rock and I can say, with complete honesty, that I know many pre-teens who are much, much more talented drummers than Meg White. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2011, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-stripes-have-called-it-quits/569929/6 "2011-02-02T20:13:28Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > His ex-wife (claimed sibling), Meg, on the other hand will probably disappear into obscurity. If I wasn’t married I would have a place she could hide. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2011, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-stripes-have-called-it-quits/569929/7 "2011-02-02T20:14:35Z")
I once heard Meg White’s drumming style described as “Hey cool, who left these drums here?” 😃 Talent or near-complete lack thereof notwithstanding, Meg White’s drumming accompanied the guitar perfectly. I think a more talented drummer would have actually detracted from the band. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2011, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-stripes-have-called-it-quits/569929/8 "2011-02-02T20:27:44Z")
> [@pravnik](#): > > I once heard Meg White’s drumming style described as “Hey cool, who left these drums here?” 😃 Talent or near-complete lack thereof notwithstanding, Meg White’s drumming accompanied the guitar perfectly. I think a more talented drummer would have actually detracted from the band. I whole-heartedly agree with the last sentence. She’s actually not a terrible drummer at all, in the context of a garage-rock band, and I tend to be pretty picky about my drummers. She’s not technically proficient, but there is an undeniably musicality and swagger to her playing, and the raw energy of her parts–she hits those drums _hard_–counterpointed by Jack White’s agressive and sometimes disjointed approach to the guitar balance each other perfectly. When I hear his work with, say, the Raconteurs, I just feel it doesn’t have the same energy. Now, I’m not a big Stripes follower, but I did see them once in concert (with the Flaming Lips) and was absolutely blown away by their stage presence and just how much music and energy two people could fill a concert venue with. I mean, simply incredible the way they both filled up the room, and Meg’s drumming really was 50% of that equation. Not just literally, but musically. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2011, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-stripes-have-called-it-quits/569929/9 "2011-02-02T20:43:04Z")
I’m not qualified to talk about the greatness or otherwise of Meg’s drumming. But, holy fuck, what a great band the pair of them were. Absolutely awesome live, too. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2011, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-stripes-have-called-it-quits/569929/10 "2011-02-02T20:46:49Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Now, I’m not a big Stripes follower, but I did see them once in concert (with the Flaming Lips) and was absolutely blown away by their stage presence and just how much music and energy two people could fill a concert venue with. I mean, simply incredible the way they both filled up the room, and Meg’s drumming really was 50% of that equation. Not just literally, but musically. Agree. If people doubt, then “Blackpool Lights”? ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2011, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-stripes-have-called-it-quits/569929/11 "2011-02-02T21:00:39Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > I’m not qualified to talk about the greatness or otherwise of Meg’s drumming. But, holy fuck, what a great band the pair of them were. Absolutely awesome live, too. This is all that matters to me. ---
**Author:** ![B.Serum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/b.serum/32/14266_2.png) [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2011, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-stripes-have-called-it-quits/569929/12 "2011-02-02T22:05:45Z")
Reminds me of when Wings broke up. ---
**Author:** ![YamatoTwinkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/cc9497/32.png) [@YamatoTwinkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YamatoTwinkie)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2011, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-stripes-have-called-it-quits/569929/13 "2011-02-02T22:36:46Z")
> [@pravnik](#): > > I once heard Meg White’s drumming style described as “Hey cool, who left these drums here?” I remember Jack White describing it about as much from the beginning. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Stilettos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/fbc32d/32.png) [@Red\_Stilettos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Stilettos)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2011, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-stripes-have-called-it-quits/569929/14 "2011-02-02T23:17:46Z")
> [@YamatoTwinkie](#): > > I remember Jack White describing it about as much from the beginning. I seem to remember an interview - possibly in _It Might Get Loud_ - where he described her style as “petulant”. I thought that was pretty apt. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2011, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-stripes-have-called-it-quits/569929/15 "2011-02-02T23:18:04Z")
“Groundbreaking rock duo”?!? ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-stripes-have-called-it-quits/569929/16 "2011-02-03T00:08:49Z")
Three punctuation marks for that one, huh? You must disagree like a motherfucker, but not quite enough to say anything about it. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-stripes-have-called-it-quits/569929/17 "2011-02-03T00:42:56Z")
Man, with all the hate for Meg, you’d think this was a “Family Guy” thread… ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-stripes-have-called-it-quits/569929/18 "2011-02-03T00:57:34Z")
I don’t hate her, I just think she was a very mediocre drummer. Honestly, I don’t think would have passed an audition for any of the bands I was in. I find her very simplistic and amateurish. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-stripes-have-called-it-quits/569929/19 "2011-02-03T01:04:53Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > “Groundbreaking rock duo”?!? > [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > Three punctuation marks for that one, huh? > > You must disagree like a motherfucker, but not quite enough to say anything about it. For situations like this I recommend the… [interrobang‽](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interrobang) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-stripes-have-called-it-quits/569929/20 "2011-02-03T01:16:50Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I don’t hate her, I just think she was a very mediocre drummer. Honestly, I don’t think would have passed an audition for any of the bands I was in. I find her very simplistic and amateurish. “Simplistic” and “amateurish” are reasonable adjectives for her drumming style. But, as I said above, the “naive” approach works perfectly for that band and that dirty blues-rock-meets-punk-sensibility garage sound. Having somebody like Jimmy Chamberlain or Stuart Copeland or a Jeff Porcaro-type behind that would, IMHO, completely changed the vibe, and not for the better. I’m not trying to make excuses for her–she’s not on my Top 10 drummer list or anything, but I honestly believe her musical contribution helped define the sound of the White Stripes as much as Jack White’s guitar. Also, in terms of image (and there’s nothing wrong with rock music with a bit of theatre–I kind of miss some of the theatrics that used to be more part-and-parcel of a rock concert), there’s just something to be said for that man-woman dynamic, and that image of an attractive woman rockin’ out and rockin’ hard behind the drum kit. Most of my comments and admiration of the White Stripes is the music, but the image and theatre were also a big contributor to their success. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-stripes-have-called-it-quits/569929.md?page=2)