# The White Stripes: Tell me about them please **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 12, 2013, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-stripes-tell-me-about-them-please/646938 "2013-01-12T04:50:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2013, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-stripes-tell-me-about-them-please/646938/1 "2013-01-12T04:50:28Z")
I have heard references to them in the past, and am pretty sure I’ve read about them here, but I’d never heard any music by them. In the last 3 or 4 weeks I’ve heard “Seven Nation Army” three times on the classic radio station here. I don’t normally listen to music radio anymore, however it does seem to me from my limited listening that this particular station is (after many, many years) trying to diversify their playlist: thank God. So, back to the topic, I like this song! I briefly went to Youtube and am impressed with the limited stuff I’ve heard. Why were these guys not more popular? The music seems to stand on its own. What do you know about these guys and the music? Recommendations? ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2013, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-stripes-tell-me-about-them-please/646938/2 "2013-01-12T05:01:43Z")
This is weird. I just heard them today. I too like them. I hope someone who knows something comes in here pretty soon! ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2013, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-stripes-tell-me-about-them-please/646938/3 "2013-01-12T05:03:36Z")
Dunno much about the White Stripes. My favorite song of theirs is a cover of St. James Infirmary. But Jack White’s solo album Blunderbuss is just fantastic. I listen to [Love Interruption](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iErNRBTPbEc) probably every other day. ---
**Author:** ![Miltonyz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Miltonyz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miltonyz)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2013, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-stripes-tell-me-about-them-please/646938/4 "2013-01-12T05:16:44Z")
They are awesome, and damn near everything Jack White touches is good. My favorite album by them is probably “Get Behind Me Satan”. It is for the most part a different sound then 7 Nation Army, but it is very good. The song that Inner Stickler references is from their self titled album “The White Stripes” that CD for the most part is blues based rock with a sound that for some reason I always describe as “crunchy”. Somebody better versed in music can explain it better then me. “Icky Thump” is not as good as the other two albums that I have referenced imo but has some good songs. “Rag and Bone” is probably my favorite off the top of my head. Jack White has also had hits with " The Raconteurs", and produced Loretta Lynn’s “Van Lear Rose” which is an amazing album. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2013, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-stripes-tell-me-about-them-please/646938/5 "2013-01-12T05:17:12Z")
Depends on what you mean by why they weren’t all that popular. They didn’t win a ton of awards, but were fairly critically acclaimed. They were pretty well known among indie fans. They were part of the garage rock revival scene and probably the most popular band out of that (well until the Black Keys just erupted). They melded low-fi garage rock (it was usually just the two of them - Jack on guitar and Meg on drums) with the blues and were also known for their crazy antics (such as: were Jack and Meg White siblings or married or what). They are my favorite band, and I think their best album (and my favorite album of all time) was White Blood Cells. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2013, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-stripes-tell-me-about-them-please/646938/6 "2013-01-12T05:20:24Z")
They’re a “garage rock” band outta Detroit. They have been very popular on the indie scene for quite some time but didn’t really get much mainstream coverage until their "7 Nation Army’ hit. At least as far as I remember… ETA: Ninja’ed I see, by ISiddiqui. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2013, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-stripes-tell-me-about-them-please/646938/7 "2013-01-12T05:21:34Z")
Also, boobs. ---
**Author:** ![Beastly\_Rotter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/45deac/32.png) [@Beastly\_Rotter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beastly_Rotter)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2013, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-stripes-tell-me-about-them-please/646938/8 "2013-01-12T06:55:19Z")
Play [Blue Orchid](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW8UlrtcEac) really fucking loud. That’s the White Stripes for you. The video’s pretty cool, too. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2013, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-stripes-tell-me-about-them-please/646938/9 "2013-01-12T07:44:11Z")
I’ve always liked “Ball and Biscuit”. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03YUgHAshSo) ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2013, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-stripes-tell-me-about-them-please/646938/10 "2013-01-12T08:33:40Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > didn’t really get much mainstream coverage until their "7 Nation Army’ hit. At least as far as I remember… Gonna disagree with you. From the previous album, “Fell In Love With a Girl” got an _insane_ amount of airplay. You didn’t have to listen to indie radio, or any rock radio for that matter- you couldn’t walk into a CVS or walk through a mall in 2002 without hearing “Fell In Love With a Girl”. To the OP: Don’t know if it’s their _best_ song necessarily, but I would put “Fell In Love With a Girl” as Track 1 on any White Stripes “Starter mix” for the uninitiated. In fact, I would probably put it as Track 1 on any Jack White “Starter mix”. If you don’t know that song, listen to it . . . and you will realized that, actually, yes, you _did_ already know that song. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2013, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-stripes-tell-me-about-them-please/646938/11 "2013-01-12T10:29:29Z")
> [@Accidental\_Martyr](#): > > I’ve always liked “Ball and Biscuit”. > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03YUgHAshSo](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03YUgHAshSo) Wonderful. Thank you. What the fuck is going on with record companies when this kind of talent is relegated to “indie” status and Justin Bieber is considered main stream and receives all the accolades. Jack White has more talent in the pinky of his left hand for Christ’s sake. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2013, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-stripes-tell-me-about-them-please/646938/12 "2013-01-12T10:31:05Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > Gonna disagree with you. From the previous album, “Fell In Love With a Girl” got an _insane_ amount of airplay. You didn’t have to listen to indie radio, or any rock radio for that matter- you couldn’t walk into a CVS or walk through a mall in 2002 without hearing “Fell In Love With a Girl”. > > To the OP: Don’t know if it’s their _best_ song necessarily, but I would put “Fell In Love With a Girl” as Track 1 on any White Stripes “Starter mix” for the uninitiated. In fact, I would probably put it as Track 1 on any Jack White “Starter mix”. > > If you don’t know that song, listen to it . . . and you will realized that, actually, yes, you _did_ already know that song. No actually, I didn’t already know that song. I like it though. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2013, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-stripes-tell-me-about-them-please/646938/13 "2013-01-12T10:56:40Z")
Crikeys. Here’s Jack teaching Jimmy Page and The Edge how to play [Seven Nation Army](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8R8puk3kImA). ---
**Author:** ![Beastly\_Rotter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/45deac/32.png) [@Beastly\_Rotter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beastly_Rotter)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2013, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-stripes-tell-me-about-them-please/646938/14 "2013-01-12T11:33:04Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Crikeys. Here’s Jack teaching Jimmy Page and The Edge how to play [Seven Nation Army](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8R8puk3kImA). Jack really knows his shit. Hell of a producer, too. ---
**Author:** ![Busy\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@Busy\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Busy_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2013, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-stripes-tell-me-about-them-please/646938/15 "2013-01-12T11:37:20Z")
They were v successful here in the UK - their quality speaks for itself but they had huge mainstream appeal, I’d guess that most casual, non-indie music fans would know a few of their tracks. I like them a lot, but they’re not one of my absolute favourites. Live, though, By God they are good. Jack White is hands down the best rock n roll performer I’ve ever seen. Caught them at Glasgow a few years ago and it was like seeing Hendrix or something - he absolutely torched the place. ---
**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:** [January 12, 2013, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-stripes-tell-me-about-them-please/646938/16 "2013-01-12T11:58:14Z")
> [@Busy\_Scissors](#): > > I like them a lot, but they’re not one of my absolute favourites. Live, though, By God they are good. Jack White is hands down the best rock n roll performer I’ve ever seen. Caught them at Glasgow a few years ago and it was like seeing Hendrix or something - he absolutely torched the place. Absolutely. I might even have been at the same gig, and couldn’t believe the beautiful racket those two made. :eek: Their full performance _Under Blackpool Lights_ from early 2004 is on this Youtube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLF370CAADF00FFEEC&wmode=transparent&rel=0&autohide=1&showinfo=1&enablejsapi=1 Here’s \*Hotel Yorba \* from that gig: https://www.youtube.com/embed/m9tsKXplMyE?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=PLF370CAADF00FFEEC They play with such glee. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2013, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-stripes-tell-me-about-them-please/646938/17 "2013-01-12T12:01:59Z")
White Stripes [Jolene](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4rYaLBUpLA). Play it loud. I only discovered them a few years ago and I don’t know why they were never more mainstream popular either. Amazing stuff, wish I’d seen them live. Except that Jack seems to be a jerk in real life. Although I rather like the tighty-tights he often wore… ---
**Author:** ![Beastly\_Rotter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/45deac/32.png) [@Beastly\_Rotter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beastly_Rotter)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2013, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-stripes-tell-me-about-them-please/646938/18 "2013-01-12T12:11:27Z")
Fucking kills [Jolene](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zX8piT5lOsM), too. eta beaten to it ---
**Author:** ![Beastly\_Rotter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/45deac/32.png) [@Beastly\_Rotter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beastly_Rotter)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2013, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-stripes-tell-me-about-them-please/646938/19 "2013-01-12T12:21:41Z")
This is Jack White producing the Black Belles on [Wishing Well](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfIyIMnACMQ). Viva dirty R’n’B garage punk! ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2013, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-stripes-tell-me-about-them-please/646938/20 "2013-01-12T12:44:22Z")
I guess it all depends on one’s perspective and what pop culture you expose yourself to, but I am baffled at the suggestions that they were not “mainstream popular”. I think of them as being one of the most popular music acts of the first decade of the 2000s and possibly _the most_ popular rock band of that decade. They were nominated for MTV’s VMAs almost every year from 2002 to 2008 (the only skipped year being 2006), they won 4 VMAs total. They won 6 Grammys (out of 11 Nominations) from 2004 to 2011- these awards recognized three consecutive albums plus the post-breakup live double album / video box set. Yeah I had to look up that info, I didn’t know it off the top of my head, but none of it surprised me. Sure the Grammys recognizes some obscure acts in the specialized genre categories, but the MTV VMAs? The VMAs are a straight up popularity contest. Again, it all depends on perspective and what you expose yourself to- it’s just that it is surprising to me to hear of the White Stripes being viewed as not mainstream popular. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-white-stripes-tell-me-about-them-please/646938.md?page=2)