"The White Stripes would like to announce that today, February 2nd, 2011,
their band has officially ended and will make no further new recordings 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’ve 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 whatever 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,
Meg and Jack White
The White Stripes"
The above text showed up on The White Stripes website this past Wednesday. While I admire the way the statement is worded and I understand the argument some have made of it being good to "go out on top", I can't help but be in a state of mourning of this. In the relatively short time the The White Stripes were in the mainstream, they broke all the rules. All the while gaining critical and commercial success. I realize that Jack White has many projects and I do look forward to hearing other music from him (and hopefully Meg at some point too). But none of that changes the fact that it's a giant loss to the music community to not have these two work together, record and tour under the moniker of The White Stripes.
I will end on a positive note by providing a suggested playlist to enjoy sampling some of my favorite songs by The White Stripes:
Hotel Yorba (White Blood Cells)
I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself (Elephant)
Icky Thump (Icky Thump)
The Denial Twist (Get Behind Me Satan)
Seven Nation Army (Elephant)
In The Cold, Cold Night (Elephant)
We're Going To Be Friends (White Blood Cells)
You Don't Know What Love Is (Icky Thump)
I Want To Be The Boy To Warm Your Mothers Heart (Elephant)
Catch Hell Blues (Icky Thump)
My Doorbell (Get Behind Me Satan)
Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground (White Blood Cells)
Ball And Biscuit (Elephant)
Effect & Cause (Icky Thump)
It's always odd when your favorite bands break up or go through a severe line up change. You never know why they truly changed, was it no chemistry? Maybe someone is tired of feeling like they are carrying all the load and they don't appreciate what the others in the band contribute. Sometimes it's drugs and alcohol. This time I think Jack just has too much on his plate.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that most entertainers never truly quit, the itch comes back and they reform, I mean.. Who would've thought that Van Halen would EVER record and tour with David Lee Roth Again? Not me, yet here we are, a new record and a second tour coming. So is there a chance of a reunion? My guess is very much so. You don't hear of any issues (Easy to cover them in a 2 person band though). My guess would be that if Meg needed money that Jack would help her by touring our putting out new music. Or maybe Jack just gets that feeling again.
I have always thought that a band or actor should never claim "retirement" and call it a "hiatus" instead so when they do get back together, as so many do, you don't look like a jackass
I believe/hope that they'll do something again someday out side of the already mentioned vault releases.
ReplyDeleteBut yeah, I hear ya. Every time someone claims retirement, they usually end up going back on it.
That's true of course except for the following examples:
Ozzy's farewell tour 91/92, KISS' farewell tour 96/97 and of course The Eagles farewell tour of 96.
-Russ
Hey... Kiss is retiring
ReplyDeleteIt's just the longest damn retirement tour EVAR!!!!!