Wednesday, February 2nd 2011
News: The White Stripes
The White Stripes Have Called It Quits
Despite indications that 2011 would bring a long-awaited 7th album from The White Stripes, this morning Jack & Meg White announced that the band has “officially ended and will make no further new recordings or perform live.”
The statement above was just posted to both The White Stripes’ official site as well as the Third Man Records site, which attributes the decision to “a myriad of reasons, but mostly to preserve what is beautiful and special about the band and have it stay that way.” The full text reads:
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
A sad day for Rock n’ Roll, but we’re sure Jack’s going to keep the music flowing for many more years to come. We’ll leave you with one of our fondest memories of the candycane duo:
This is absolutely terrible. After all the rumors of them touring again this year I had really gotten my hopes up.
I’m gonna go cry while listening to Icky Thump.
Long live The White Stripes.
Oh no no no! Oh, what incredibly bad news. Shit shit shit shit shit.
I can respect that. I dig the band, but it seemed to loose something when the mainstream came to them. May as well leave it as it is. Besides, I am sure Jack White just formed 1942 new bands.
Bummer, but you gotta respect the reasons behind it. Takes balls to go out while you are on top. Hopefully they will have a change of heart one day and play again. And it aint like Jack’s going into seclusion or anything, I’m sure we haven’t heard the last of him.
Sometimes it takes news like this to remind me how deeply I am attacched emotionally to the music that I hold dear to my heart. I feel as if someone just punched me in the stomach. This feeling I’m afraid, will linger for some time to come.
You just explained what I feel. Well said.
Feels like I lost a family member, and I wont be there for the funeral.
I’m with Reverend Justito. Once you’re over the initial shock, you’ll realize it’s not that big of a deal. After all, each of Jack’s gazillion other bands can be described as “The White Stripes, but with a bassist and a drummer who can drum.”
WTH?! Is it April? I hope they’re being straight up and not have a blog pop up somewhere with Meg saying Jack is full of crap or something! This is horrible news!
So this is what it felt like when Zeppelin split…….:’(
Bring back The Upholsterers, Jackie boy… Long Live The White Stripes!
Although I’m full of unreasonable anger and frustration here’s to hoping something good will come out of this.
No.. Nooo!!!!!
So Jack White won’t have Meg as a drummer? Ok. NBD.
White solo album now please.
I’m hardly the world’s biggest WS fan but together they were something of rare. Way left of center, unpredictable, quirky, talented, hard headed, genius. That’s the stuff of art right there. Whether you liked them or not, they were pure and true to the unabashed worship of rock. And they made it look like fun.
This only makes me sad because we will never get to hear this music in concert again…
But to be optimistic about it…this greatly increases the chances of a new Raconteurs album in the near future!
Anything to put a bullet in the brain of The Dead Weather.
Long live coffee and cigarettes.
Would it really have killed them to do one last tour? I mean ok, they don’t want to record together, I respect that entirely. But after 4 years and everyone’s hopes getting raised, one tour would have been an amazing end They could have gone out with a band instead of the whimper they’ve chosen to go with. I was still in school in the Nowheresville, UK when they last came here, and could never afford to see them, so I’m a little distraught to find out I’ll likely never hear one of my favourite songs (“In The Cold, Cold Night”) live, in the flesh.
Bang*
move on
it wasn’t recording it was Meg’s anxiety you douche. they could have remained as a recording act like the Beatles but there is no money in that these days.
Wow, no need to be an asshole dude,
Yeah, she’s had anxiety problems before, but does it explicitly say that’s the cause up there? No, so until I hear that from either of them I’ll assume it’s not the only reason. Also, it does explicitly say they won’t be recording anymore. I never said that that was the only reason the White Stripes was ending, just that it’s a fact.
My only ambition in life was to see the Stripes live
This is awful news!!!!
http://www.fleetfoxes.com/helplessness-blues.html
This might cheer y’all up. Start with track 5 “Go On Have My Way”.
http://www.myspace.com/leopoldandhisfiction/music/albums/leopold-and-his-fiction-17249261
The White Stripes are fucking dead. Long live the White Stripes.
I know I’m personally pretty shaken up about this, they were the reason I ever wanted to pick up a guitar, make music, get inside of it….its a shame to see that go.
And I can’t believe there’s no tour even, all I needed was one last chance to see them. No one, living now or in music history, puts on a show like they did, and as great as jack’s other bands are, no of them has what they had on stage.
It’s strangely suspect that after so very much downtime and such a lackluster touring exit scenario (amputated tour, dismal final Conan appearance), they would announce the split now. A great deal has changed in Jack’s world since the Stripes were last active, and the Third Man Records monster may have played a significant role in what may have been dissolving chemistry between the Whites. I’m eager to hear what the truth is, a few years down the line when the real story is laid out.
This si the thing I’m disappointed by. I mean, look at Nine Inch Nails, Trent Reznor for whatever wanted to put the brakes on it as a touring band, and shift his focus from recording under the name, totally understandable. I wasn’t thrilled to hear it but at least he gave us a world farewell tour, let us know we might have only that one chance. I grabbed that opportunity and it was the best gig of my life so far. Even bands like KISS that have gone through tons of “Farewell tours” (even if it was just a marketing incentive to get as many arses in seats as possible), nobody can say when they inevitably split that they didn’t see it coming. Here we got a 3 year build up, a massive spark of hope and a sudden smack back down to earth.No last chance, no farewell, just a suicide note.
Well obviously it’s a terrible loss, but I don’t think there was any lack of chemistry or any sort of drama. Honestly, I think Meg was a White Stripe because Jack wanted her to be. I think she enjoyed the hell out of it at their peak, but I bet she is over it and just wants to be a regular person now, without all the attention. Maybe she just wants to be a mom and a wife, nothing wrong with that. Maybe she’ll be an entrepreneur and do something creative behind the scenes. I wish her luck! And Jack… he doesn’t need any.