Why The White Stripes Mattered

True class is a rarity. And breaking bad news with class is almost non-existent. On Wednesday February 2, The White Stripes announced their break-up. In a statement they said: "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."

Since the beginning The White Stripes seemed to fully understand that music, popularity and trends were fleeting. The band’s emphasis on low-fi techniques was a revelation in 2001. Let’s all remember the magical year of 2001 which started with Jennifer Lopez becoming the first female to have a simultaneous #1 movie and #1 album in the United States. This was also a time when Limp Bizkit was still relevant. Then the political climate in America was forever changed by the attacks on September 11. The nation turned to the likes of the overly earnest U2 and the like to provide comfort and healing.

This is not to say that any of these tastes or instincts were wrong, except for liking Limp Bizkit, this is simply where the world was at. The White Stripes were an anomaly at the time because they came out of nowhere. They arrived on the scene with a fast-punky song called “Fell In Love With A Girl” and simple yet striking video done entirely out of lego directed by the relatively unknown Michel Gondry. Though they had released two albums previously, which managed to give them enough indie-cred so no one could accuse them of selling out, White Blood Cells became their calling card.  UK magazines immediately picked up on the band and Fell In Love With A Girl went on to win the 2002 MTV Video Awards for Breakthrough Video, Best Special Effects and Best Editing. Simple was winning over the slick gloss of videos with larger budgets.

Gondry would continue to collaborate with The White Stripes through their career continuing the aesthetic of DIY and unexpectedly impressive. They released three more albums all to rave reviews making them one of the most loved and influential bands of the last decade. By combining blues and punk influences The White Stripes were able to draw fans from all walks of life and had their music featured in everything from The Simpsons to a ballet created for The Royal Ballet in England. Their music is raw, unflinching and most definitely unique despite their constant crediting of their influences.

I saw them once in 2001 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto when they opened for the Rolling Stones. It was shortly after Fell In Love With A Girl started making waves and the huge auditorium was maybe a quarter full. Never before or since have I seen two people with such conviction and emotion while people were milling about looking for beer. In that moment I knew I was witnessing only the beginning of something. Even though it has now come to an end, their music now rightly belongs to their fans, the way it always has. 

Alex West
		About the author:
		After a five year stint in Montreal Alex moved back to her native Toronto to do her Masters and began writing for different publications. When in doubt she always asks, what would Nick Cave do? Luckily the answer almost always involves velvet, wine and writing. In her spare time she enjoys watching civil war reenactments, sharing her James Bond level charm and talking about that girl who did that thing that one time. Read more of her work at: www.scare-tactic.blogspot.com
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