The White Stripes recently announced on their website that the 13-year run of the band has come to a close; instantly an era seems to have ended for the music industry.
The statement announces that they will not make any new recordings or play live, explaining that:
“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.”
The statement goes on to thank their fans and announces that Third Man Records will put out previously unreleased live and studio recordings, giving fans a little something to look forward to, at least. It is meant as a “positive move done out of respect for the art and music that the band has created,” and takes into account how this would affect the fan base by saying:
“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.” (You can read the entire statement here.)
When I first heard this, I was definitely disenheartened. The White Stripes have been a constant in my, and many others’, music libraries. While there is still the opportunity to hear Jack White perform live with his other acts, it is tragic that those songs will never be performed by Jack and Meg White again.
At the same time, because of the considerate announcement the band made, I sympathized with their point of view. Too many artists try to maintain or recreate their most successful level of producing music beyond their prime moments. I have a hard time believing that The White Stripes could really produce something awful – though their sound might change overtime (which would make sense with Jack White having other projects to express his different approaches to music) – but if they want to preserve what they had, just as it was, and not stretch the band past it’s limit, that is honorable.
Instead of forcing the band where they want it to go and risk tarnishing its reputation in the memories of millions, they have turned it over to the fans, to take what the White Stripes have put out there and make it something truly for themselves. And while I can’t be too sure where Meg White will end up, this is obviously not the end of Jack White’s presence in music.
So while it is difficult to cope with, it is respectable. The White Stripes will be missed.
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