Jack White Talks About New White Stripes Book

Having a book of the White Stripes lyrics out has been an emotional experience for Jack White. “The White Stripes Complete Lyrics 1997-2007” was published earlier this month by White’s Third Man Books; in addition to those lyrics it includes never-before-seen rough drafts, alternate lyrics and photographs, as well as three essays including one by White’s nephew and Third Man co-owner Ben Blackwell. During a recent discussion at Third Man Records’ store in White’s native Detroit, the 12-time Grammy Award Winner told an audience that he was surprised by his reaction to the book:

“I would cry halfway through each of the songs, and I thought, ‘Oh, it’s been a rough couple days, maybe that’s hitting me,’ or maybe it’s bringing back a memory of what that was. But then by the third or fourth time I was, ‘No.’ My brain’s like, ‘Oh, that’s just…,’ It’s so funny; my brain was saying, the left side of my brain or whatever, ‘I’m so glad somebody wrote that,’ and the right side of my brain was, ‘It’s YOU, idiot! YOU wrote it!'” It’s so funny. I jumped out of my own body for a second.” 

White (nee Gillis) co-founded the White Stripes in 1997 with his ex-wife Meg White on drums. The duo’s raw, blues-based approach led the garage rock movement of the late 90s and was widely acclaimed by critics before the group’s commercial breakthrough with singles like “Fell in Love With a Girl” and “Seven Nation Army.”

The White Stripes formally ceased during 2011, and White has gone on to a successful solo career that’s included five studio albums so far. He’s also started the bands the Dead Weather and the Raconteurs.

On April 8, 2022, White proposed to and then married his third wife, Olivia Jean, on stage at Detroit’s Masonic Temple Auditorium during the opening show of his world tour.