The Coolest, Weirdest, and Savviest Rockstar of Our Time: The Story of Jack White
Jack White’s journey to stardom began in the 90s, playing drums around his hometown of Detroit. In 1997, he formed the band The White Stripes with Meg White, whom he later married. Before the duo hit it big, they divorced, and Jack and Meg began referring to each other as brother and sister, adding an air of mystery to their already unique relationship. Meg, silent on stage, played drums like the enigmatic Teller in the magician duo Penn and Teller, while Jack took on the role of the multi-talented frontman, handling everything from songwriting and singing to producing, bass, keyboard, and guitar.
As part of the garage rock revival in the early 2000s, The White Stripes released a string of influential hits, with other bands like The Strokes and Arctic Monkeys riding the same wave. One standout track, Jolene—a cover of Dolly Parton‘s iconic song—was released as a B-side to Hello Operator, the second single from their 2000 album De Stijl. Another notable cover, One More Cup of Coffee, appeared on their self-titled debut album, The White Stripes (1999), showcasing their raw, stripped-back style.
The band’s breakthrough came with their third album, White Blood Cells (2001), which produced the hit Fell in Love with the Girl. This song was later covered by Joss Stone under the title Fell In Love with the Boy, marking Joss Stone’s rise to fame. Jack White’s original version charted higher, reaching #2 in the U.K., and even featured another future hit as a B-side in I Just Don’t Know What to Do with Myself.
Jack White: From Seven Nation Army to the Coolest Rockstar of Our Time
The White Stripes followed their early success with the 2003 release of Elephant, home to the global smash hit Seven Nation Army. Incredibly, Jack’s A&R man initially dismissed the track—an oversight that hasn’t aged well, given that the song has since been nominated for song of the decade and become an enduring anthem across genres and stadiums worldwide.
Their next two albums, Get Behind Me Satan (2005) and Icky Thump (2007), didn’t produce singles of similar magnitude. During the tour for Icky Thump, Meg suffered from anxiety attacks, which eventually led to the tour’s cancellation and her quiet retreat from the public eye.
Jack, however, was already a step ahead. A year earlier, he had formed The Raconteurs with his Nashville songwriting partner Brendan Benson. Their debut single, Steady, As She Goes, had already been written and released by the time The White Stripes ended. Despite a strong start and live shows featuring covers like Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down), Crazy, Who Do You Love, and Baby, Please Don’t Go, the band never managed to top that debut.
In 2008, Jack’s most prominent post-Stripes release arrived in the form of Another Way To Die, a James Bond theme recorded with Alicia Keys. The dramatic duet marked yet another stylistic leap for the ever-evolving musician.
By 2012, The New York Times aptly dubbed Jack White “The coolest, weirdest and savviest rockstar of our time”—a title few could argue against.
In 2025, Jack White released a signature guitar with Fender, further cementing his legacy as both a boundary-pushing musician and gear innovator. Alongside the guitars came what many now consider to be the best amp ever made—an all-original design that perfectly blends vintage tones with modern reliability and flair. Just like his music, Jack’s gear is bold, distinctive, and built to stand the test of time.
Jack White Tunes | Related Pages
Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) | Chords + TAB
Learn how to play Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) by Nancy Sinatra using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| Fm Fmmaj7 | Fm7 Fm6 |
I was five and he was six we rode on horses made of sticks…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) (Nancy Sinatra) Guitar Lesson wtih TAB.
Crazy | Chords + Lyrics
You can learn how to play Crazy by Gnarls Barkley using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and backing tracks.
| Cm | Cm | Ebmaj7 |
I remember when, I remember, I remember when I lost my mind…
Jolene | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Jolene by Dolly Parton using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| Am C |2/4 G |4/4 Am |
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene…
Want to master this song? Check out the full TAB lesson here: Jolene (Dolly Parton) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
One More Cup Of Coffee | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play One More Cup Of Coffee by Bob Dylan using chords, lyrics, a chord chart, chord analysis, and Spytunes video guitar lessons.
| Am | G |
Your breath is sweet, your eyes are like two jewels in the sky…
Start learning with the full lesson series: One More Cup Of Coffee – Guitar Lessons with TAB.
Seven Nation Army | Chords + Lyrics
You can learn how to play Seven Nation Army by White Stripes using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| Em (E G E D) | C5 B5 | Em (E G E D) | C5 B5 |
I’m gonna fight ’em all. A seven-nation army couldn’t hold me back…
Steady As She Goes | Chords + Lyrics
You can learn how to play Steady As She Goes by The Raconteurs using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| Bm F# | A E |
Find yourself a girl and settle down…
Jack White on the web
