Back More
Salem Press

Table of Contents

The 2000s in America

White, Jack

by Leland Spencer

Identification: American musician

Born: July 9, 1975; Detroit, Michigan

As a member of three different bands, musician Jack White was prolific in the 2000s, releasing a total of eight albums during the decade.

In 2000, the ex-spouse duo of Jack and Meg White, known as the White Stripes, released their second album, entitled De Stijl. Although the album was not a giant commercial success, it was highly praised by music critics. In 2001, the band released White Blood Cells. Propelled by the second single, “Fell in Love with a Girl,” the album went platinum.

The White Stripes’ next album, Elephant, was preceded by the release of the single “Seven Nation Army” in 2003. The song reached number one on the US Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart and would go on to appear in Top 10 positions on many major publications’ lists of best songs of the decade. Elephant was nominated for the 2004 Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album. Rolling Stone named Elephant the fifth best release of the 2000s.

In addition to his work as a musician, White has appeared in several films. He makes an appearance with Meg White in director Jim Jarmusch’s film Coffee and Cigarettes (2003). White also has a small role in the film Cold Mountain (2003) playing a troubadour. Performing as a solo artist, he contributed five songs to the film’s soundtrack.

The White Stripes released Get Behind Me Satan in 2005. The album moved away from the garage rock sound that made them popular, focusing instead on piano-driven songs. Despite the change, the album was still a success. The single “The Denial Twist” hit number five on the US Alt Rock charts, and the band won yet another Best Alternative Music Album Grammy Award in 2006.

Later that year, White started a new band with singer/songwriter Brendan Benson called the Raconteurs. Their debut release, Broken Boy Soldiers (2006), earned a nomination for Best Rock Album. White, however, was not done with the White Stripes. Icky Thump (2007) featured a return to the band’s previous sound; album’s title track went to number twenty-six on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2008, the White Stripes were awarded their third Best Alternative Music Grammy.

In 2008, White released a second album with the Raconteurs, entitled Consolers of the Lonely. The album reached number seven on the Billboard charts. Later that year, White collaborated with R&B singer Alicia Keyes on the theme song “Another Way To Die” for the James Bond film Quantum of Solace (2008). White formed the band The Dead Weather in 2009. Composed of band members from the Kills, Queens of the Stone Age, and the Raconteurs, the super group released its debut, Horehound in 2009.

Impact

Although the White Stripes broke up in February 2011, songs from their back catalog continue to be released. The duo’s minimalist style and use of outdated instruments were essential in creating their award-winning music and influenced other alternative bands during the decade. Since the band’s breakup, White has worked on other projects, including a collaborative effort with producer Danger Mouse, and composer Daniele Luppi, entitled Home (2011). In 2012, White released his first solo album, Blunderbuss.

Further Reading

1 

Sullivan, Denise. The White Stripes: Sweethearts of the Blues. San Francisco: Backbeat, 2004. Print.

2 

True, Everett. The White Stripes and the Sound of Mutant Blues. London: Omnibus, 2004. Print.

Citation Types

Type
Format
MLA 9th
Spencer, Leland. "White, Jack." The 2000s in America, edited by Craig Belanger, Salem Press, 2013. Salem Online, online.salempress.com/articleDetails.do?articleName=2000_0396.
APA 7th
Spencer, L. (2013). White, Jack. In C. Belanger (Ed.), The 2000s in America. Salem Press.
CMOS 17th
Spencer, Leland. "White, Jack." Edited by Craig Belanger. The 2000s in America. Hackensack: Salem Press, 2013. Accessed September 18, 2025. online.salempress.com.