The White Stripes R.I.P.

I guess this news has been a long time coming, but today the White Stripes officially announced that they would no longer be recording new songs or playing live. I am fully aware that by now, practically every blog has posted this, but I still feel the need to share the news.

I bought White Blood Cells in 8th grade (the first half of 2002) and it immediately had a giant impact on me and the music I listened to at the time. Along with the debut Strokes album, my taste was shifted towards the garage-rock revival scene and Jack White would later become my favorite rock star of the past decade. Everything about them intrigued me from their simplicity, to their color scheme, to their relationship (brother & sister or husband & wife). I followed their every move and made several attempts to see them in concert, however nothing ever worked out. When Elephant was released in the spring of 2003, I bought it the day it came out (one of the last times that has ever happened) and listened to it on repeat for weeks. It was the first new release I ever bought on vinyl and probably one of the best sounding records I have ever purchased. The album would later take the spot of my 3rd favorite album of the 2000s. Needless to say the White Stripes went on to become one of my favorite bands and their ability to change their sound on each record and still deliver quality hits absolutely blew my mind (and still does). Their countless hits over the years still sound as fresh as ever and while their last album came out in 2007, I still had hope that one day they would be back and I would see the legendary peppermint duo in the flesh. Alas, this will never happen. "The White Stripes belong to you now and you can do with it whatever you want" is the statement from the band and for it, I am eternally grateful.

Thank you Jack and Meg for providing me with some many excellent songs and memories. I will treasure your music and the impact it has had on me forever.

Pitchfork has a nice write-up and video posts to help remember here.