Career Timeline of Jack White: Major Achievements and Milestones
How Jack White built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
John Anthony White, known as Jack White, is an American musician and record producer, renowned as the guitarist and lead vocalist of The White Stripes. A pivotal figure in the 2000s indie and garage rock scenes, he's distinguished by his unique musical style, eccentric persona, and preference for analog technology. Following The White Stripes' dissolution in 2011, White achieved further success with his solo work and entrepreneurial endeavors.
1915: Began using a 1915 Gibson L-1 acoustic
In 1915, Jack White began using a 1915 Gibson L-1 acoustic, often called the Robert Johnson model, during the Get Behind Me Satan Tour.
1957: Acquires 1957 Gretsch G6134 White Penguin
In 1957 Jack White found a 1957 Gretsch G6134 White Penguin in 2007 while on tour in Texas
1964: Acquisition of 1964 Airline "J. B. Hutto" Guitar
In 1964, Jack White acquired a vintage 1964 red Airline "J. B. Hutto" model guitar, originally distributed by Montgomery Ward department store, which became one of his principal instruments during his career with the White Stripes.
1987: Uncredited Role in The Rosary Murders
In 1987, John Gillis had an uncredited role as an altar boy in the movie The Rosary Murders, filmed in Detroit. In the same year, he met Pope John Paul II during his visit to Detroit.
1996: Goober & the Peas Break Up
In 1996, Jack White's band Goober & the Peas broke up, leading him to focus on upholstery and moonlighting in local bands.
July 14, 1997: First White Stripes Show
On July 14, 1997, The White Stripes performed their first show at the Gold Dollar in Detroit, playing three songs including "Jimmy the Exploder".
1997: Buys Family Home
By 1997, Jack White bought the family home from his parents. The White Stripes recorded their second album, De Stijl, in this home.
1999: Debut Album Release
In 1999, The White Stripes released their eponymous debut album.
2000: Eastwood Guitars produces Airline replica
Around the year 2000, due to Jack White's attachment to the Airline "J. B. Hutto" guitar, Eastwood Guitars began producing a modified replica of the instrument.
2001: Third Man Records Co-Founded
In 2001, Jack White co-founded Third Man Records with Ben Swank.
2001: Co-founded Third Man Records
In 2001, Jack White co-founded Third Man Records, a record label and studio releasing vinyl recordings.
2001: White Stripes Earn International Fame
In 2001, The White Stripes achieved international fame with their album White Blood Cells.
2001: Release of White Blood Cells
In 2001, The White Stripes released their album White Blood Cells, achieving critical acclaim and sparking a garage rock revival.
2001: New York Times Concert Review
In an early New York Times concert review from 2001, Ann Powers mentioned that Jack White's playing was 'ingenious', but he 'created more challenges by playing an acoustic guitar with paper taped over the hole and a less-than-high-quality solid body electric'.
2002: White Stripes Acclaim
In 2002, The White Stripes became one of the most acclaimed bands due to their album White Blood Cells.
2003: Acts in Cold Mountain and Coffee and Cigarettes
In 2003, Jack White acted in the films Cold Mountain and Coffee and Cigarettes.
2003: Cold Mountain Film and Soundtrack
In 2003, Jack White appeared in the film Cold Mountain as a character named Georgia and performed five songs for the Cold Mountain soundtrack.
2003: Release of Elephant Album
In 2003, The White Stripes released the commercially and critically successful album Elephant.
2004: "Seven Nation Army" Wins Grammy
In 2004, "Seven Nation Army" won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song. Also, Jack White worked with Loretta Lynn on her album Van Lear Rose, which he produced and performed on.
June 7, 2005: Release of Get Behind Me Satan
On June 7, 2005, The White Stripes released their fifth album, Get Behind Me Satan, to critical acclaim.
2005: Employs Electro-Harmonix Polyphonic Octave Generator
In 2005, for the single "Blue Orchid", Jack White employed an Electro-Harmonix Polyphonic Octave Generator (POG) to mix several octave effects into one along with the dry signal.
2005: Rolling Stone Interview on Relationship with Meg White
In a 2005 interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Jack White discussed the band's decision to present themselves as siblings rather than a married couple, citing a desire to shift focus to their music.
2006: Raconteurs Album Nomination
In 2006, The Raconteurs' debut album, Broken Boy Soldiers, was nominated for Best Rock Album at the Grammy Awards. The lead single, "Steady, As She Goes" was nominated for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.
2007: Played Custom-Finish Hammond A-100 Organ
For the White Stripes' 2007 tour, Jack White played a custom-finish Hammond A-100 organ with a Leslie 3300 speaker, which was later loaned to Bob Dylan and is now at Third Man Studios.
2007: Acts in Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
In 2007, Jack White appeared in the film Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story.
2007: Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story Appearance
In 2007, Jack White played Elvis Presley in the satire Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story.
2007: Release of Icky Thump and Tour Cancellation
In 2007, The White Stripes released their sixth album, Icky Thump. However, they had to cancel tour dates due to Meg White's struggle with acute anxiety.
2007: Finds 1957 Gretsch G6134 White Penguin
In 2007, while on tour in Texas, Jack White found a 1957 Gretsch G6134 White Penguin guitar, which he later used in the music video for "Icky Thump" and which fit with the Dead Weather's color scheme.
February 2008: Limited-Edition Holga Camera Release
In February 2008, Jack White participated in releasing limited-edition Holga cameras stylized around the White Stripes.
March 25, 2008: Consolers of the Lonely Release
On March 25, 2008, The Raconteurs released their second album, Consolers of the Lonely, and its first single, "Salute Your Solution."
2008: Analog Man Plates Pedals in Copper
For The Raconteurs' 2008 tour, Jack White had Analog Man plate all of his pedals in copper.
February 20, 2009: The White Stripes Live Appearance
On February 20, 2009, the White Stripes made their first live appearance after the cancellation of the Icky Thump tour during the final episode of Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and a documentary about their Canadian tour titled The White Stripes: Under Great White Northern Lights debuted later that year at the Toronto International Film Festival.
March 11, 2009: The Dead Weather Debut
On March 11, 2009, Jack White's new band, the Dead Weather, debuted a handful of new tracks in Nashville from their debut album, Horehound.
October 2009: Second Dead Weather Album Update
In October 2009, Alison Mosshart confirmed that the second Dead Weather album was "halfway done".
2009: Used drum head with the Three Brides of Dracula
For the 2009 Full Flash Blank tour, Jack White used a drum head with the Three Brides of Dracula on the front.
2009: Donation to Clark Park Baseball Diamond Renovation
In 2009, Jack White donated approximately $170,000 towards the renovation of the baseball diamond in southwest Detroit's Clark Park.
2009: Third Man Records Nashville Space Purchased
In 2009, Jack White purchased a space in Nashville to house his Third Man Records label, after deciding it was time to have his own place to produce music with specific equipment.
November 2010: Rome Collaboration
In November 2010, producer Danger Mouse announced that Jack White had been recruited for his collaboration with Daniele Luppi entitled Rome, along with Norah Jones. White provided vocals to three songs on the album.
2010: Acquired Veronica Lake Gretsch Rancher Falcon
In 2010, Jack White added a blonde Gretsch Rancher Falcon guitar, featuring an image of Veronica Lake, to his collection while with the Dead Weather.
2010: Employed new drum head with an image of The Third Man
In 2010, upon the release of Sea of Cowards, Jack White employed a new drum head featuring an image of The Third Man himself: Harry Lime attempting to escape certain capture in the sewers of Vienna.
February 2, 2011: The White Stripes Disband
On February 2, 2011, after almost two years with no new releases, the White Stripes announced on their official website that they were disbanding.
2011: The White Stripes Split Up
In 2011, The White Stripes split up, after which Jack White pursued a solo career and other business ventures.
April 24, 2012: Blunderbuss Album Release
On April 24, 2012, Jack White released his debut solo album, Blunderbuss. The album ultimately debuted number one on the Billboard 200 chart.
2012: Debut Solo Album Release
In 2012, Jack White released his debut solo album, Blunderbuss, to positive reviews and strong sales.
June 2013: Jack White Pays Detroit Masonic Temple's Back Taxes
In June 2013, it was revealed that Jack White had paid the entire $142,000 bill of back taxes owed by the Detroit Masonic Temple, preventing its foreclosure. Subsequently, the temple decided to rename its second-largest theater the Jack White Theater in appreciation.
2013: Joins National Recording Preservation Foundation
In 2013, Jack White became a member of the Library of Congress' National Recording Preservation Foundation.
2013: Third Man Records Launches Bumble Buzz Pedal
In 2013, Third Man Records launched the Bumble Buzz pedal, an octave fuzz built for Third Man by Vancouver, British Columbia's Union Tube and Transistor.
April 1, 2014: Lazaretto Album Announcement
On April 1, 2014, Jack White announced his second solo album, Lazaretto, which was inspired by plays and poetry he had written as a teen.
June 10, 2014: Lazaretto Album Release
On June 10, 2014, Jack White's second solo album, Lazaretto, was released, along with the first single off the album, "High Ball Stepper". The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart.
July 30, 2014: Longest Show of Career
On July 30, 2014, during the supporting tour for Lazaretto, Jack White performed the longest show of his career at the Detroit Masonic Temple.
2014: Lazaretto Album Breaks Vinyl Sales Record
In 2014, Jack White's second studio album, Lazaretto, broke the record for most first-week vinyl sales since 1991.
2014: Bumble Buzz Pedal Reviewed
In 2014, the Bumble Buzz pedal, previously launched by Third Man Records, was reviewed by Premier Guitar and found its place in Jack White's pedal setup.
March 2015: Third Man Joins TIDAL Launch
In March 2015, Third Man Records participated in the launch of TIDAL, a music streaming service co-owned by Jay-Z and other major music artists.
April 14, 2015: Announcement of Hiatus from Electric Sets
On April 14, 2015, Jack White announced that the festival would be his last electric set, followed by one acoustic show in each of the five U.S. states he had yet to perform in, before taking a prolonged break from live performances.
July 2015: Dodge & Burn Album Announcement
In July 2015, the Dead Weather announced their third album, Dodge & Burn, for a worldwide release in September by Third Man Records. The album features eight new songs along with four previously released tracks, remixed and remastered.
July 2016: Joins Nashville's 45- Gender Equity Council
In July 2016, Jack White became a member of Nashville's 45- Gender Equity Council.
October 15, 2016: A Prairie Home Companion Appearance
On October 15, 2016, Jack White performed on the inaugural episode of the radio show A Prairie Home Companion with the new host, Chris Thile, in support of his compilation album Acoustic Recordings 1998–2016.
2016: The Muppets Appearance
In 2016, Jack White appeared as a special guest on the season one finale of The Muppets, and sang "You Are the Sunshine of My Life", which he later released on 7-inch vinyl.
June 2017: The American Epic Sessions Documentary
In June 2017, Jack White appeared in the documentary film The American Epic Sessions, recording on the first electrical sound recording system from the 1920s. His performances of multiple songs appeared on the film's soundtrack, for which he was also an executive producer.
December 12, 2017: "Servings and Portions from my Boarding House Reach" Video Release
On December 12, 2017, Jack White released a four-minute video titled "Servings and Portions from my Boarding House Reach", which featured short sound bites of new music interspersed with white noise.
January 2018: "Connected by Love" Release
In January 2018, Jack White released "Connected by Love", taken from his third solo album Boarding House Reach.
March 23, 2018: Boarding House Reach Album Release
On March 23, 2018, Jack White released his third solo album "Boarding House Reach". It landed at number one on the Billboard 200 chart.
September 18, 2018: Donation to The Outsiders House Museum
On September 18, 2018, Jack White donated $30,000 to The Outsiders House Museum for its preservation and restoration.
September 21, 2018: Jack White: Kneeling at The Anthem D.C. Release
On September 21, 2018, Jack White released Jack White: Kneeling at The Anthem D.C., his first concert film as a solo artist, exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.
2018: Began playing EVH Wolfgang guitars
Since 2018, Jack White has been playing EVH Wolfgang guitars, which are Eddie Van Halen's signature model.
2020: Completes Three-Wheel-Motion Low Rider Guitar
In 2020, Jack White completed his Three-Wheel-Motion Low Rider, a highly customized Fender Telecaster B-Bender guitar.
October 2021: "Taking Me Back" Release
In October 2021, Jack White released "Taking Me Back"—his first solo single since 2018—which appeared in the video game Call of Duty: Vanguard.
November 2021: Announcement of Two New Albums
In November 2021, Jack White announced that he planned to release two solo albums in 2022: Fear of the Dawn, featuring White's traditional rock sound, on April 8, and Entering Heaven Alive, a folk album, on July 22.
December 2021: Supply Chain Issues Tour Announcement
In December 2021, Jack White announced the Supply Chain Issues Tour, which included 103 shows across North America, Europe, and Asia.
February 24, 2023: End of Supply Chain Issues Tour
On February 24, 2023, Jack White's Supply Chain Issues Tour ended in Aspen, Colorado.
February 25, 2023: Saturday Night Live Appearance
On February 25, 2023, Jack White performed on Saturday Night Live, playing two songs from his Fear of the Dawn album and receiving a jacket for being a Five-Timer on the show.
2023: Acts in Killers of the Flower Moon
In 2023, Jack White acted in the film Killers of the Flower Moon.
2023: Killers of the Flower Moon Appearance
In 2023, Jack White had a minor role in Martin Scorsese's film Killers of the Flower Moon.
July 19, 2024: Test Pressing Distribution and Album Preview
On July 19, 2024, Jack White distributed test pressings of his upcoming sixth solo studio album by secretly including copies of it with purchases made at Third Man Records locations. Select tracks from the mysterious new album premiered on the WDET radio station that same day.
July 27, 2024: No Name Tour Commencement
On July 27, 2024, Jack White commenced the “No Name Tour”. Shows on the first leg of the tour took place in small, club-like venues and were announced only days before they happened.
August 2, 2024: No Name Album Release
On August 2, 2024, Jack White released his sixth solo studio album, titled No Name. It received acclaim from critics, who noted his return to blues, the album's raw nature and the similarity to the sound he championed with the White Stripes.
November 15, 2024: Announcement of No Name Tour Second Leg
On November 15, 2024, Jack White announced the second leg of the “No Name Tour”, consisting of 52 higher-ticketed shows in another eight countries, from November 17, 2024, to May 24, 2025.
November 17, 2024: Start of No Name Tour Second Leg
On November 17, 2024, Jack White started the second leg of the “No Name Tour”, consisting of 52 higher-ticketed shows in another eight countries, from November 17, 2024, to May 24, 2025.
December 14, 2024: No Name Tour Success
As of December 14, 2024, all but five of Jack White's 2025 tour dates have sold out.
2024: No Name Album Release
In 2024, Jack White released his sixth album, No Name, which was noted for its unique release method and became his most acclaimed work.
January 2025: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nomination
In January 2025, the White Stripes were nominated a second time for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
April 2025: "Jack White Vintage Poster Experience" Debut
In April 2025, during a sold out two-show stint at The Salt Shed in Chicago, Illinois, the venue debuted the "Jack White Vintage Poster Experience," an art exhibit in its adjacent Elston Electric Arcade featuring an array of White-related promotional touring posters from over the years.
November 2025: Rock And Roll Hall of Fame Induction
In November 2025, the White Stripes were inducted by Iggy Pop into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame. Jack accepted the award for the band and gave a speech written by him and Meg. He said, "she said she's very sorry she couldn't make it tonight, but she's very grateful for the folks who have supported her throughout all the years, it really means a lot to her tonight." He also read a poem dedicated to her.
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