How Jack White built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
John Anthony White, known professionally as Jack White, gained prominence as the guitarist and lead singer of The White Stripes. Following the band's breakup, he transitioned to a solo career, explored collaborative projects, and engaged in various business ventures. White has also produced music for other artists and played with bands such as The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather, solidifying his presence in rock music.
1915: Use of 1915 Gibson L-1 Acoustic Guitar
Jack White began using a 1915 Gibson L-1 acoustic guitar, calling it his favorite.
1964: Use of 1964 Airline Guitar
Jack White's principal guitar during his career with the White Stripes was a vintage 1964 red Airline "JB Hutto" model.
1996: First Professional Gig and Band Split
In 1996, Jack White had his first professional gig as a drummer for the Detroit band Goober & the Peas, which later broke up.
1997: White Stripes Founded
In 1997, Jack White founded the White Stripes with Meg White in Detroit after moonlighting in several underground Detroit bands as a drummer.
1997: Meg Starts Drumming, White Stripes Formed
In 1997, Meg White began playing drums, which led to the couple forming The White Stripes.
1998: Signed to Italy Records
In 1998, the White Stripes were signed to Italy Records by Dave Buick.
1999: Released Debut Album
In 1999, The White Stripes released their eponymous debut album.
2000: Eastwood Guitars Produces Replica
Around 2000, Eastwood Guitars began producing a modified replica of the Airline guitar due to its popularity from Jack White.
2001: Co-founding of Third Man Records
In 2001, Jack White co-founded Third Man Records with Ben Swank.
2001: Release of White Blood Cells
In 2001, The White Stripes released White Blood Cells, gaining critical acclaim and leading to the band becoming prominent figures in the garage band revival.
2001: White Stripes Achieve International Fame
In 2001, The White Stripes' album, White Blood Cells, led to international fame with the release of their single, "Fell in Love with a Girl".
2001: New York Times Concert Review
In a 2001 New York Times concert review, Ann Powers commented on Jack White's "ingenious" playing and minimalist style, including the use of an acoustic guitar with paper taped over the hole.
2003: Appearance in Cold Mountain
In 2003, Jack White appeared in the film Cold Mountain as Georgia and contributed five songs to the soundtrack.
2003: Release of Elephant
In 2003, The White Stripes released the commercially and critically successful album, Elephant.
June 7, 2005: Get Behind Me Satan Released
On June 7, 2005, The White Stripes released their fifth album, Get Behind Me Satan, to critical acclaim.
2005: White Founded the Raconteurs
In 2005, Jack White founded The Raconteurs with Brendan Benson.
2005: Use of Electro-Harmonix Polyphonic Octave Generator for "Blue Orchid"
In 2005, for the single "Blue Orchid", Jack White employed an Electro-Harmonix Polyphonic Octave Generator (POG) to create unique octave effects.
2006: Broken Boy Soldiers Released
In 2006, The Raconteurs released their debut album, Broken Boy Soldiers, which was nominated for Best Rock Album at the Grammy Awards.
2007: White Stripes 2007 Tour
For the White Stripes' 2007 tour, Jack White played a custom-finish Hammond A-100 organ with a Leslie 3300 speaker.
2007: Portrayal of Elvis Presley in Walk Hard
In 2007, Jack White played Elvis Presley in the satire Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story.
2007: Icky Thump Release and Tour Issues
In 2007, the White Stripes released Icky Thump, which debuted at number one. A subsequent tour was launched but cut short due to Meg White's anxiety.
2007: Acquisition of a 1957 Gretsch G6134 White Penguin
In 2007, while on tour in Texas, Jack White found a 1957 Gretsch G6134 White Penguin, the same one he used in the music video for "Icky Thump".
March 25, 2008: Consolers of the Lonely Released
On March 25, 2008, The Raconteurs released their second album, Consolers of the Lonely, and its first single, "Salute Your Solution".
2008: The Raconteurs 2008 Tour
During the Raconteurs' 2008 tour, Analog Man plated all of Jack White's pedals in copper.
2008: Recorded Bond theme song
In 2008, Jack White, alongside Alicia Keys, recorded "Another Way to Die", the title song for the James Bond film Quantum of Solace.
February 20, 2009: 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.
March 11, 2009: Dead Weather Debut
On March 11, 2009, The Dead Weather debuted new tracks from their album Horehound in Nashville.
July 13, 2009: European Release of Horehound
On July 13, 2009, The Dead Weather's debut album, Horehound, was released in Europe on Jack White's Third Man Records label.
July 14, 2009: North American Release of Horehound
On July 14, 2009, The Dead Weather's debut album, Horehound, was released in North America on Jack White's Third Man Records label.
October 2009: Second Dead Weather Album Confirmed
In October 2009, Alison Mosshart confirmed that the second Dead Weather album was "halfway done".
2009: Full Flash Blank Tour Drum Head
During 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 Renovation
In 2009, Jack White donated almost $170,000 towards the renovation of the baseball diamond in Detroit's Clark Park.
2009: White Founded The Dead Weather
In 2009, Jack White founded The Dead Weather with Alison Mosshart of The Kills.
2009: Purchase of Third Man Records Space in Nashville
In 2009, Jack White purchased a space in Nashville to house his record label, Third Man Records.
March 30, 2010: "Die by the Drop" Released
On March 30, 2010, The Dead Weather released the first single, "Die by the Drop", from their second album.
August 11, 2010: "Fly Farm Blues" Released
On August 11, 2010, Jack White's first solo single, "Fly Farm Blues", was released as a 7-inch vinyl record and a digital single.
November 2010: Collaboration on Rome Announced
In November 2010, Danger Mouse announced that Jack White had been recruited for his collaboration with Daniele Luppi entitled Rome.
2010: Addition of Veronica Lake Gretsch Rancher
In 2010, Jack White added a blonde Gretsch Rancher Falcon named Veronica Lake to his collection while with the Dead Weather.
2010: New Drum Head Featuring The Third Man
In 2010, upon the release of Sea of Cowards, Jack White employed a new drum head with an image of The Third Man himself, Harry Lime.
February 2, 2011: White Stripes Disband
On February 2, 2011, the White Stripes announced their disbandment, citing the preservation of the band's beauty and specialness as the primary reason.
October 4, 2011: "You Know That I Know" Released
On October 4, 2011, Jack White's song "You Know That I Know" was featured on The Lost Notebooks of Hank Williams.
January 30, 2012: Release of "Love Interruption"
On January 30, 2012, Jack White released "Love Interruption" as the first single from his upcoming solo album, Blunderbuss.
April 24, 2012: Release of Blunderbuss
On April 24, 2012, Jack White's debut solo album, Blunderbuss, was released and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart.
June 2013: Donation to Detroit Masonic Temple
In June 2013, Jack White footed the bill for the Detroit Masonic Temple's back taxes, preventing foreclosure. The temple renamed its second largest theater in his honor.
2013: Launch of the Bumble Buzz Pedal
In 2013, Third Man Records launched the Bumble Buzz pedal, an octave fuzz built by Union Tube and Transistor.
April 1, 2014: Announcement of Lazaretto
On April 1, 2014, Jack White announced his second solo album, Lazaretto, which was inspired by his teenage writings.
June 10, 2014: Release of Lazaretto
On June 10, 2014, Jack White's second solo album, Lazaretto, was released along with its first single, "High Ball Stepper". The album debuted at number one and broke vinyl sales records.
July 30, 2014: Longest Show of Career
On July 30, 2014, Jack White performed the longest show of his career at the Detroit Masonic Temple.
2014: Lazaretto Broke Vinyl Sales Record
In 2014, Jack White's second studio album, Lazaretto, broke the record for the most first-week vinyl sales since 1991.
2014: The Raconteurs Go On Hiatus
In 2014, The Raconteurs went on a hiatus, though band member Brendan Benson believed it was a split.
2014: Premier Guitar Review of Bumble Buzz
In 2014, the Bumble Buzz pedal was reviewed by Premier Guitar, and is found in Jack's pedal setup.
2014: Stood By Remarks About The Black Keys
In a 2014 Rolling Stone interview, Jack White stood by his remarks about the Black Keys, claiming they were ripping off his sounds. He later apologized for the comments.
February 1, 2015: Tour Rider Published
On February 1, 2015, the University of Oklahoma's newspaper published Jack White's tour rider, including the guacamole recipe and banana ban, leading to media coverage and the banning of William Morris Endeavor Entertainment acts from the university.
March 2015: Third Man Joins TIDAL Launch
In March 2015, Third Man Records joined in the launch of TIDAL, a music streaming service.
April 14, 2015: Announcement of Performance Break
On April 14, 2015, Jack White announced he would take a break from live performances after select shows.
April 2015: Headlining at Coachella Festival
In April 2015, Jack White headlined the Coachella Festival over two weekends.
July 2015: The Dead Weather Announce Dodge & Burn
In July 2015, The Dead Weather announced their third album, Dodge & Burn, set for release in September.
July 2016: Joining Nashville's Gender Equality Council
In July 2016, Jack White joined Nashville's 45-member Gender Equality Council.
October 15, 2016: Appearance on A Prairie Home Companion
On October 15, 2016, Jack White appeared on the inaugural episode of 'A Prairie Home Companion' with Chris Thile.
October 2016: Denounced Donald Trump
In October 2016, after Donald Trump used the White Stripes song "Seven Nation Army", Jack White denounced the presidential candidate and began selling "Icky Trump" shirts through the Third Man Records website.
2016: Guest Appearance on The Muppets
In 2016, Jack White appeared on The Muppets season finale, singing "You Are the Sunshine of My Life."
June 2017: Appearance in The American Epic Sessions
In June 2017, Jack White appeared in the documentary The American Epic Sessions, recording on vintage equipment.
December 12, 2017: Release of "Servings and Portions from my Boarding House Reach" Video
On December 12, 2017, Jack White released a video featuring snippets of new music from his upcoming album.
January 2018: Release of "Connected by Love"
In January 2018, Jack White released "Connected by Love", the first single from his third solo album, Boarding House Reach.
March 23, 2018: Release of Boarding House Reach
On March 23, 2018, Jack White's third solo album, Boarding House Reach, was released and reached 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: Release of Jack White: Kneeling at The Anthem D.C.
On September 21, 2018, Jack White released his first solo concert film, Jack White: Kneeling at The Anthem D.C., exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.
2018: The Raconteurs Reunite
In 2018, The Raconteurs reunited and released two singles.
2018: First solo single since 2018
In October 2021, Jack White released "Taking Me Back"—his first solo single since 2018
2018: Playing EVH Wolfgang Guitars Since 2018
Since 2018, Jack White has been playing EVH Wolfgang guitars, which are Eddie Van Halen's signature model.
October 27, 2019: Performed at Bernie Sanders Rally
On October 27, 2019, Jack White performed a six-song set at a Bernie Sanders event at Cass Technical High School. At the rally, White publicly endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders for the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries and stated that he believes that "Sanders is telling the truth, and I really do trust him".
2019: Release of Help Us Stranger
In 2019, The Raconteurs released their third studio album, Help Us Stranger.
2020: Completion of the Three-Wheel-Motion Low Rider
In 2020, Jack White completed his Three-Wheel-Motion Low Rider, a highly customized Fender Telecaster B-Bender guitar.
October 2021: Release of "Taking Me Back"
In October 2021, Jack White released "Taking Me Back," his first solo single since 2018, which was featured in the video game Call of Duty: Vanguard.
November 2021: Announcement of Two Solo Albums
In November 2021, Jack White announced plans to release two solo albums in 2022: Fear of the Dawn and Entering Heaven Alive.
December 2021: Announcement of the Supply Chain Issues Tour
In December 2021, Jack White announced the Supply Chain Issues Tour, scheduled to cover North America, Europe, and Asia.
2021: Lazaretto No Longer Holds Vinyl Sales Record
In 2021, Lazaretto no longer holds the record for first week vinyl sales, a record it held since 2014.
January 18, 2022: Release of "Fear of the Dawn" Single
On January 18, 2022, Jack White released the title track, "Fear of the Dawn", from his upcoming album.
April 8, 2022: Release of Fear of the Dawn and Onstage Marriage
On April 8, 2022, Jack White released Fear of the Dawn, kicked off the Supply Chain Issues Tour in Detroit, and proposed to and married Olivia Jean onstage.
November 11, 2022: Release of "Taking Me Back" Video
On November 11, 2022, Jack White released a music video for his single "Taking Me Back".
November 20, 2022: Left Twitter over Trump's Return
On November 20, 2022, Jack White wrote a note to Elon Musk explaining his reason for leaving the Twitter platform, citing Musk's decision to reinstate Donald Trump's account.
February 24, 2023: End of the Supply Chain Issues Tour
On February 24, 2023, Jack White concluded his Supply Chain Issues Tour in Aspen, Colorado.
February 25, 2023: Saturday Night Live Appearance
On February 25, 2023, Jack White performed on Saturday Night Live and received a jacket for being a "Five-Timer" on the show.
July 19, 2024: Secret Distribution of Test Pressings and Radio Premiere
On July 19, 2024, Jack White secretly distributed test pressings of his new album with purchases at Third Man Records and premiered tracks on WDET radio.
July 27, 2024: Commencement of "No Name Tour"
On July 27, 2024, Jack White began the "No Name Tour", starting with shows in small venues.
August 2, 2024: Release of No Name
On August 2, 2024, Jack White released his album No Name, receiving critical acclaim.
August 2024: Threatened to Sue Donald Trump Campaign
In August 2024, Jack White threatened to sue the Donald Trump 2024 presidential campaign after "Seven Nation Army" was used without permission, referring to Trump and his staff as "fascists".
September 2024: Filed Copyright Lawsuit Against Trump
In September 2024, Jack White and Meg White reunited to file a copyright infringement lawsuit against Donald Trump for unauthorized use of "Seven Nation Army".
November 15, 2024: Announcement of Second Leg of "No Name Tour"
On November 15, 2024, Jack White announced the second leg of the "No Name Tour", consisting of higher-ticketed shows.
November 2024: Copyright Lawsuit Dropped
In November 2024, the copyright infringement lawsuit filed by Jack White and Meg White against Donald Trump was dropped.
November 17, 2024: Second Leg of "No Name Tour"
On November 17, 2024, Jack White began the second leg of the "No Name Tour", consisting of higher-ticketed shows.
December 14, 2024: All but 5 of White's 2025 tour dates have sold out
As of December 14, 2024, all but 5 of White's 2025 tour dates have sold out.
May 24, 2025: End of Second Leg of "No Name Tour"
On May 24, 2025, Jack White finished the second leg of the "No Name Tour", in another eight countries