Jack White: Whimsical
Think of a room that is two-by-two meters. Place two sets of drums, a guitar amp and a reel-to-reel recording device to record every sound that is produced. A room that has no space for a bed, John Anthony Gillis’ future was apparent from an early age, living his life in rhythm and music. All he needed was to grab more musical instruments, give more concerts and never give up on what he believed in. Which is what he did. He turned into Jack White in the beginning of his 20s. And then? Then he became a musician who conquered the world with his hardheaded approach.
Jack White grew up in one of the few white families in the 80s in Detroit. During the years when hip hop and house music was dominating the streets, White befriended rock’n’roll, and jumped on a train to go after what he called real music: the blues. He wanted to find what was pure and never be satisfied. He was one of the few artists who knew that he would disappear once he felt satisfied.
From Furniture Business to the First Album
After working as an errand-boy in various places as a child, Jack White spent his teens working with a furniture repairman. Brian Muldoon, who was a family friend also taught him how to play the guitar along with fixing furniture. He also introduced Jack to punk music. After a while, the duo began making music together once work hours were done, shutting off the shutters. Which is how Upholsterers came about, with only one album to show their work. This group wasn’t a long-term project, however it was highly important for Jack White to have his name written under the songs.
A Woman and The White Stripes
In an interview, Jack white says “When I was 18, someone played me the song ‘Grinnin’ in Your Face’.” What he still calls his favorite song of all time, he says “That was it for me. That song spoke to my heart on so many levels. I didn’t know that that could be done. The fact that you can sing and just clap along. It meant a lot for me.” Even then, Jack White had the thought of taking a stand against the world with songs like Son House, Blind Gary Davis, Robert Johnson and “Dark was the Night, Cold was the Ground.” Which he accomplished.
Knowing what he would become, the only thing he was unaware of was how and where the developing stage of the story would evolve. He quickly became lovers with Megan White whom he met a restaurant he frequented. He had a name for the two once he began making music with Meg who learned how to play the drums; The White Stripes.
Red and White
Music was all Jack White had in his life, seeing The White Stripes as a way of getting rid of everything. The group started getting recognition when they took stage before important groups came on stage at Michigan Garage Rock. Owning a red guitar at the time and placing a candy bag next to Meg on stage, White came up with the colors of the group as well: red and white.
Yes, the man who “didn’t care about instruments, just the way the son sounded” had a distinct aesthetic taste which one can follow thorough his career. Jack White, sharing all footage from his concerts in order to prevent the audience from using their phones saying “technology destroys feeling and reality,” back in the day introduced Meg as his sister. Did we mention that he is dead-serious about music?
Distortion, Anger and the Punk Idealism
Jack White made 6 albums in 9 years with The White Stripes. Their music was associated with blues and garage rock. However what made them characteristic was the distortion and anger under their punk idealism. Since 1999, they succeeded in making the brand known beginning with their first album that had the same name with the group. They were talked about as “The most exciting thing since Jimi Hendrix” by BBC Radio 1’s legendary DJ John Peel, and “The only true rock band after Kurt Cobain” by the New York Times. With “Seven Nation Army” from the “Elephant” album in 2003, they also had a song that was memorized by the world. This album also got a Grammy Award for The White Stripes.
Jack White reflected the emotional and tense music he got from his ancestors to all the following albums of The White Stripes, saying delta blues was where he rested his soul. The newest album took a pause due to Meg White’s health issues, and his lack of interest in the project. This was unacceptable for Jack White, who showed his perfectionism at every point of his career. The twosome finished their chapter in 2011, having separated spiritually a long time ago.
Now, Solo.
Making three albums with The Dead Wheather which is still active before his solo career, the time had come for White. He took the first step on his own singing “Fly Farm Blue” which he wrote in 10 minutes during the documentary “It Might Get Loud” where he had a conversation about electric guitars with legendary guitarists Jimmy Page and The Edge. He has been on the same train since the beginning. Although the guests changed on the carriage, he knew how to get where he wanted. Jack White will make many stops on his solo career entailing two albums as of now.
Not A Regular Record Store
Jack White, enjoying linking all the pivotal points in his life, was waiting for the right time for Third Man Records, a record company he formed in 2001, that was inactive until 2009. He knew exactly what he could transform the candy factory into when he bought the place after moving to Nashville. For you, being in a place that produces candy could be a coincidence; for White who has an obsessive personality, that is the only thing that is necessary. Third Man was a performance arena, a garden where he could run around like children.
He Has The Flag
The reason for this article is the acoustic arrangement of all Jack White songs since 1998, 26 of them. Half of them are from The White Stripes, which could easily re-surface with Meg White’s wish, which he keeps dear to his heart. He continues to produce in a musical world that has restrictions. We are talking about someone who never stopped being who he is all his life. Which is why he continues to take root and challenge. What we have in front of us is a man who can make a guitar out of 5 nails and one coke bottle. What is left to do is to obey and look at the world with the colors he is producing.
Yazı / Text: Taner Turna