Different Instruments, Same Sound?

Jack White performs the song "Broken Boy Soldier" with his other band, The Raconteurs.

Jack White debuted the song "Sixteens Saltines" from his new solo album Blunderbuss. Notice the stand-up bass and violin among the instruments used in the band.

Do these different instruments lend to a new sound for Jack's music, or do you think he sounds the same as when he plays with The Raconteurs?

Paying Tribute

Mississippi Delta blues man Son House had a profound influence on Jack White at an early age. Here he performs "Death Letter Blues."

Here, The White Stripes perform a cover of Son House's "Death Letter Blues" during a performance in Blackpool, England in 2004.

Can you see the influence, especially in the slide work, that Son House had on Jack White? Which version of the song do you like best?

Jack White, Past to Present

"The Big Three Killed My Baby" is the third track from The White Stripes' debut album.

"Machine Gun Silhouette" is the B-side of the first single off of Jack White's solo debut Blunderbuss.

Can you hear the evolution in his songwriting and musicianship? Which do you like better?

Jack White has long counted Son House as an important influence to his songwriting. 

"Astro" is a perfect example of the raw, stripped-down type of rock The White Stripes was known for.

"Ball and Biscuit" features Jack White's razor-sharp, in your face style of lead guitar, as well as his blues-influenced songwriting.

"Level" is a song from The Raconteurs' debut album Broken Boy Soldier.

"Love Interruption" is the first single from Jack White's first solo album, Blunderbuss.

A Career in Pictures

Son House was highly influential to Jack White's playing and writing. White has long counted the Delta blues legend as his favorite musician of all time.

The cover of the first self-titled album by The White Stripes set the tone for the red and white color theme Jack White wanted to incorporate for the band. He credits peppermint disc candies as the inspiration. White dedicated the first album to Son House.

The video for "Seven Nation Army" helped to propel The White Stripes into the popular culture spotlight. The main riff has become a favored chant among sports fans around the world. It can be heard at hockey, football, basketball and soccer games.

The White Stripes' live shows were known for being raw and full of high energy.

In 2005, Jack White formed The Raconteurs featuring Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler of the Cincinnati garage rock band The Greenhornes and singer/songwriter Brendan Benson. They released their first album Broken Boy Soldier in 2006.

For live performances with The Raconteurs, Jack White had a microphone custom built into the back of his guitar, giving his voice a distorted fuzz box effect.

In 2008, Jack White and Alicia Keys collaborated on "Another Way to Die," the theme for the James Bond film The Quantum of Solace.

Jack White joined guitar legends Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin, the Yardbirds) and the Edge (U2) on the 2009 electric guitar documentary It Might Get Loud.

In 2010, Jack White wrote a song with hip hop legend Jay-Z.  Of the collaboration, White said, "It was incredible. I played him something that I was kicking around for a while and he immediately came out with words for it. It was unbelievable sounding."

An Introduction to Jack White

One of rock music's most prolific musicians, songwriters and producers, Jack White is best known as the guitarist and lead vocalist of the Detroit garage/blues/punk two-piece band The White Stripes. His brand of  blues-influenced guitar riffs and unique vocal style not only propelled the band into the rock music spotlight, but also opened doors to collaborations with such big names as Bob Dylan, Beck, The Rolling Stones and Loretta Lynn. White is also a founding member, vocalist and guitarist for the band The Raconteurs, as well as the drummer for The Dead Weather. In 2001, Jack White founded the independent record label Third Man Records.