Jack White

Jack White seized all the opportunities that came with the White Stripes' unexpected stardom, pushing the duo he led with drummer Meg White through a series of tours, videos and records through the mid-2000s while also finding time to step outside of the band. He produced and wrote with other musicians, and he appeared in movies directed by Jim Jarmusch, Jake Kasdan and Anthony Minghella.

Though the White Stripes earned a place beside the Strokes as the most successful band to emerge from the garage revival of the early 2000s, casual listeners often made a few big mistakes when assessing the music of Jack and Meg White, beyond the fact that they had been husband and wife, not brother and sister as was once rumored. Taped in 2005, the Detroit duo’s set for Nigel Godrich’s “From the Basement” performance showcase gives us a welcome chance to set the record straight.

When the White Stripes played the Bowery Ballroom, one of New York City's better rock venues, on June 16, 2001, I went on assignment from “Blender” magazine to review the show — with the proviso that I include some quotes from the duo. Jack and Meg White were touring in anticipation of the release of their breakthrough third studio album, “White Blood Cells.” So though they were popular enough to pack a good-sized club, they were not yet stars with a million-selling record.