Jack and Meg Thump Up the Jams

Jack White has been a busy boy since 2005’s Get Behind Me Satan. The White Stripes’ engine hitched up with model Karen Elson in Brazil and proved his rawk mettle outside of his self-fashioned box via the Raconteurs. Although Stripes fans have been getting antsy in the interim, Icky Thump’s electric title track announced that he and drummer Meg White are finally back in (red and) black. For now.

Is there ever a danger after stepping outside the White Stripes, like you did with the Raconteurs or Loretta Lynn, you won’t want to come back to the band?

White: I don’t think so. Sometimes I just have to take a break from [the White Stripes] to step back and get re-inspired and take a breath. It’s good because it inspires me, so that when I go back to the White Stripes, then I can be inspired for the White Stripes.

Is there any rhyme or reason or science as to when it’s right to do a White Stripes album or a Raconteurs album or any other project?

White: We never really premeditate any of the music; I just have a lot of songs that are a quarter-written. I’m also anxious to do another Raconteurs album, so we’ll see when it happens. I always let those things pick themselves; most of those albums happen when they wanna happen, you know. I don’t try to force anything.

The White Stripes’ music has become more sophisticated over the years. Do you still relate to your “garage rock” roots?

White: I think garage rock means innocence. That was a big part of what we’re about, just playing the kind of music we want to and not really worrying about it in commercial or kind of industry terms. But people just need a new tag for things, especially when they become popular. They need a name like grunge or new wave or punk rock. So let ’em call it garage rock; the name’s been around for 40 years anyway, so why not?

What is it that pulls you back to the White Stripes?

White: I’ve just loved every minute in this box called White Stripes. It’s a house that me and Meg live in, so outside interest never really matters. It can’t get in. Sometimes the press takes a good long look in our house, and some days they’ll just drive by and honk. I’m very comfortable living here.

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