Five great White Stripes covers: Dylan, Beefheart, Son House and more
The White Stripes announced their break up Wednesday, triggering the (St. James Infirmary) Blues among Internet comment sections, your cool uncle and lovers of primary color schemes and electric guitar everywhere. For purposes of posterity, self-aggrandizement and potentially alienating my editors, this writer's eulogy can be found here.
1,200 words can't sum up the impact and influence of Jack and Meg White. In a rock era in which commercial and critical fortunes are starkly divergent, the Stripes were the rare adhesive. They were outliers capable of earning airplay on KROQ, MTV and NPR. Maybe the only band under 35 capable of getting play on classic rock radio. KIIS-FM probably even spun "Seven Nation Army" a few times.
One of the best measures of a band's versatility is its ability to perform cover songs. With the exception of My Morning Jacket, none of the White Stripes' peers could match their necromantic art of reanimation. In the process, the band exposed a generation to the old masters. In the interest of celebrating the band's stellar run, here are five of the White Stripes' finest renditions.