May 26, 2002

6:47 AM

For anyone in "the know," it's no secret that Jack + Meg White are not brother and sister but actually are a divorced couple posing as siblings. Glorious Noise has posted a copy of their marriage certificate.

But aren't we all brothers and sisters in rock n' roll?
posted by modularette (30 comments total)

But aren't we all brothers and sisters in rock n' roll?

Preach on, modularette.

But if Jack divorced Meg he's a damn fool. Beautiful, hip and talented, how many chances do ya get, man?
posted by jonmc at 6:55 AM on May 26, 2002

Talented?! The first time I heard the White Stripes, I thought "they" were a one man band. I was certain that the rudimentary drumming could only be the product of a person stomping foot-pedals while concentrating on playing guitar and singing. Which is a rockin' idea -- I would definitely do it myself if I could play guitar or sing.
posted by Eamon at 7:09 AM on May 26, 2002

Say what you want about the process, Eamon, the end product in this case is pretty damn good, if you ask me.
posted by jonmc at 7:29 AM on May 26, 2002

Hehe. All very curious. First I've heard of this... but apparently there's been alot of denying of it:

"She's my sister," he said. "Things got out of hand. We told a guy at Time we weren't brother and sister. We didn't like the guy. We were playing a joke on him, but the joke's on us because we've had to deal with that eversince."

[from here]

*shrug*. Amusing idea though.
posted by aki at 7:31 AM on May 26, 2002

Well, whatever's happened here, apparently the lovely Ms. White is single. If your free on Friday, Meg, lets go have coffee?
posted by jonmc at 7:34 AM on May 26, 2002

You know, we debated long and hard about whether or not to post the marriage license. We're all big fans of myth in rock and roll. The Ramones being brothers, for example. And we're big fans of the White Stripes. But after reading countless denials from Jack, and quotes where he said that he just wished people would focus on the music, we decided to just post it.

What do you guys think? Was it right to "out" them like that? Should we let rock stars have their little myths?

While we're at it though, here's another thing: Jack White used to play drums in another band.
posted by elvissinatra at 8:04 AM on May 26, 2002

jonmc: But Meg is rated x. :D

elvissinatra: I knew that little tidbit. Jack was also part of The upholsterers.

Personally, I think it was fine to out them like that. I talked to people that knew Jack + Meg when they were married and found the little charade silly. I found the whole thing ridiculous.

Way to go!
posted by Eamon at 8:21 AM on May 26, 2002

I just don't understand why they need to pose as brother and sister. Ain't nothing sexxy or rawkin' about that, is there? Don't they remember Donny and Marie?
posted by jodic at 8:25 AM on May 26, 2002

Yes, Jack was in those bands before the White Stripes.

Every time I read a review talking about the latest "buzz" (the white stripes), I would giggle.

I'm glad the certificate was posted, as it was just a matter of time.

And yes, it's like that whole Ramones thing. I saw Joey Ramone on Geraldo back in the early 90's. Geraldo asked about his other "brothers" to which Joey's mother replied "they aren't his brothers!". Guess who had egg on his face. :D
posted by modularette at 8:28 AM on May 26, 2002

But aren't we all brothers and sisters in rock n' roll?

Rock n' roll passed away years ago. Modern pop diddies neither rock nor roll.
posted by HTuttle at 8:28 AM on May 26, 2002

Should we let rock stars have their little myths?

Myths? You mean there are more? Next you'll be telling me Gene Simmons isn't really the God Of Thunder...

*claps hands over ears, begins loudly singing "Shout It Out Loud" off-key*
posted by jonmc at 8:34 AM on May 26, 2002

Rock n' roll passed away years ago:

TheHives + Mooney Suzuki have been rockin' for years and are now rockin' together on tour.

Not to mention bands like the the woggles or events like cavestomp.

'sides mc5's spirit will always live on.
posted by modularette at 8:37 AM on May 26, 2002

Thanks for the MC5 link, modularette, it brought a smile to this aging rockers face.

The wigglin' guitars, girl, the crash of the drums...if you wanna keep on rockin' till mornin' comes...
LET ME BE WHO I AM!....and let me KICK OUT THE JAMS!
posted by jonmc at 8:59 AM on May 26, 2002

I thought their names were Jack and Meg, but this certificate is for a John and Meg? and doesn't the wife traditionally take the last name of the husband?
posted by mcsweetie at 9:33 AM on May 26, 2002

this certificate is for a John and Meg?

Well, Jack being a nickname for John. But yes, the last name thing is odd, although The Gillis Stripes doesn't have quite the same ring to it.

And anyone who says rock and roll is dead just stopped trying to find it.
posted by nath at 10:34 AM on May 26, 2002

"Jack being a nickname for John"

Ehhh... what? Huh? Says who?
posted by majick at 10:49 AM on May 26, 2002

Mcsweetie: lovey, the wife *used* to take the last name of the husband. 'Tis not necessarily so, now, and 'specially for musicians, actors, and so on.

(Personally, I hyphenated -- I've now got the Longest Last Name Ever, much to the chagrin of data entry people everywhere!)
posted by metrocake at 10:56 AM on May 26, 2002

Ehhh... what? Huh? Says who? (jack as nickname...)

There's JFK.

As Nath said: Jack is a nickname for John.
posted by modularette at 11:04 AM on May 26, 2002

But if Jack divorced Meg he's a damn fool.

Yeah, the divorce could never have been her idea.
posted by dobbs at 11:13 AM on May 26, 2002

Who and who who?
posted by kindall at 11:56 AM on May 26, 2002

luke i am your father
posted by surfmoc at 12:12 PM on May 26, 2002

Wow, I feel really old...I have no idea who these people are...ah well...back to the Motherlovebone CD with my ancient self...
posted by dejah420 at 12:31 PM on May 26, 2002

Sorry to burst some more bubbles, but Mick Jagger isn't really black, Madonna isn't really sexy, and "Snoop Doggy Dog" isn't Snoop Doggy Dog's real name.
posted by Faze at 2:36 PM on May 26, 2002

well, at any rate, I'm not yet convinced this certificate is of any relevance.
posted by mcsweetie at 5:32 PM on May 26, 2002

Who said White was their real last names? Looks like they're just stage names.

if White isn't their real last names, then thats even more reason not to believe the certificate is relevant.
posted by mcsweetie at 6:31 PM on May 26, 2002

the real question posed by the White's continued insistance that they are brother and sister is this: why does anyone care? if you know one thing or another about an artist, how does that affect the listening of the music? what is the difference between romantic love and fillial love when it comes to blues-heavy rock and roll?

i don't know, and i don't care so much, because i'm more concerned with how much their music kicks ass. but as the cover art for White Blood Cells reveals, the Whites had a feeling that big and small media alike would pay less attention to these questions, to the music, and more attention to the two of them and the bands persona.

rock and roll: that music where sincerity and confidence meet imagination and ventriliquism.
posted by sixfoot6 at 7:13 PM on May 26, 2002

I think it would be interesting if they were a divorced couple, no matter what they sounded like (which is awesome, by the way!). it would be interesting to learn about any pair of artists, musical or otherwise, who are divorced but still creative, really.
posted by mcsweetie at 12:37 AM on May 27, 2002

I suspect the idea was to make it easier for fans to fantasize about eventually getting together with either one of them...something which is, after all, often part of a successful band's image, whether it should be that way or not.

Kind of like in Genesis, when Abraham travels to a new land and tells everyone his wife is his sister, so that they would be treated better by men who hoped to marry her. of course, his wife ended up fucking the king as I remember. It's a trade-off.
posted by bingo at 9:35 AM on May 27, 2002

it would be interesting to learn about any pair of artists, musical or otherwise, who are divorced but still creative, really.

That would be an odd group, mcsweetie. Both the Muffs and Fleetwood Mac meet your qualifications.
posted by jonmc at 11:33 AM on May 27, 2002

The indie duo Quasi also is also made up of a divorced couple.
posted by elvissinatra at 7:39 AM on May 28, 2002