Jack White Denies Blunderbuss Is About Divorce Or White Stripes Break-up - Noise11.com
Jack White. image by Ros O'Gorman.

Jack White. image by Ros O'Gorman.

Jack White Denies Blunderbuss Is About Divorce Or White Stripes Break-up

by Andrew Tijs on May 4, 2012

in News

Jack White has specified that his solo debut isn’t about his break-up with Karen Elson or Meg White.

Jack White. Photo by Ros O'Gorman.

Jack White. Photo by Ros O'Gorman.

White did an email interview with The A.V. Club and was asked if the many references to “treacherous women” on Blunderbuss are directed at ex-wife Karen Elson or ex-bandmate Meg White.

He writes, “I think it’s very funny that people nowadays still think if you use the word ‘I’ or ‘she’ [in a song] you are talking about yourself or your girlfriend at the time. I mean, what year is it? Didn’t they get rid of that prison in the ’60s?”

He continued to say that his relationship break-up was not necessarily a negative thing.

“People have sort of a problem trying to see an end to a situation as being positive or romantic,” he explains, “Relationships of any kind are powerful, and they always influence an artist. It’s inescapable. If you’re asking if I would be foolish enough, or insulting enough, to write about people in my life that I respect and sell it to the masses as a ‘break-up song,’ I can’t imagine doing that to people I love. How embarrassing.”

White also specified that the lyrics on ‘Hip (Eponymous) Poor Boy’ – that could sound like a kiss-off to Meg (“And you’ll be watching me, girl / Taking over the world / Let the stripes unfurl”) – are actually about boy bands.

He wrote, “A melody and some lyrics I dreamed that I thought must’ve been something I saw a boy band do on MTV the day before. The story in the song is about white hipster musicianship and authenticity. The ‘stripes’ are me talking about the flag and the American dream of profiting at any cost. The boy and girl in the song are arbitrary. I could’ve said grandma and Old Joe.”

Blunderbuss debuted at number one in the US this week, and at number two in Australia.

Related Posts

Marlon Williams media 2024
Marlon Williams Reactivated His Cancelled 2020 and 2021 ‘An Evening With Marlon Williams’ Tour

Marlon Williams will perform his first solo Australian shows in 10 years when ‘An Evening With Marlon Williams’ finally gets underway in June.

3 days ago
Ash Grunwald performs at Melbourne Music Show 2019
Billy Field, Elly-May Barnes, Ash Grunwald To Play Cronulla Jazz and Blues Festival 2024

Ash Grunwald, Billy Field and Elly-May Barnes lead a long list of great Australian acts lined up for the 2024 Cronulla Jazz and Blues Festival.

3 days ago
Guns N Roses perform at the MCG in Melbourne on Tuesday 14 February 2017. Guns N Roses are touring Australia on their Not In This Lifetime tour. Photo Ros O'Gorman
Brian Johnson of AC/DC Teams With Slash for Howlin’ Wolf Classic ‘Killing Floor’

The Guns N’ Roses / AC/DC path has crossed yet again with Brian Johnson of AC/DC joining Slash of Guns N’ Roses for a cover of the Howlin’ Wolf blues classic ‘Killing Floor’.

March 10, 2024
Guns N Roses perform at the MCG in Melbourne on Tuesday 14 February 2017. Guns N Roses are touring Australia on their Not In This Lifetime tour. Photo Ros O'Gorman
Slash To Release Blues Album

Slash is seemingly set to release his blues rock solo album imminently.

March 7, 2024
Walter Trout 2024 tour
Walter Trout Learned His Trade From The Blues Greats

Bluesman Walter Trout was barely out of school when he was learning his trade from the greats like John Lee Hooker, Big Mama Thornton and Percy Mayfield.

January 30, 2024
Walter Trout 2024 tour
Walter Trout Has Oingo Boingo Bass Player John Avila For His Australian Tour

Walter Trout fans will be in for a treat at his upcoming Australian shows. Oingo Boingo bass player John Avila will be in the Walter Trout band.

January 22, 2024
Black Keys Ohio Players
The Black Keys Announce New Album ‘Ohio Players’ And Release Song ‘Beautiful People’

The Black Keys have released a new song today (12 January, 2024). “Beautiful People (Stay High)” written by Dan Auerbach, Patrick Carney, Beck and Dan the Automator and revealed a new album titled ‘Ohio Players’.

January 12, 2024