Morphing the Blues: The White Stripes and the Strange Relevance of Detroit

by Martin Roach

The history of the White Stripes and how Detroit's music scene fostered their development is explored for the first time in this intriguing band historiography. Full-length biographies of both band members track their success from their early days in Detroit to worldwide fame and recognition. Key interviews with people close to the band describe their critical and commercial rise to the top. A close look at the Detroit music scene that also spawned music giants Eminem, Iggy Pop, and Kid Rock links the success of the White Stripes to their hometown's unique musical legacy.

Genres: Music

192 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2004

Reviews

[Jonah Stern · Rating 1 out of 5]

The White Stripes are one of my favorite bands, and there’s some pretty good info in here. But never have I ever read a book with so many typos. Furthermore, took quite a while for the focus to actually be on the White Stripes. I understand the importance of the Detroit music scene and the influences of the White Stripes, but I was a bit too much for me.

[Griffin Youngstrum · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is, without a doubt, the worst edited book Ive ever read. Just DOZENS of grammar errors.

I still enjoyed it!

[Tom Schulte · Rating 3 out of 5]

Usually the allure of unauthorized rock 'n' roll band biographies is the sex and drugs part of the equation. This tome focuses on Jack White of the alt-blues duo and while he may say, "I'm Finding It Harder to be a Gentleman," Gentleman Jack has left no such titillating muck for British journalist Martin Roach to rake. Roach subtitles his book "And The Strange Relevance of Detroit". Indeed, as one living in greater Detroit, I say it must be strange to a Brit who while offering a spectrum of sources such as guitarist Mick Collins (The Dirtbombs, The Gories), producer Jim Diamond and Johnny Szymanski (The Henchmen) largely offers the views of Neil Yee and Gary Graff to put Detroit and The White Stripes in perspective. Thus he dips deeply from eddies at the source of the river (Yee ran seminal club The Gold Dollar where bands like The White Stripes played for 50 or less fans) to the muddy confluence at the end (Graff is founding editor of MusicHound Rock and yaks it up with FM jocks on air). In the end we get the context that gave birth to The White Stripes as if explained by visiting aliens trying to understand it all. Still, this is an interesting read with complete overviews, often track by track, of the albums. The indexed book with official and bootleg discographies makes for a good reference on The White Stripes although it may not be particularly illuminating without the participation of the private and reclusive pair. Be prepared for such proofreading lapses in this breezy account as the Black Sabbath guitarist referred to as "Tommy Lommi" and The Flaming Lips simply as "Flaming". Roach does go far to explain if not ponder much of the group's symbolism and the equivocal, guarded relationship between Meg and Jack White.

[Jesse · Rating 1 out of 5]

Contains countless spelling/grammatical errors, authorial hubris of the worst kind, and very little first-hand accounts. Not one interview with Jack. Just looking for something to hold me over for a few weeks til the new CD.