The White Stripes are a minimalist rock and roll duo from Detroit. Billing themselves as brother and sister, guitarist and singer Jack White and his ex-wife, drummer Meg White, released their self-titled debut album in 1997. They were a struggling local band in Detroit for a long time, even after touring with Pavement and Sleater-Kinney. Their stripped-down, garage rock sound made them a much hyped-band in 2002, as a result of the critical raves given to the major label release of White Blood Cells[?].