The White Stripes Inducted into Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as Meg White Sends Apologies

Jack White accepted The White Stripes’ induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame yesterday, November 8, with a message of apology from his former bandmate and ex-wife, Meg White, who did not attend the ceremony.

The induction took place at the Theater in Los Angeles, California, with an introduction by Iggy Pop. Jack White addressed the audience, stating, “Today the White Stripes are proud to represent the sound of Detroit punk and garage rock, and all of those bands and artists.” He also shared that Meg White “was very sorry she couldn’t make it here tonight,” and had assisted in writing the acceptance speech. He added that she “is very grateful to all of the folks who supported her through all the years. It really means a lot to her tonight.”

The White Stripes disbanded in 2011, with their last performance occurring in 2009, and Meg White has largely remained out of the public eye since. This induction recognizes the duo’s significant impact on modern rock music and their minimalist, blues-infused sound. Also inducted into the Performer category yesterday were Bad Company, Soundgarden, Joe Cocker, Chubby Checker, Cyndi Lauper, and Outkast, while Salt N Pepa and Warren Zevon were honored via the Musical Influence category; however, Bad Company singer Paul Rodgers was unable to attend due to health concerns. You can learn more about the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and its mission on their official website.

Fleetwood Mac drummer Mick Fleetwood, speaking about Bad Company, stated, “Paul is the voice that every rock singer holds as their north star. To listen to a Bad Company song is to hear a once-in-a-lifetime voice take rock music to new heights.” Officials stated that further details regarding potential future reunions or commemorative events were not available at this time.