Iggy Pop Inducts The White Stripes into Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legend Iggy Pop inducted The White Stripes into the 2025 class yesterday at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, celebrating the duo’s significant impact on modern rock music.
Pop began his induction speech with a playful nod to the band’s signature song, performing the opening riff of “Seven Nation Army.” He then praised drummer Meg White, stating, “Meg White had the most genuine and charming smile. She played the drums for the benefit of her band… I think it was Meg’s support that helped launch the rocket of racket that was Jack White.” He continued, acknowledging Jack White’s diverse musical talents, noting, “Jack could screech like an owl… but he could also write. I hear the echoes of The Who, The Small Faces, The Beatles… in Jack’s playing.”
Upon accepting the honor, Jack White thanked “Uncle Iggy” and shared that Meg White, who did not attend the ceremony, was deeply grateful for the years of support. He also recounted a quirky request from Meg: “She wanted me to randomly mention that when they used to walk around together, animals used to stare at them… Even at the Detroit Zoo, an elephant did the exact same thing one time.” White then listed a range of influential artists, from Loretta Lynn to Fugazi, who inspired The White Stripes’ sound. For more on the history of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, visit the official Rock & Roll Hall of Fame website.
White concluded with a poetic story about the band’s origins, a piece he had written for Meg, describing a brother and sister building a “parade float” in their garage and sharing their music with the world. The 2025 class also includes Soundgarden, Bad Company, OutKast, Cyndi Lauper, Chubby Checker, and Joe Cocker. You can find full coverage of the event here.
Officials stated that the induction ceremony will be broadcast on HBO Max next week.
