The White Stripes

Built around Meg's childlike drumming and Jack's ferocious guitar, the duo became firm favourites on the Detroit garage rock scene before exploding in the UK in 2001. Singles "Hotel Yorba" and "Fell in Love with a Girl" put them on the map and third album White Blood Cells (2001) became an instant classic. The re-release of their first two albums The White Stripes (1999) and De Stijl (2001) opened a treasure chest of scuzzy blues covers, howling country folk balladry and raw, punk rock, and their blistering live shows heightened the buzz. As puzzled tabloid journalists finally rumbled that they weren't actually brother and sister but a divorced couple, Elephant (2003) - led by the pulsing riff of lead single "Seven Nation Army" - went to No 1. Blues, rock and folk influences gave way to oddball pop on Get Behind Me Satan (2005) and Icky Thump (2007) had a UK influence with bagpipes, Northern phrases and pearly suits. Jack also produced for Loretta Lynn, recorded a Bond theme with Alicia Keys and played with The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather.