The White Stripes split

The White Stripes have split up.

The duo - consisting of multi instrumentalist and singer Jack White and his ex-wife, drummer Meg White - released a statement today (02.02.11) saying there are a "myriad of reasons" for their parting, but stating it is not because of personal or musical differences, more that they want to "preserve what is beautiful and special about the band."

Part of the statement read: "The White Stripes would like to announce that today, February 2nd 2011, their band has officially ended and will make no further new recordings or perform live.

"The White Stripes do not belong to Meg and Jack anymore. The White Stripes belong to you now, and you can do with it whatever you want. The beauty of art and music is that it can last forever if people want it to. Thank you for sharing this experience. Your involvement will never be lost on us and we are truly grateful."

Formed in Detroit, US, in 1997, The White Stripes brought a raw garage rock sound back to the mainstream, and enjoyed huge success, first in England and then the US, in 2001 with their breakthrough album 'White Blood Cells'.

They continued to prove one of the most popular rock groups of the last decade, with their album 'Elephant' in 2004 hailed as their creative peak and spawning the band's most successful single, 'Seven Nation Army'.

The last recording released by the group was 'Under the Great White Northern Lights' in 2010, which documented their low key tour of Canada in 2007. The band had not played live since this tour, after which Meg started suffering problems with anxiety.

Jack had hinted last year he felt Meg was ready to for them to head back to the studio to record a seventh album, but that he would feel "strange" making another White Stripes record.

He said: "It would definitely be strange to go into the White Stripes again and have to rethink my game.

"But that would be the best thing about it, because it would be a whole new White Stripes."

Since 2007 Jack has been active in music, founding his Third Man record label and recording with his other groups The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather.