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20 Worst Pre-Rock Star Jobs: No. 19


Jack White: Furniture Upholstery Apprentice

After working as a teenager at an upholstery shop in his hometown of Detroit, the White Stripes and Raconteurs frontman started his own one-man business, called Third Man Upholstery. His slogan was "Your furniture's not dead."


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19 Comments

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joe thomas

i think he should have stayed in the furniture repair trade

October 20 2009 at 9:00 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
AADAM

WELL, NOT EVERYONE WILL MAKE IT... THERE JUST ISN'T ENOUGH TO GO AROUND... IT'S TOO BAD TOO, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF TALENT OUT THERE... BANDS LIKE, FOR INSTANCE, NYCs AADAMBONGG WILL PROBABLY BE PRAISED POSTHUMOUSLY AS WHILE THEY LIVE THEY'RE SCORNED AND TRIPPED UP AT EVERY TURN... THE WORLD IS NOT AN EASY PLACE.

January 18 2009 at 12:51 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jennifer

Jack White is one of the most talented performers of our time. Look deeper into his work; like the music from Cold Mountain. He has a deep appreciation for bluegrass and (original) country music. He is more than the White Stripes and The Raconteurs (both of which are incredible bands).
Jack White inspired me to start learning guitar on my own as well.
As far as his upholstery work - he started that business on his own right after high school and his apprenticeship. It just goes to show you that he was a regular guy, with a regular job - that is actually a craft - that became successful at music without trying for all the fame and glory.
Jack White is only starting - with his potential, we will be hearing from him for years to come!

December 29 2008 at 8:06 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jessie

These aren't the "worst" jobs ever. These are "wholesome" jobs. People want and need to make a living.

November 30 2008 at 5:16 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Gina

Actually, Jack has spoken quite favorably about his job as an upholsterer. He said it was hard work and he didn't make much money, but he liked it a lot and had hoped to make a career of it. The people who wrote this should get a clue...it wasn't the 'worst' job in Jack's opinion.

September 22 2008 at 5:05 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Alexander

Jack White is the hardest working rockstar of his time,if he worked as hard at furniture upholstering then I wish he'd have upholstered mine.Jack's talent is still growing and that's what makes him better each time I see him.(5x)The Stripes have set a new bar for performers and the Raconteurs have only scratched the surface of thier talent,however I'm glad Jack is more of a frontman on the 2nd cd.I have seen 6 or 700 concerts dating back to 1975 and many of them were incredible (I've seen them all)but the White stripes experience(4x)and the Raconteurs(1x)with Jack have enriched my life and given me an appreciation for many things,new and old.

April 21 2008 at 1:15 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
BlaissSharon

I'm not really used to Pre-Rock Stars. I did like
Aerosmith a lot. Tom Petty, Tom Hanks in the movie "That Thing You Do", and a few others, but
not too much Rock.

December 23 2007 at 1:19 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Linda

He looks like Edward Scissorhands in this picture.

August 25 2007 at 10:50 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Psmith

Jack White is the best writer of our time, if you have lived anylife at all and can understand and relate. There arent very many artists out there that can sing and write and play their own music and not to mention any kind of music any genre he feels like talent like that shouldnt be wasted. Now, maybe Jack should teach some of the artists we hear on radio in America today how to upholster, we would all be better off

July 28 2007 at 8:38 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mattea eckard

i love thhis site it's crazy that all these peps look @ it keep it coolz!

June 04 2007 at 11:32 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply