20 Worst Pre-Rock Star Jobs: No. 19
- Posted by Spinner Staff
- Comments (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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Reader Comments(1 of 1)
Alexanderat 4-21-2008
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.
Ginaat 9-22-2008
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.
Jessieat 11-30-2008
These aren't the "worst" jobs ever. These are "wholesome" jobs. People want and need to make a living.
Jenniferat 12-29-2008
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!
AADAMat 1-18-2009
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.
joe thomasat 10-22-2009
i think he should have stayed in the furniture repair trade
Megganat 4-27-2007
He also apparently used to write songs on the furniture before he'd cover it with upholstery.
j h wilsonat 5-06-2007
Skip the article---at issue here is some idiot's idea that "job" (good clean hard work "jobs") can be "worst." For this entire article notice how many jobs that you utilize are called worst.
Next time re-upholster your own furniture.
JABat 5-06-2007
Surely he was better at furniture upholstery. I know he doesn't do anything for me as an "entertainer" or "singer". In fact, I think he sucks!! Only in American could a Jack White become a pop culture phenomenon (America rewards "different",..but not necessarily "good")
picassoat 11-30-2008
Only in America?
Last I checked, The White Stripes sell out venues all over the world. I take no sides, but good god, if there wasn't something redeeming about his music, do you really think he would sell as many albums for as long? And will continue to? "different" just doesn't go that far I am sorry. Talent sustains. An original voice sustains. Who are you ideas of "good" and in no way "different" pop culture icons?
Thank you.
Kyleat 5-06-2007
The thing is, Jack used to love his furniture business, thats where he learned alot of his beliefs that he sings with today - such as his ideas of everything centering around the no.3 !
Elleat 5-06-2007
I think that Jack White and the White Stripes are very talented and very original, especialy when it comes to fashion. But, I do like My Chemical Romance's lyrics more...they are much more deep.
knowallat 5-06-2007
#2's comment was 110% right.I'm tired of hearing how stars who had a regular job now look back "at how menial" those jobs were-degrading to their great talent! Yea,and unbelievable that Kellie Pickler used her good looks to get ahead.
Sarahat 5-12-2007
Furniture upholstery isn't such a bad job.(It's not like they're swabbing prison toilets) Anyway, if these people already had jobs that "they" deemed worthy and noble, they wouldn't go into entertainment, would they?
claireeeeeeat 5-12-2007
umm these arent the worst jobs.....their just NORMAL jobs
mattea eckardat 6-04-2007
i love thhis site it's crazy that all these peps look @ it keep it coolz!
Psmithat 7-28-2007
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
Lindaat 8-25-2007
He looks like Edward Scissorhands in this picture.
BlaissSharonat 12-23-2007
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.