Jack White, the frontman of The White Stripes, is mourning the loss of his brother, Edward "Eddie" Gillis, who passed away on October 23, 2026, at the age of 60 after a battle with cancer. White shared the news on social media, describing his brother as "such a caring, funny and generous person that everybody loved."
Gillis was the eighth of ten children in the Gillis family. He played a significant role in White's musical journey, even before White's rise to fame. Gillis was the manager of Third Man Pressing, a vinyl record plant in Detroit that White opened in 2017. Under Gillis's management, the plant produced hundreds of thousands of records for various artists. He was also known for creating small sculptures and flowers from the plant's vinyl scraps, showcasing his artistic talents beyond music. Prior to his involvement with Third Man Pressing, Gillis worked as a pastry chef, running kitchens and bake shops for the Ritz-Carlton and Beaumont Hospital. He was married to his wife, Angie, and had two children, Amelia and Garrett.
White's nephew, Ben Blackwell, who is also his business partner, fondly remembered Gillis teaching him how to fish on the Detroit River when he was younger. Blackwell described Gillis as "the fisherman of the family."
The loss of Edward Gillis is deeply felt by his family and the music community. His contributions to Third Man Pressing and his support for his brother's musical endeavors have left a lasting impact.