WHITE STRIPES - WHITE NEARLY JOINED STOOGES

THE WHITE STRIPES star JACK WHITE almost became a member of legendary band THE STOOGES.

The rocker was in the frame for a collaboration after the garage veterans reformed to play a number of tracks on frontman IGGY POP's latest album, SKULL RING.

Pop was so inspired by the Stripes' 2001 album WHITE BLOOD CELLS he based some songs on the band's style, and was tempted to draft White in to play bass on the record.

The veteran star explains, "I wrote (new track) LOSER after I heard White Blood Cells, because I thought, 'My God, they're a little bit Stooges, a little bit PRETENDERS, I could do that. I decided that if they're gonna rewrite me, I'll rewrite them."

However, when Pop talked to White about replacing original Stooges bassist, the late DAVE ALEXANDER, he found Jack was a little too keen for his liking.

He says, "We came very close, but Jack wanted to do an entire Stooges album, and the Stooges weren't ready for that. It was one of those things that got a little off-balanced and went a little too far, too fast, so it didn't happen."