The White Stripes, one of the most popular US rock groups, had canceled their US tour due to health issue. The tour, which was set to begin on Thursday in Albuquerque, New Mexico included 18 gigs across US. In a notice posted on their website, the White Stripes explained that the drummer Meg White is suffering from acute anxiety.

"Meg White is suffering from acute anxiety and is unable to travel at this time," the notice reads. "We hate to let people down and are very sorry." The notice on the Web site said ticket holders could get refunds at the point of purchase. Also, according to the group’s MySpace Profile, their UK shows were canceled as well.
The US rock group has been touring to promote their latest studio album "Icky Thump" which was released in June this year.

In fact this isn’t’ the first time when The White Stripes are canceling a tour. In 2003 the group postponed its summer tour after Jack White was involved in a car crash and in 2006 four concerts in Japan were canceled after he had vocal chord problems.

The White Stripes was founded by Jack White (born as John Anthony Gillis), who has started his musical career by working with different underground bands from Detroit.

In 1994 the singer met Meg White and in 1997 they appeared for the first time on the public scene as The White Stripes. Their first album “White Stripes” was released in 1999, but their first significant success has came in 2001 with their third album “White Blood Cells”

In 2003 Jack White was named the 17th greatest guitarist of all time by the “Rolling Stone” magazine. He is now married to model Karen Elson, with whom he had a son, Henry and a daughter named Scarlett Teresa.