The White Stripes — who achieved two chart-topping albums in the UK — have announced their split.
The former husband and wife duo, Jack and Meg White, said the group was ending for a "myriad of reasons" — and to preserve their achievements.
The band scored a number of hits such as Fell In Love With A Girl and Seven Nation Army. Although formed in Detroit, they made their breakthrough in Britain after many years as an underground act in the US.
In the early days of their success, the pair pretended to be brother and sister, but it later transpired that they had been married.
Their blues-rock was notable for the lack of a bass guitar on a majority of tracks — just Jack's guitar and Meg's drums — although they later broadened the number of instruments to include piano and marimba.
The restriction on instruments was accompanied by a strict code about how they would dress — allowing only red, white and black in photos and album artwork.
Announcing the split today, they said they "will make no further new recordings or perform live".
They said the main reason for calling it a day was to "preserve what is beautiful and special about the band".
Jack White's side projects such as The Dead Weather and The Raconteurs have increasingly taken centre stage.
The White Stripes' last studio album was Icky Thump which was released in 2007. A live album, Under The Great White Northern Lights, was released last year.
PA