Jack White recently took to Instagram to share a eulogy for Dexter Romweber, emphasizing that Romweber wasn’t just a rock n’ roll musician; he embodied the essence of rock n’ roll itself.
In his post, the singer conveyed his sorrow over the loss of Romweber, who passed away at his home on February 16, 2024, at the age of 57. Accompanied by a video featuring photos of Romweber, he wrote:
“A brick crashed through my window last night. Cat Power had wrote to me; John Michael Dexter Romweber had passed away, passed on, bill past due. He wasn’t a rock n’ roll musician, he was rock n’ roll inside and out, without even having to try, he couldn’t help himself. People toss that around a lot, but in Dex’s case it was actually true. To call him Punk would be like calling the Great Pyramid a sand castle. He was the type that don’t get 3 course dinners, awards, gold records and statues made of them because they are too real, too much, too strange, too good.”
A Soul Beyond His Time
In the rest of his post, Jack explained that the late musician was deeply emotional and often felt mistreated and heartbroken, yet he never lost hope. He described Romweber as someone with an intense spirit, like an ancient soul living in the modern world, always feeling out of place and alone, even among many people. White depicted him as generous, kind-hearted, and full of a simple, innocent love.
White then talked about Dexter always having a hard time, yet making people wish they could help him be happy and peaceful, even though they didn’t know how. White really looked up to Romweber, seeing him as a big influence and one of his favorite people. He recalled a special time when Romweber came up to him for a chat right after finishing a song at a concert:
“I had never met him before that. I was 18. Over time, he passed on secrets I’ll never tell and brought tears to my eyes when he told me how proud of me he was. But I was proud of him first and always will be. He was an uncle that I would ride my bike across town to see. They don’t make them like Dex anymore, not till we get our act together as humans. I know your pain is over now, Dex, and you are living in true romantic bliss. You deserve it more than any of us.”
Announcement Of Passing
Discovered by his sister Monica, Dexter’s family announced his passing, asking for privacy during this difficult time. The cause of death is believed to be natural, with further details pending a medical examination.
Romweber’s musical journey began with the Kamikazes, leading to the formation of Flat Duo Jets, a band that influenced the rock scene and inspired artists like Cat Power and The White Stripes. After the dissolution of Flat Duo Jets in the late 1990s, Romweber’s passion for music continued as he played in various bands, including The New Romans and the Dex Romweber Duo with his sister Sara.
You can see White’s post here.
