Fell In Love With a Band

Bittersweet news from the White Stripes camp today when the duo announced the end of their creative partnership.  I can't say I was entirely surprised by this news but it was a sad development for one of the best bands in recent years.

I had the very great fortune of seeing the band in concert several times and each show was a dazzling affair.  I remember always coming away in awe of how Meg and Jack performed as if a force of nature.  So much raw power and simple beauty in their music.

They will be missed.

From the band's website.  (Pictures from the John Labatt Centre in July 2007.)

The White Stripes would like to announce that today, February 2nd, 2011, their band has officially ended and will make no further new recordings or perform live.


The reason is not due to artistic differences or lack of wanting to continue, nor any health issues as both Meg and Jack are feeling fine and in good health.


It is for a myriad of reasons, but mostly to preserve What is beautiful and special about the band and have it stay that way.


Meg and Jack want to thank every one of their fans and admirers for the incredible support they have given throughout the 13 plus years of the White Stripes’ intense and incredible career.


Third Man Records will continue to put out unreleased live and studio recordings from The White Stripes in their Vault Subscription record club, as well as through regular channels.


Both Meg and Jack hope this decision isn’t met with sorrow by their fans but that it is seen as a positive move done out of respect for the art and music that the band has created. It is also done with the utmost respect to those fans who’ve shared in those creations, with their feelings considered greatly.


With that in mind the band have this to say:


“The White Stripes do not belong to Meg and Jack anymore. The White Stripes belong to you now and you can do with it whatever you want. The beauty of art and music is that it can last forever if people want it to. Thank you for sharing this experience. Your involvement will never be lost on us and we are truly grateful.”


Sincerely,
Meg and Jack White

The White Stripes

 

I Think I Smell a Deluxe Edition

In 2007, the White Stripes toured across every province and territory in Canada. Along the way playing one off shows in unusual places and venues that ranged From a performance on a bus in Winnipeg to playing the Arva Flour Mill (just outside of London) to playing an infamous one note concert in St. John’s. The trek garnered a lot of well earned attention for the duo and also managed to please a whole lot of Canadians. This humble blogger included.

Luckily, the whole tour was captured in the film Under the Great White Northern Lights. If you weren’t lucky enough to take it in at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this year, you’ll be happy to know that the DVD will be available in March 2010. See an image gallery from the film here.

The DVD will come in a number of formats, most notably in a handsome deluxe, limited-edition box set. If you’re lucky enough to get your hands on one of these, it will include the film on DVD, a DVD of the White Stripes’ tenth anniversary celebration called Under Nova Scotian Lights, a live seven-inch, a 16-track live album on both vinyl and CD, a silk-screen print and a lovely 208-page photo book with a forward by Jim Jarmusch.

The deluxe box set will be available for pre-order here today (December 11th). As well, if it’s pre-ordered before January 1st, fans will also receive three MP3s and a holiday card from the band as a bonus incentive.

The DVD and live album will also be available on their own on March 16th, with the book coming out in April.

(Your point of trivia for the day… The set list for that one note show in St. John’s?)

1) F

I love you, White Stripes!