Jack White Gives Update on His Relationship With Meg White
From hyping Tidal to playing in obscure states to lighting vinyl on fire, Jack Whitehas been doing a good job of keeping his name in the news lately. But reviving theWhite Stripes and getting back onstage with Meg? That’s about as likely as seeing him in a Spotify tee or listening to compressed files.
White shut down the idea in a May 24 Q&A with subscribers to his Third Man Records Vault club, to a member with the user name BlueOrchid, no less.
When first prodded about Meg, Jack asserted the former White Stripes drummer “doesn’t answer her phone.” Then BlueOrchid chimed in, “That is sad we miss Meg. If she did answer the phone would you consider playing with her again?”
His response? “Nope… That time is gone.”
The White Stripes officially disbanded in 2011.
And sure, Jack White plays plenty of their material when he tours as a solo act, but he also hinted we might not be seeing much of that anymore, either.
“Only seated theaters for acoustic shows for the rest of my days,” he wrote. “It’s hard when the people who organize festivals basically control my life … I have to book shows around their offer that I can’t refuse … it’s very expensive to tour … people think that’s how musicians make their money these days sadly, but it’s hard to be on the road no matter what size you are.”
Here is the full chat
-
Vault Chat 5/24/15
@Jack White: hello
@Jettkoral: @jack white thanks for the new gories record
@Jack White: @Jettkoral thank you
@Tamora: @Jack White how are you on this lovely day? And shouldn’t you be at church?
@Jonathan Haji-Sadeghi: any plans to have previous vault releases on tidal?
@Jack White: @Tamora i’m always at church
@Jack White: @Jonathan Haji-Sadeghi what’s tidal?
@Jack White good morning
@bisforbanjo: @Jack White hey bud. Pat Carneh and his bro cyberbullied me over tidal.
@Jack White: @bisforbanjo good for them
@FoxDragon: People have been such asses about the poem. I thought it was amazing.
@KNARF: JACK, I give you A LOT of credit for having the patience to deal with so many stupid comments out there
@Jack White: @FoxDragon maybe you don’t like click bait as much as those websites do
@Aly Fava: Hey Jack, you’re chatty this weekend.
@Jack White: @KNARF thank you dad
@MelieSue: @Jack White were you at the Loretta show yesterday?
@Jack White: @Aly Fava you should wake up next to me, you’d want me to shut up
@Tamora: @Jack White you going to check out Alison’s art show in NY?
@Jack White: @MelieSue no i had to miss her
@Michael Stevens: @Jack White what’s your favorite film to take photos with?
@Jack White: @Tamora i only go to new york if i have to, nothing feels special there when you’re creative, everyone feels like they’ve seen and done it all, hard for me to be inspired
@Jack White: @Michael Stevens polaroid
@DanTheMan333: I’m going to Detroit in September. What do I need to see while I’m there?
@Jack White: @DanTheMan333 the tigers
@Marjorie Hernandez: @jack white I need you to talk my husband into coming to Nashville the 4th. What would you say?
@Jack White: @Marjorie Hernandez a gun solves everything
@kawhite: Jack do you like São Paulo?
@ThirdSon: @jack White if you start touring again in the future, you should play at the Capital Theater in Port Chester, NY. Gorgeous venue outside the city
@Jack White: @kawhite oh yes
@Jack White: @ThirdSon not sure if it’s worth it
@Uncle Paulie: @Jack White Do you own any guns?
@Jack White: sometimes creating in a closet and never releasing it has it’s advantages
@Jes Smith: I’ve been listening to the old white stripes gun club covers. Can I buy them anywhere or is youtube my only option
@Jack White: @Uncle Paulie not at liberty to say
@NotSoChiGirl: I saw in last chat you’re looking for some country acts. I highly recommend Slum Cessna ’ s Auto Club
@Jack White: @Jes Smith not sure. we should release a lot of those things some day i guess
@rebelofnyc: What’s your favorite coffee shop in Nashville?
@Jack White: @NotSoChiGirl i played some shows with that guy
@Jack White: @rebelofnyc any shop that has actual sugar, can’t stand that hipster anti sugar bullshit
@forthewatch: any truth to the rumors about a collaboration with Jack black?
@Jack White: @forthewatch who came up with that clever idea?
@DrLouIX: @Jack White would you ever work with Jack Black?
@bloomooks: Did you see Bob Dylan on Letterman?
@Jack White: @DrLouIX very clever ideea
@thirdgirlll: @Jack White I have a hard time asking you questions. What is something we might not know about you?
@Jack White: @bloomooks yes, i watch my father in whatever he does and always will
@Tiffany Hurley: @Jack White – Who are some of your favorite poets?
@Jack White: @thirdgirlll that i don’t belong here, and most of the time its’ torture trying to find reasons to stay
@Jack White: @Tiffany Hurley i like shakespeares sonnets
@Shane Lattie: @Jack White you claim you never had a cell phone! On your Bonnaroo dvd you said your band mate called you while you were driving to ask for help on “steady as she goes”…. How is this? I smell a conspiracy…
@Jack White: @Shane Lattie everyone always plays “catch the hypocrite” with me. probably because i often make the stupid mistake of having opinions and saying them out loud. it’s smarter for well known people to smile and keep their mouth shut.
@misscoreylyn: @Jack White yeah but the haters are just jealous so they can’t bring ya down!
@thirdgirlll: @Jack White last movie you watched
@Jack White: @misscoreylyn oh they can. perception is reality.
@Uncle Paulie: @Jack White No cell phone? How are you logged in now?
@Jack White: @thirdgirlll the twilight zone
@Nick(Boat): @Jack White How do you talk to you mum? on the house phone?
@Jack White: @Uncle Paulie on my friends computer
@MelieSue: @Jack White Do you wear shorts in the summer? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in shorts…
@Jack White: @Nick(Boat) yes i have regular old phones with cords on them. they sound so good. we forget how good regular phones sound. the funny thing is i’m the only person in my group of comrades who actually has to remember peoples phone numbers! haha
@Jack White: @MelieSue hell no.
@Kevin Ringgenberg: Run for President next summer. Just saying…
@scoliosispony: @Jack White if you could flip a switch and turn off the internet would you?
@Jack White: @Kevin Ringgenberg yeah i’ll have rolling stone sponsor me.
@Jack White: @scoliosispony would you?
@Aly Fava: Phones with cords, huh? I’m curious now what about flat screen tvs?
@Jack White: @Aly Fava i’m not a technophobe regardless of how people paint me that way. if i don’t have a cellphone it’s not to be cool or make a point. i just think people look ridiculous holding them and staring at them all day, and if i had one, that’s what i’d be doing as well. i’d be on it all day and it would rob me off a lot of inspiration i think. i’m not telling you not to have one, i’m just telling you why i don’t.
@NotSoChiGirl: tmr staff is great. ..whoever just made that comment is spot on. good people
@Jack White: @NotSoChiGirl what comment do you mean?
@MFSSkinny: @Jack White but they say you want everything like it was in 1900! It MUST be true because I read a lot of people who acted like they know what they’re talking about and it was on the Internet!
@Jack White: @MFSSkinny it’s funnier for them to box me into that technology hating wax cylinder guy. it would be easier for me to like what everyone else does and not get hassled, but i try to find something inspiring in whatever i have my hands on, it’s usual mixing the newest with what is soulful from the past i think.
@Aidan Abbott: What was your favorite subject in school?
@Jack White: @Aidan Abbott history, and also chemistry but i had not talent for remembering it, but i liked it a lot.
@LittleMissTater: Have you ever read any Crowley?~
@MaWaiDu: Jack, is “soul” limited by a time period?
@Jack White: @LittleMissTater i checked it out, not for me, mostly full of shit
@KNARF: JACK, have you been to either of the New York baseball stadiums? Which do you like better?
@Jack White: @MaWaiDu of course not, but it’s definitely harder when the tools present aren’t conducive to making it happen.
@Jack White: @KNARF i was at yankees, beautiful stadium, but the workers there were not very nice for my experience.
@Shane Lattie: @Jack White why does Third Man put out Crosley turntables? I’m not familiar myself but it seems they have a bad reputation for quality?
@Jack White: i like the site lines there
@Jack White: @Shane Lattie when we sell more expensive ones people can’t afford them. though as you know i’m all about the money and sapping you guys dry every chance i get
@MelieSue: @Jack White What’s on your agenda today?
@Jack White: @MelieSue i have no hidden agenda. my out in the open ones though are looking at the grass, its nice out
@Ashlyn Scoggins: Does Mama Gillis call you “john” “jack” or the occasional “JOHN ANTHONY” when she’s mad?
@Danielle Bullough: @jack, what is love to you?
@Jack White: @Ashlyn Scoggins she calls me john and jack
@Jack White: @Danielle Bullough no guilt.
@FoxDragon: @jack white would you ever make your own line of guitars?
@MelieSue: @Jack White Hahaha I love you Jack
@Jack White: @MelieSue i love you too
@Jack White: @FoxDragon i designed some for gretsch, but i’m afraid to submit them. i’ve never endorsed a music instrument, but i guess that’s a naive old way of thinking about staying true to the ideas i have.
@Shane Lattie: @Jack White I really hope I’m not giving the impression that I’m trying to ‘expose you’ or play ‘gotcha.’ I really respect and look up to you and am only asking questions of things I can’t make sense of myself.
@Jack White: @Shane Lattie don’t worry about it. i’m the youngest of ten kids, and i’ve set myself up in the world as well to be an easy target. it takes a lot to hurt my feelings!
@Lisajean74: @Jack White do you really think that “we” think Badly of you?
@Jack White: @Lisajean74 what do you mean?
@Estetika: Do you have any hobbies or interests that would surprise people?
@ThirdSon: @Jack White did you see the latest episode about Louie about he (or his character) hates being on the road, but it’s a necessity for a comedian. Thoughts?
@Jack White: @Estetika i collect scissors.
@Jack White: @ThirdSon i’d say half the shows i play i’d rather not play. festivals for example. but i have to make the best of it and try to get inspired.
@Jack White: it’s hard when the people who organize festivals basically control my life.
@Jack White: i have to book shows around their offer that i can’t refuse
@Jack White: it’s very expensive to tour.
@Jack White: people think that’s how musicians make their money these days sadly, but it’s hard to on the road no matter what size you are
@Victoria Lovett: @Jack White I really enjoyed seeing you at Fenway. It was a beautiful night
@Coyote: @Jack White Do you think when you play again you’ll go back to theaters, or stick with arenas?
@Jack White: @Victoria Lovett i loved that fenway show too, what an honor.
@Jack White: @Coyote only seated theaters for acoustic shows for the rest of my days.
@Michael Stevens: @Jack White what do you think about Live Nation buying up so many concert promotion companies and a controlling stake in Bonnaroo? Is there a good side to that?
@Jack White: the electric shows with no seats
@Jonathan Haji-Sadeghi: @Jack White how are your tour posters made? do you and the artist talk about what you want or does the artist just comes up with something and you approve it
@Jack White: @Michael Stevens people don’t call out corporations for doing stuff like that, it’s acceptable.
@Jack White: @Jonathan Haji-Sadeghi rob jones controls all of that because hes so brilliant
@Jack White: i put it in his hands
@littlemanATX: well thanks for what you do Jack, lot of my friends had the moment of lifetime when you played in South Dakota
@Jack White: @littlemanATX you mean those 200$ ticket shows i played to rip you guys off?
@Jack White: haha
@Jack White: we lost a lot of money doing those shows, but they were the best of the whole year
@Terri Francescon: Thank you for the Vault chat to speak to you most loyal fans.
@Jack White: @Terri Francescon you guys are the loyal ones? i thought you were the bored ones! hah
@Eileen Corsano: Thank you so much for everything you do for us jack
@Jack White: @Eileen Corsano no thank you for caring about it, you don’t have to
@Jack White: when anyone is brave enough to care about art and music, it shows on their face
@Uncle Paulie: @Jack White What kind of car are you driving nowadays?
@Jack White: @Uncle Paulie tesla. the greatest car ever made. elon musk is changing the world.
@Jack White: hows that for wax cylinders?
@Jessica Russell: @Jack White I don’t feel like I am being ripped off. This is your profession, your craft. You have the right to put whatever price you want on it and if someone doesn’t like it well don’t spend the money. Those folks can suck it up and move on.
@Jack White: @Jessica Russell yep. i was just joking.
@Chasiepenny @Jack White will you sign my titties…jk
@ThirdSon: Can you retrofit an 8 track into a tesla?
@Jack White: @Chasiepenny i’m allergic to cats
@Jack White: @ThirdSon not into 8 tracks myself
@Thirdmanfan001: @Jack White thank you for giving me the courage to start my own label!
@Jack White: @Thirdmanfan001 good for you, more people should
@meohmy: During what time period were the recordings done by you & the other artists for American Epic? I’m really looking forward to it!
@MaWaiDu: Jack I feel like you would have been good friends with Al Capone
@Jack White: @meohmy its taken a long time to put that whole thing together, but it’s coming out in the fall and i think will blow minds
@Jack White: @MaWaiDu cause we both like murdering people?
@RobScarr: @Jack White how was it taking a smaller crew on tour for the acoustic shows?
@Jack White: @RobScarr we all road on one bus together again, it had been a while. very inspiring
@Shane Lattie: @Jack White I imagine this is something you don’t get asked about much.. Are there any tech products your are looking forward to in the future? 3m pitched a product with headphones that you wear at a concert, and they get an audio feed directly from the house so you can hear the music and drown out the people around you.. I thought that sounded isolating though. Thoughts?
@Jack White: @Shane Lattie yeah i wouldn’t be into that.
@FoxDragon: What are your thoughts on space travel?
@MOON72: @Jack White I would like to play Scrabble with you, I’m not bad!
@Jack White: @FoxDragon can’t wait to see pluto in a couple months
@Jack White: @MOON72 i’m unbeatable
@Jack White: my high score is 472
@FoxDragon: @Jack White SAME! It’s driving me crazy because an artists picture got out on the web and people think it is real, but it isn’t.
@Jack White: @FoxDragon picture of who?
@Victoria Lovett: @Jack White talk to Meg lately?
@Alexandra Cole: @Jack White who were some of the drummers you learned from/observed to improve your skill?
@Jack White: @Victoria Lovett she doesn’t answer her phone
@Jack White: @Alexandra Cole carl palmer, stewart copeland, ian paice
@BlueOrchid: @Jack White that is sad we miss Meg. If she did answer the phone would you consider playing with her again?
@Jack White: my favorites are mitch mitchell and gene krupa though
@Jack White: @BlueOrchid nope
@Jack White: that time is gone
@Aidan Abbott: seriously though, best man at my future wedding?
@FoxDragon: @Jack White it was a computer generated picture of Pluto that many have been mistaking for a real one
@Jack White: @Aidan Abbott i did that once, that’s a tough gig
@Jack White: @FoxDragon yeah that bugs me
@BlueOrchid: @Jack White so when you get inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame who will you play with?
@Jack White: @BlueOrchid doubt it, and doubt it
@MJ89: Are you a Ryan Adams fan, Jack?
@Jack White: @MJ89 i wouldn’t want to be him bumping into me somewhere
@Michael Stevens: @Jack White I got to meet Manuel in Nashville last time I was there. He had very nice things to say about you and had some awesome clothes there. When was the last time he made something for you?
@Jack White: @Michael Stevens manuel is a beautiful man.
@Chasiepenny: I miss jack and meg too it soundesd raw and natural and you solo concerts seemed a little too rehearsed
@Jack White: @Chasiepenny thank you. do you want to try it sometime?
@Jack White: haha
@Jack White: well i can assure you, they aren’t rehearsed
@RockVixen: @Jack White Ryan Adams has said great things about you. He thinks you’re the last true rock star.
@AmandaRae: @Jack White Have you listened to Courtney Barnett? Can’t seem to get her album off my turntable
@Jack White: @RockVixen good for him, what’s that make him?
@Jinxy’sDelight: sorry if my questions a couple chats ago pissed you off
@Jack White: @AmandaRae a lot of peole i know like her
@Jack White: @Jinxy’sDelight nothing pisses me off
@Jack White: sometimes i pretend things do though
@Jack White: …
@littlemanATX: thoughts on The Avett Brothers, Jack?
@Jack White: @littlemanATX i like their music and they are very kind people
@bdylan: You don’t have the kids this week?
@Ted Fisher: I’m outta here – Fuck the haters Jack! We’re all sticking up for you every chance we get.
@Jack White: @bdylan what?
@Jack White: @Ted Fisher i don’t know why you’re telling me that but ok
@misscoreylyn: @Jack White I’ve been working at the ballpark with the Sounds for like a month and you’ve not been there. Show up and drinks on me.
@Jack White: @misscoreylyn i’ve been there
@Ted Fisher: Just because there’s been a lot of negativity in the press about you and your recent projects. Just wanted you to know we got you.
@Jack White: @Ted Fisher when has there NOT been negativity about me? haha
@Uncle Paulie: @Jack White Do you think The B 52s should be in the RR Hall of fame?
@Jack White: a week doesn’t go by right?
@Jack White: i dont care
@Jack White: @Uncle Paulie of course they should
@Breanna Gibitz: Is there any artists you’ve been wanting to collaborate with that you haven’t yet?
@Jack White: but i don’t really understand that place
@Silvia Solá Viñals: @Jack White I really don’t think this is the place to discuss this, but, Jack, your idea of music being sacred troubles me. If music really were sacred -as something out of a cult- we’d still be hitting stones and sticks… Whenever I hear you say it, when I read it, I wish you’d explain what you mean. I really do wish you mean that music is atavistic, that it is so engrained in human nature that it actually makes us human. That’s why we can’t help but sing (or doodle), regardless of how bad we’re at it. We can’t help ourselves, it’s part of our nature. I can believe in that, I do. But I can’t buy the idea that I should kneel before music…
@Jack White: @Breanna Gibitz captain beefheart
@Jack White: @Silvia Solá Viñals you should of course kneel before music.
@Jack White: you’re nothing without it
@Jack White: you’re a creature crawling through the much
@Jack White: muck
@MaWaiDu: Jack, last time you went to confess?
@Jack White: @MaWaiDu right now
@Jack White: i have to go now
@Jack White: i hope you have an inspiring day
@Jack White: music is sacred
@Jack White: and i hope you feel something today
