White Stripes Break-Up Update

Devoted readers may recall my prediction earlier this month that The White Stripes were nearing the end. The news may not be official yet, but the stars seem increasingly to be in line. On December 9, the band played a disastrous show in San Francisco for Live 105's "Not So Silent Night" all-star concert. Apparently, it was Meg's birthday and she was so drunk she couldn't keep the beat straight. Jack got pissed, ordered her off the stage, and played a couple acoustic songs by himself. Then he left, went backstage, and supposedly there was a lot of yelling and crying. After a while, they both came back and played a few more songs, although reportedly not very well. One witness who said he works for Live 105 claimed the band played only 38 minutes of a contracted 60-minute set. Another fan wondered "if this could somehow be a harbinger for the end of the band." My sentiments exactly. Ever since the announcement of Jack's wedding and the release of Get Behind Me Satan (a truly erratic, often uninspired album), it has seemed like the Stripes are just going through the motions. Occasionally there have been some terrific moments (their recent cut of "Shelter of Your Arms" or "The Denial Twist" performance on The Daily Show), but rarely do they seem as hellbent or undeniable or colossal as they were two years ago. In a sense, their fame has grown too big for them, swallowing them up and, like the ridiculous stage set pictured above, totally dwarfing the intimacy and simplicity that were once the group's most endearing attributes. It's sad. I think the band has lost its identity, and I know I'm not the only one. Why else would the latest record still not be available on vinyl? I mean, it's been six fucking months! What happened to your standards, Jack?! (As I see it, there's only two answers here: either Jack's pledge to analog technology was bullshit in the first place, just a fashionable pose designed to earn underground credibility, or he has lost control of his product. Neither speaks well to the band's devoted listeners.)

On the other hand, it's hard to blame Jack for his ambition. No one can really anticipate the true toll of celebrity until it's too late. And it's even harder to reproach Meg for her disillusion. Take a look at the Live 105 crowd. I too may've drunk myself into oblivion if forced to think very hard about how it had become my lot in life to entertain a bunch of, well ... these people. In the end, I suppose the incident could provide fuel for the proverbial fire. The White Stripes are only at their best when Jack and Meg are at odds with each other, and this seems like the perfect excuse for them both to get really riled up. I guess, for now, this is the most we can hope for.