UPDATE: Jack White’s management company, Monotone Inc., has issued a statement clarifying that neither White nor Monotone ever said that he would never play the University of Oklahoma again. The statement also notes that White does not write the rider for his tours. The Monotone team also claims that they’re not sure if White likes guacamole. Read the entire statement below, followed by the original post. Additionally, an earlier version of this story misidentified William Morris Endeavor Entertainment as White’s management company, when they are in fact his booking agency. SPIN regrets the error.
To the students and staff of University of Oklahoma:
Jack White would love to thank all the concert attendees at his performance at the University of Oklahoma. The crowd was incredible and Mr. White played an extensive two and a half hour show for them. The students who helped organize the event were wonderful. Playing in, and for, the people of Oklahoma is one of Jack White’s favorite tour stops. At no time did Jack White or White’s management say that we would never play there again, that is untrue.
The incidents with the OU Daily student newspaper reporting the financial terms of the show, the private tour rider information, along with unsolicited photographers from their staff were unfortunate, unprofessional, and very unwelcoming. The show was one of many on this tour directed at playing for university students in their own environment. And the band were all completely thrilled with the performance and the crowd.
Incidentally, the most important function of a rider is that it lays out optimal technical specifications to ensure the audience has the best experience possible. For that, Jack hires a team of very qualified touring professionals who write the rider and attempt to execute a professional and pleasant experience for all involved. Part of that is making sure that the tour personnel of about 30 people plus the local venue staff are fed. Contrary to what some believe, Jack doesn’t write the rider nor make demands about his favorite snacks that must be in his dressing room. We’re not even sure he likes guacamole but we do know that the folks who work hard to put on the show do enjoy it.
(By the way, now that’s it out there, we recommend you try Lalo’s guacamole recipe. It’s delicious.)
We hope those present for Mr. White’s performance are able to maintain their good memories from the experience and he looks forward to seeing them again soon.
Jack White’s not one for humor, so it shouldn’t come as a shock that the Blunderbuss superstar was less than thrilled when a student newspaper at the University of Oklahoma — where he recently played a concert — leaked information about his tour rider. You can read the entire, detail-laden document here, but notable inclusions highlight the singer’s special guacamole recipe, his fee ($80,000), an aged salami with a sharp knife for cutting, one pound of prosciutto, and a small pack of smoked salmon. (To be fair, riders do have to accomodate the needs of everyone on the tour, so White himself may not have made all of these demands).
In response, White’s booking agency — the William Morris Endeavor Entertainment talent company — has blacklisted the school from hiring any of their clients. A quick glance at their artist roster finds names including the Backstreet Boys, Weezer, Foo Fighters, Kiesza and more, so it feels like a pretty major loss for the University of Oklahoma, but freedom of the press — and the need to know that White is a cured meats fiend — trumps that any day.
