A Jack White Australian solo tour will happen ‘for sure’ according to Triple J’s Zan Rowe who caught up with the frontman at SXSW in Austin, Texas.
Rowe missed out on attending Jack White’s sold out show, which saw 650 lucky fans including Bill Murray and Stooges drummer Scott Asheton witness a performance that Pitchfork called ‘startlingly engaging’, but she did manage to corner the singer/songwriter later at the conference.
“From James to Jack, it was all about the solid songwriters today cos my final interview was with the one and only Jack White,” Rowe wrote in her blog on Triple J. “I don’t get nervous a lot, but I had butterflies before this one. Sure enough, as soon as we sat down together he put me at ease.”
“I first interviewed Jack almost 10 years ago and then and now he’s instantly struck me as an artist who knows what he wants to do and how to directly get there. We talked interchangeable bands, expectations after The White Stripes and even dream diaries.
“You’ll hear the whole thing closer to his solo record’s release, in late April. I can tell you now for sure though, he’s coming back to Australia to play these songs. And he’ll play the hits. His show here in Austin featured the best of his back catalogue, but with two bands swapping around (one all male, one all female). I can’t wait.”
White has been a hot tip as a headliner for Splendour In The Grass 2012 ever since he was announced for Fuji Rock in Japan earlier this year alongside other rumoured acts At The Drive-In and The Shins.
His forthcoming record, Blunderbuss, is the first solo album from White who until now has preferred the trappings of being a member of the band.
His move into the solo world comes after the shock announcement around a year ago that the band that made him famous, Grammy-winning two-piece band The White Stripes with his ex-wife Meg on drums, would be splitting after 14 years as a band.
Since then White has got a divorce and has been focusing on his record label, Third Man Records, spitting out re-releases, rarities, signing new artists, and new music including his bizarre collaboration with the Insane Clown Posse.
Blunderbuss is due for release on 24th April this year.
