Scot songstress KT Tunstall met everyone’s favorite rock god backstage at a recent festival in Japan. Here’s what she had to say:

He’s like Led Zeppelin in one man. It was a magical moment… the Raconteurs’ dressing room was opposite ours, so I got a bit of paper and wrote, “Did I ever tell you you’re my hero? I’m totally in love with you.” I went to put it in his room, but it was full of the trendiest people who looked like they hadn’t eaten since they were children. I thought, “I can’t put the note in there, they’ll ridicule me.” Then I turned around and there was this giant belt buckle in my face, and there was Jack.

Well, Ms. Tunstall got much farther than I would’ve. I’d have fainted at the buckle!

Post from: The Hotel Yorba

It’s official, ladies and gentlemen. The world is on a Tokyo commuter train blazing toward the End of Times.

Let me just start by saying that all of the following is speculation and rumor. There isn’t a shred of truth to be had here today, if at all.

As we all know, the Stripes recently canceled the remaining dates on their 2007 tour (both U.S. and across the pond), citing Meg’s “acute anxiety,” which is certainly a legitimate reason for taking a break, what with the pressures of a national performance schedule and all.

But many of us are wondering whether Meg’s anxiety was a natural occurrence or the result of some earth-shattering event.

Enter the rabid ravings of the Internet. A certain sex tape has surfaced – no, I will not directly link to it, you heathens – that supposedly stars…well…the Stripe in question.

I don’t believe a bit of it and you shouldn’t either. As Idolator astutely mentions, the image is incredibly blurry, the setting seems to be a college dorm room, and Meg’s publicist made it clear that it is absolutely a “prank” with a “twisted sense of humor” and “bad taste.”

Normally, I wouldn’t pander to such crude and vapid hoopla, but I felt it necessary this time. I had a duty to you Yorbites, a duty to inform you about this utter nonsense and then dispel you of any fanciful conjecture.

Madness, I say! A canceled tour, a pseudo-sex-tape. What’s next? I suppose Jack’s really a three-toed sloth!?

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That’s the brutal bombshell this week, Yorbites. I expect many of you are as devastated as I am and surely peeking out through your blinds, searching the horizon for the Four Horsemen.

From the official White wire:

The White Stripes announced today that they are canceling their forthcoming tour due to health issues.  Meg White is suffering from acute anxiety and is unable to travel at this time.

The White Stripes sincerely apologize to their fans.
“We hate to let people down and are very sorry.”

Fans can obtain refunds for their tickets at point of purchase.

Dates affected:

9/13/07  Albuquerque, NM @ Kiva Auditorium
9/15/07  Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits Festival
9/16/07  Austin, TX @ Stubbs Bar-B-Q
9/18/07  San Diego, CA @ Coors Amphitheatre
9/19/07  Inglewood, CA @ The Forum
9/21/07  Berkeley, CA @ Greek Theatre
9/24/07  Anchorage, AK @ George M. Sullivan Sports Arena
9/26/07  Seattle, WA @ Paramount Ballroom
9/27/07  Seattle, WA @ Paramount Ballroom
9/28/07  Boise, ID @ Idaho Center Theater
9/29/07  Salt Lake City, UT @ The E Center
9/30/07  Jackson Hole, WY @ Snowking Center
10/2/07  Rapid City, SC @ Rushmore Plaza Civic Center
10/3/07  Fargo, ND @ Fargo Civic Auditorium
10/4/07  Lincoln, NE @ Pershing Center Auditorium
10/6/07  Chicago, IL @ Aragon Ballroom
10/7/07  Chicago, IL @ Aragon Ballroom
10/10/07 Honolulu, HI @ Neal S. Blaisdell Center

The Hotel Yorba wishes nothing but health and happiness upon Meg at this difficult time. Here’s hoping that the anxiety is temporary and that the Stripes are bound to pack it up again!

Post from: The Hotel Yorba

Jack & Meg fill the Garden with their massive, magnificent sound!

Alicia Keys really wants to work with the Stripes! Take a number, honey.

Jack says journalists are “the laziest people on earth.” The gloves are off!

And, to wrap the review up, the official White wire offers the following:

The White Stripes have just added a show at Stubb’s Bar-B-Q in Austin, Texas on September 16th. Tickets go on sale tomorrow, July 28th at 10 am CST and can be purchased HERE.

Due to noise restrictions and concern from local residents, the venue has now changed for the gig in San Diego on September 18th. This show will now take place at Coors Amphitheatre where seating will now be general admission and all tickets purchased for The Embarcadero will be honored at this new venue. Apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused our fans.

Due to unforeseen scheduling conflicts, the October 11th performance at Kiva Auditorium in Albuquerque, NM will now take place on September 13th. All tickets for the 10/11 date will be honored on 9/13. If you are unable to attend the new date, refunds are available at point of purchase. We apologize to all of our fans for any inconvenience this may have caused.

If you haven’t already seen the new video for You Don’t Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You’re Told), be sure to sneak a peek on the video page of the site.

Post from: The Hotel Yorba

According to the results of a poll entitled “The 20 Best Live Bands Playing Right Now” at Rolling Stone’s Rock & Roll Daily, the Stripes are the #1 band to see in person this year, topping such mammoth acts as Radiohead, U2, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and even the newly-reformed Rage Against The Machine!

A poll wasn’t required, Stone. Based on available YouTube footage alone, the answer is obvious to everyone, not just us Yorbites!

Post from: The Hotel Yorba

Dear candy cane children,

The White Stripes are announcing that the “single note performance” in Newfoundland will be their last secret/side/B show for quite sometime. Every free performance was a success on the brink of disaster, and the band regrettably must retire them for the time being… undefeated! The Stripes did their best to ensure that fans of the band knew about the shows before anyone else, and are very happy for those who were able to find out and attend. The fans have been very supportive and aiding in the events, and Jack and Meg are gleeful by the way the shows have been received. But alas, before the performances become expected, or people start the inevitable misunderstanding of the true purpose of them (or worse), The Stripes feel it wise to keep these experiences memorable, and not let them turn perfunctory. Thanks to all who helped.

I believe it’s a good move. Heaven forbid the Stripes become merely “that band that does fishing boat gigs.”

Post from: The Hotel Yorba

We’ve now officially played in every province and territory in Canada!

…and a quick exit to prepare for a full-length set at St. John’s Mile One Stadium later that evening, the truly final show.

Post from: The Hotel Yorba

Stories are sweeping in about those stranger tour locations on the Stripes’ North American tour:

Daycamp and a young R. Kelly impersonator!

Bagpipes, kilts and a cannon!

Fiddling at the Savoy Theatre!

And finally…

A fishing boat?

The gig spots just keep getting charmingly wackier.

Post from: The Hotel Yorba

The spot for the Stripes’ Anchorage gig has been changed to the George M. Sullivan Sports Arena. Apparently, more space was needed to accommodate all those screaming fans! Don’t worry if you’ve already purchased tickets. They’ll be accepted for GA floor seats.

But that’s not all! New items have been added to the Stripes’ web store: t-shirts featuring a “button horse” (somewhat reminiscent of a similar creature in The Science of Sleep) and a penguin, the Jack & Meg flash drives finally available for international customers and official tablature books for the albums White Blood Cells and Elephant.

Post from: The Hotel Yorba

Word from the official White wire:

The Stripes will return to the United Kingdom this fall for a headline tour across the country. Here’s a listing of the gigs:

24 Oct. – Glasgow SECC
25 Oct. – Manchester MEN Arena
26 Oct. – Newcastle Metro Arena
28 Oct. – Birmingham NEC
29 Oct. – Cardiff Int. Arena
31 Oct. – Sheffield Hallam Arena
1 Nov. – Nottingham Arena
2 Nov. – London O2 Arena

Tickets for every show except the Glasgow one can be purchased from a 24-hour credit card hotline (0871 2200 260) or online at gigsandtours.com

Glasgow tickets will be sold from pclpresents.com

Post from: The Hotel Yorba