Director Emmett Malloy has spoken about The White Stripes last tour, revealing how constant live appearances took their toll on the band.
Emerging from Detroit, The White Stripes moved from cult favourites to a mainstream success story. Centred on just guitar and drums, the brother / sister duo Jack and Meg White pushed their way into the hearts of music fans.
However the band have been silent since 2007. Performing a series of lengthy tours, The White Stripes decided to take time off in order to allow Meg White to recover from exhaustion.
The duo’s final tour was in Canada, playing a series of unusual shows. Director Emmett Malloy captured The White Stripes on ferocious form, with the results shown in the film ‘Under The Great Northern Lights’.
Speaking to BBC 6Music, the director revealed his first hand experience of the effects touring had on the duo. The tour left the pair “emotionally and physically exhausted” he claimed.
In the documentary fans witness Meg White leaving the stage in tears after their 10th anniversary show. “They had just played a two-and-a-half hour set to a small audience,” Malloy recalled. “That was a very emotional evening – it was very celebratory. It was an amazing set where they played so much of their catalogue.”
“That was all the highs and lows of everything they’ve been through in their relationship as a band. The White Stripes have had some amazing moments together as a band and I think that was a moment to reflect on those 10 years.”
Continuing, the director claimed that he believed that The White Stripes would reform. “Jack’s done a few interviews that I’ve read and it always sounds like they are going to get back together and do something” he said.
“After this tour, we all needed a break but I just can’t imagine that band not doing more records and doing more shows. They just probably needed a break like everybody does. I foresee them doing some shows together sooner than later.”
The White Stripes new tour documentary ‘Under The Great Northern Lights’ is out now.
