White Stripes - Jack & Meg - Forced to cancel Carling Festival Shows

Jack's statement:


The white stripes would like to apologize most sincerely to the admirers of the band who have faithfully purchased tickets to see us perform in the midst of this, a most unfortunate accident. A bone in the index finger of my fretting hand was shattered in an automobile accident, making it absolutely impossible to play guitar, especially since I've been instructed by doctor's that there is no way I can move my wrist until it is completely healed. The break did not heal properly, and surgery had to be performed. Three screws were placed in my finger to set the bones and insure complete recovery, three screws that will remain in my hand for life. I have provided a link on the white stripes website www.whitestripes.com to a film of the surgery on my finger for those admirers of the band with tickets to cancelled shows to better understand the complexity of the situation.

Our shows from the ninth of july 2003 until the middle of September must all unfortunately be cancelled. This includes the festivals in the British isles, T in the park, witness, reading, and leeds. The real shame is that it is virtually impossible to make it up to those admirers who purchased tickets to those festivals with the sole intention of experiencing the white stripes live performance. We apologize to those people and hope that the other fine performers in the line ups will fulfill a lost space for you. As for the club touring dates we are currently doing our best to reschedule certain venues, but again misfortune prevails and we will simply have no time to make them all up. But we will do our best in the situation that we have been given. So, To those who care, or were wondering, meg and myself sincerely apologize to you and hope to get through this set back with the blessings of God.

Jack white
III