Third Man Records is proud to announce the arrival of The White Stripes' The First Show: Live On Bastille Day, a recording of the band's first-ever performance, on digital and streaming services for the first time ever to celebrate the band's 20th Anniversary. The performance, which took place during The Gold Dollar Detroit's open mic night on Bastille Day 1997 -- 20 years ago today -- sees the Stripes powering through an abbreviated set of "St. James Infirmary," "Jimmy The Exploder," and "Love Potion #9." The First Show: Live On Bastille Day is now available to purchase and stream HERE.
Recorded in crystalline soundboard quality, this first glimpse into The White Stripes' unique sound world -- which was previously available only as a 7" in Third Man Vault Package #13 -- brims with childish charm and a heartwarming awareness of how far Jack and Meg White would journey from such an unassuming start.
From the same era of the White Stripes' first show, this photo (previously only published in grainy black-and-white) highlights a wall in Detroit emblazoned with the phrase 'Silk, Satin, Suede' which was originally slated to be the title of the White Stripes' first album.
Third Man will be celebrating The White Stripes' 20th anniversary all year. Fans are reminded to check out the details of their latest massive Vault package, #33, The White Stripes Icky Thump X, HERE. Registration to receive this package will be open until July 31st.
All those memories that I left behind…
Yes, Kali Durga — so much to love in that priceless photo! Can’t wait to listen to this performance…
So… was that a Ragstock Store in Detroit??? i used to visit the one in Minneapolis whenever i could back in the day…. Silk Satin and Suede…. too trendy! …. im so glad they chose not to call the first album that name…. the White Stripes were so much more than that stock line…. i was just wondering this morning how we might celebrate the anniversary and this has got to be the best way!!!! …. let e top ten count downs begin…. Top Special!!!
Thanks for making this available digitally. Love the picture as well.
This is wonderful.
Oh. my. gosh. That’s my new favorite White Stripes photo. Everyone else can drool over the colored vinyl, I’m gonna sit here bug-eyed over that picture, day-dreaming about how those two kids so seemingly unintentionally changed the world. Well, at least the musical scene and a lot of people’s lives. There’s so much going on in that photo— The two of them “so young and beautiful” (to quote Handsprings), the red of their shirts disappearing into the wall while their white pants pop against it, Jack’s golden mohawk gleaming like a crown, patriotism, and a beat up van in the city of the Big Three. Twenty years later, Jack’s the king of an empire and we all hope that Meg’s happy whatever she’s doing. I’m so sad I came too late to the party to experience the Stripes live, much less in their early days, but also so damned glad that the party can can at least go on through recordings like these.
Fantastic.