UPDATE #2: Jack White’s management team released a statement regarding Guacamole Gate!
Holy Guacamole!
To the students and staff of University of Oklahoma:
Jack White would love to thank all the concert attendees at his performance at the University of Oklahoma. The crowd was incredible and Mr. White played an extensive two and a half hour show for them. The students who helped organize the event were wonderful. Playing in, and for, the people of Oklahoma is one of Jack White’s favorite tour stops. At no time did Jack White or White’s management say that we would never play there again, that is untrue.
The incidents with the OU Daily student newspaper reporting the financial terms of the show, the private tour rider information, along with unsolicited photographers from their staff were unfortunate, unprofessional, and very unwelcoming. The show was one of many on this tour directed at playing for university students in their own environment. And the band were all completely thrilled with the performance and the crowd.
Incidentally, the most important function of a rider is that it lays out optimal technical specifications to ensure the audience has the best experience possible. For that, Jack hires a team of very qualified touring professionals who write the rider and attempt to execute a professional and pleasant experience for all involved. Part of that is making sure that the tour personnel of about 30 people plus the local venue staff are fed. Contrary to what some believe, Jack doesn’t write the rider nor make demands about his favorite snacks that must be in his dressing room. We’re not even sure he likes guacamole but we do know that the folks who work hard to put on the show do enjoy it.
(By the way, now that’s it out there, we recommend you try Lalo’s guacamole recipe. It’s delicious.)
We hope those present for Mr. White’s performance are able to maintain their good memories from the experience and he looks forward to seeing them again soon.
Sincerely,
Monotone Inc.
(Jack White’s management)
UPDATE: In light of the student-run OU Daily paper publishing Jack White’s contract, the William Morris Entertainment booking agency, one of the largest such agencies in America, has decided to ban all future performances at the University of Oklahoma. The agency claims that the OU Daily leaked private information, which was never supposed to reach the public.
Guacamole has never been so controversial! And, of course, all of the other sensitive information that leaked in the 22-page document.
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After his recent performance at the University of Oklahoma, the school reported that they spent over $80,000 accommodating the high-profile musician. The OU Daily published the 22-page contract, which shows a number of unique requests from Jack White and his crew.
Among them:
-Seven, unlabeled dressing rooms. The band will bring their own labels.
-Jack White prefers Odwalla or Naked Juices, and requires four bottles.
-The band requires a pack of smoked salmon, pitas, proscuitto, salami, a box of Fiber One Peanut Butter bars, a dozen chicken wings, assorted berries, mixed flavor yogurts, and assorted small chocolates.
-In addition to all of that, White’s contract demands freshly-made guacamole, even going so far as to specify the proper recipe of the guacamole.

-The contract also specifies 1 New York strip steak, prepared medium, no sauce, with clean, steamed vegetables on the side, to be served right before showtime.
And finally, perhaps one of our favorite lines from the whole contract:
While the banana ban seems to be motivated by allergies, we’re certainly curious to see what would happen to any venue that did make the mistake of bringing bananas to a Jack White show…
[Via CoS]