Jack White just posted a link to Facebook warning followers of a reported "outbreak of a rare and unidentified contagious disease." He goes on to explain that the outbreak occurred at the Vescovo Clinic and that it is "said to have been contained. One patient, an unnamed man, was taken away for further testing and is said to be in a stable condition."
At first we thought someone might have exposed patrons at one of his shows to a horrible disease, but knowing White, we decided to look further.
After Googling "contagious disease outbreak at Jack White concert in London" with no results, we came across an article in The Guardian that cleared up all of the confusion.
Apparently Jack White conjured up a collaboration with the Punchdrunk theatre company, famous for its interactive and immersive theatre events that have involved in the past Damon Albarn and Adam Curtis, for a secret show in London.
The elaborate scheme went as far as to create a seemingly authentic company called Vescovo & Co, which claims to have been established in 1926 as an "international health protection agency" charitably funded by "the Knights of Malta" with offers of "free contagious & infectious disease testing."
Seeing as White's latest album is titled Lazaretto, a reference to the quarantine stations once used for maritime travellers, it makes sense that the theatre company set the production in a sinister research center with a narrative involving a contagious disease outbreak.
The secret show took place just off the Strand in central London. Those who were invited to the show had been contacted via phone by a woman named "Tabitha from Vescovo & Co.," who told them of their "appointment."
Once inside the building, uniformed officials took names, handed out numbered wristbands, and instructed them to fill out a form that signed away all their rights and internal organs with the fine print warning of the potential for "sudden death."
The attendees were given surgical masks and had their hands inspected before being brought up an elevator to another floor to meet "Dr. Fleming."
Everyone was given surgical gowns and protective coverings before moving through a maze of rooms and being examined by the doctor.
Suddenly, panic ensued when one patient was identified as "contagious" and was rushed into a dark corridor.
Then the lights flew on and Jack White and his band began playing like mad men. The short set included just a handful of songs such as "Lazaretto," the White Stripes' "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground," "John the Revelator," and "St. James Infirmary Blues."
When the set ended, doctors rushed White off stage on a stretcher as he writhed around displaying the signs of his incurable disease.
The patrons were instructed to leave the building and were given "Prescriptions from Jack," which were signed by Doctor John A White III of Vescovo & Co and included medical advice such as "Be sure to eat your Ovaltine" and "Pet a horse."
The ambulance carrying White rushed away into the night.
You can read Guardian writer Laura Barton's personal experience here. Check out photos from the even on White's website.
What do you think of White's elaborate scheme? Let us know in the comment section below!
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