Jack White surprised fans at Chicago’s Riot Fest by joining IDLES on stage for a wild performance of “Never Fight a Man With a Perm” on September 21. This special guest appearance followed White’s own main stage set the night before. IDLES frontman Joe Talbot welcomed him with enthusiasm, saying, “It’s a great honor… I’d like to welcome onstage Jack White the third.”
Riot Fest took over Douglass Park for three days, featuring big names like Green Day, Blink-182, and Weezer as headliners. On the final day, IDLES delivered an electrifying set just before the headliners. They were also joined by British group Soft Play for their last song, “Rottweiler.”
Earlier this month, Jack White performed “With a Little Help From My Friends” with Ringo Starr at the Bourbon & Beyond Festival in Louisville on September 13. The two had previously played together at Nashville’s Ryman Theater, where they rocked through “Matchbox” and “Don’t Pass Me By.”
Next, Jack White will co-headline Brooklyn’s CBGB Festival with Iggy Pop at Under the K Bridge Park on September 27. Meanwhile, IDLES are busy working on their next album, the follow-up to 2024’s Tangk. They’ve already completed 10 tracks and aim to finish recording by the end of the year. The band is also writing music for Darren Aronofsky’s new thriller, Caught Stealing.
Talbot shared, “We’ve recorded a bunch of songs. We’re going to go back and do a bunch more. We’re recording with Kenny [Beats] and Nigel [Godrich] again. It’s really magic, I can’t wait.” Fans can stay tuned for more updates on their upcoming album and shows.
