- TONIGHT ON "LOVE AND RESPECT," A CONVERSATION WITH 12-TIME GRAMMY WINNING SINGER, SONGWRITER AND PRODUCER, JACK WHITE.

- WHEN THE WHITE STRIPES FIRST CAME OUT, IT WAS SORT OF LIKE EVERYTHING HAD BECOME SO SORT OF DIGITAL AND FAKE AND PLASTIC THAT IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS OUR JOB.

IF SOMEONE HANDED US THE MIC, WE SHOULD TRY TO PREACH ABOUT THE SOULFULNESS OF THE WAY THINGS USED TO BE DONE THAT WEREN'T BROKEN.

- YEAH.

- WE ALL THOUGHT, WELL, THIS IS THE WAY YOU WOULD DO IT IF YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) - JACK WHITE, COMING UP RIGHT NOW.

- [ANNOUNCER] "LOVE & RESPECT" WITH KILLER MIKE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY... - REGINA APPROACHES THE ALL-ELECTRIC CADILLAC LYRIQ.

IT'S A SUNNY DAY.

- NAH, A STORMY DAY.

- CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYS.

- MM-MM, BRASS BAND, NEW ORLEANS.

♪♪ - SHE DRIVES HANDS-FREE ALONG THE COAST.

- MAKE IT PALM SPRINGS.

CADILLAC IS GOING ELECTRIC.

IF YOU WANNA BE BOLD, YOU HAVE TO GO OFF SCRIPT.

- EXPERIENCE THE ALL-ELECTRIC CADILLAC LYRIQ.

♪♪ - AH, JACK, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU.

- YEAH.

- AND BEYOND APPRECIATING YOU COMING TO THE SHOW, MY BAND, RUN THE JEWELS, ME AND EL-P.

FORMERLY OF DEF JUX AND COMPANY FLOW, WERE RUNNING AROUND 2014 AND 15, TRYING TO MAKE PEOPLE REALIZE WHO WE ARE, PLAYED WITH THE AUDIENCES.

AND WE GOT A CALL FROM YOU TO PLAY MADISON, TO OPEN AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN.

- YEAH.

- NEVER HAD A CHANCE TO FORMALLY THANK YOU FOR THAT, BUT LITERALLY- - OH, THANK YOU.

- GET CHILLS THINKING ABOUT IT NOW.

- AW, IT WAS SUCH A GREAT SHOW, HOW COOL IT WAS.

- YEAH, MAN.

AND I JUST PLAYED IN MADISON SQUARE, SO THANK YOU, BRO.

- OH, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

THAT WAS GREAT.

THAT WAS A GREAT SHOW.

- YOU GUYS WERE KILLING IT.

- YOU HAVE BEEN A PART OF HUGE HISTORY, 12 GRAMMY HISTORY IN ROCK AND ROLL, WHITE STRIPES ON THROUGH TO A SOLO CAREER.

AND YOU'VE JUST DROPPED THIS.

- YEAH.

- AND THIS IS FEAR THE DAWN.

- YEAH.

- AND IT LOOKS AMAZING.

AND I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO THE FIRST HALF OF THE ALBUM OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

I'M GONNA GET THROUGH THE WHOLE, BUT I FOUND A LOT LIKING IN THE FIRST FIVE, SIX RECORDS.

- YEAH.

- JUST PLAYING, IT FEELS AUTHORITATIVE.

IT FEELS PUNK-SPIRITED.

IT FEELS BADASS.

IT FEELS ROCK.

AND I WAS WONDERING WHO YOU COLLABORATED WITH, AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT WAS JUST YOU.

- (LAUGHS) A LOT OF IT WAS, YEAH.

- (LAUGHS) IT WAS YOU AND LOCKED AWAY FOR A COUPLE YEARS.

WHAT BROUGHT YOUR IMAGINATION FORTH TO SAY, "THIS IS WHAT I'M GONNA DO RIGHT NOW."

- FIRST YEAR OF THE PANDEMIC, LIKE 2020, I DIDN'T DO ANY MUSIC.

WE KEPT HEARING THIS WAS GONNA GO ON FOR A WHILE.

SO I THOUGHT, "OH, IT WOULD BE A SHAME IF I GOT REALLY EXCITED ABOUT A LOT OF SONGS."

AND THEY SAT IN THE CAN FOR TWO YEARS AND I DIDN'T GET TO TOUR THEM.

SO I THOUGHT, "AH, MAYBE IT'S A GOOD TIME FOR ME TO TAKE A BREAK FROM WRITING SONGS."

AND I THOUGHT, "WOW."

I HAVE NO EXCUSE ABOUT ALL THESE OTHER THINGS, THESE OTHER CREATIVE IDEAS AND THINGS, PROJECTS I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT I HADN'T HAVE TIME FOR.

SO NOW I HAVE THE TIME.

SO I GOT INTO FURNITURE MAKING AND UPHOLSTERY, AND DESIGNING THINGS AT MY PRESSING PLANT, AND THINGS THAT... WE OPENED A THIRD MAN STORE IN LONDON.

THIRD MAN RECORDS IS MY RECORD LABEL.

- I KNOW ABOUT THAT.

- SO I DESIGNED THE INTERIOR OF THAT, AND I CO-OWN A BASEBALL BAT COMPANY CALLED WARSTIC.

AND I CO-DESIGNED THE HEADQUARTERS IN DALLAS FOR THAT.

SO I GOT INTO A LOT OF DESIGN WORK IN 2020.

AND BY THE END OF 2020, I STARTED TO JUST PICK UP A GUITAR AND I STARTED PIANO A LITTLE BIT.

- SO IT'S AMAZING THAT A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND YOU'RE AN ARTIST, YOU'RE AN ARTIST.

A LOT OF TIMES, I DON'T WRITE RAPS.

I GO IN THE BOOTH, AND IT KIND OF COMES OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.

EL DOESN'T LET ME WRITE IT AT THIS POINT.

HE'S LIKE, "JUST GO IN THE BOOTH."

- OH GOOD, YEAH.

- BUT WHAT I DO IS SIT THERE AND DOODLE.

I'LL DOODLE FOR EIGHT, NINE HOURS WHILE WE'RE IN THE STUDIO JUST TEASING AROUND BECAUSE I COME OUT OF, YOU KNOW, A HIGH SCHOOL ARTS PROGRAM.

I REALLY LOVED IT.

SO TO KNOW THAT FOR A YEAR, JACK WHITE SAID, "HOLD ON MUSIC, I'M GONNA GO LEARN UPHOLSTERY AND CARPENTRY."

IS PRETTY AMAZING.

DO YOU FIND THAT EACH DAY, YOUR PRINCIPLE OF DOING SOME ART EACH DAY HAS STRENGTHENED YOUR WORK ETHIC WITH MUSIC AND BESIDES MUSIC, OTHER FORMS OF ART?

- IT HAS BECAUSE I'LL WALK DOWN THE STREET AND FORCE MYSELF TO THINK OF MAKING IT A CREATIVE WALK IN THE MORNING.

IF I GO ON A MORNING WALK IN ATLANTA.

I'LL WALK THIS MORNING.

I HAVE TO THINK OF A CREATIVE WAY TO MAKE MYSELF GO THROUGH THIS.

I CANNOT LET MY BRAIN JUST GO FOR A WALK.

I HAVE TO PICK UP A PIECE OF PAPER AND DO SOMETHING WITH IT.

AND THIS IS ALMOST LIKE, MAYBE...

I THINK IF I TOLD SOMEBODY ABOUT IT WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, THEY MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT I HAD A PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEM ABOUT IT OR SOMETHING, BUT I'VE ALWAYS...

I DIDN'T ALWAYS DO THAT.

I WOULD DO THINGS AND NOT RECOGNIZE THEM AS ART AND RECOGNIZE THEM AS CREATIVE, RECOGNIZE THEM AS JUST SORT OF KILLING TIME.

LIKE MAYBE WHAT YOU WERE MENTIONING ABOUT DOODLING.

I DON'T HAVE ANY TALENT FOR DRAWING BUT I HAVE A TALENT FOR, I DON'T HAVE A TALENT FOR, I HAVE A PASSION FOR PUTTING THINGS TOGETHER.

YOU KNOW, MAYBE WHATEVER THAT'S CALLED, DIRECTING OR PRODUCING, WHATEVER.

I LIKE AND ENJOY IT, AND I FEEL CATHARTIC ABOUT IT.

I'M NOT EXACTLY THINK I'M GOOD AT IT, BUT I FEEL PASSIONATE ABOUT IT.

SO LIKE THIS ARTWORK, I ACTUALLY ASKED A BUNCH OF ILLUSTRATORS TO...

I GAVE THEM A BUNCH OF INFLUENTIAL WORDS, YOU KNOW, SOME INSPIRATIONAL WORDS.

AND I GAVE EVERYONE THE SAME AMOUNT OF WORDS AND THEY ALL DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

SO INSIDE, THERE'S A SORT OF, WHAT DO YOU GOT?

- YEAH, LET'S BUST IT DOWN.

- YEAH, THERE'S LIKE A...

SO THIS IS, ONE OF THE ARTISTS DREW THIS.

- [MIKE] AMAZING.

- THIS IS HER, AND THIS IS A GUY WHO DID...

THIS IS MY WIFE, OLIVIA JEAN, DREW THAT ONE, ACTUALLY.

- OH, YOUR WIFE?

- YEAH, SHE'S REALLY AN INCREDIBLE GRAPHIC DESIGNER.

AND THEN THIS IS, HE'S BATMAN ARTIST FOR DC.

- [MIKE] I COULD KINDA TELL THAT.

- YOU COULD TELL THAT A LITTLE BIT, YEAH.

SO WE HAD SEVERAL DIFFERENT ILLUSTRATORS AND- - THIS IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN BRUCE WAYNE AND THE JOKER.

- HE LOOKS LIKE EXACTLY THAT.

YEAH, HE DOES.

I LIKED HIS FACE FIGURES.

- WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THE COVER IS, YOU'RE DETROIT BORN, AND THIS, I DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WAS A LINCOLN OR A CADILLAC.

I ASKED.

YOU WERE SAID, "WE WERE TRYING TO..." THIS CAR IS DETROIT.

WHETHER IT WAS MADE BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY OR GENERAL MOTORS, THIS IS A DETROIT CAR.

THIS IS A DETROIT HAIRCUT.

LOOK, EVERYTHING ABOUT THAT KIND OF SCREAMS THE D. - YEAH.

YOU KNOW, IT'S FUNNY YOU SAY THAT, 'CAUSE I WAS TALKING TO SOMEBODY THE OTHER DAY WHO GREW UP IN LA, AND I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, EVERY MOVIE YOU SAW WHEN YOU WERE A KID, YOU MUST HAVE SAID, "OH, I KNOW WHERE THEY FILMED THAT."

OR "THAT'S THE SCHOOL MY FRIEND GOES TO."

OR "THAT'S RIGHT A BLOCK FROM MY HOUSE," AND SAID, "OH, THAT'S SO COOL."

BUT I THINK, "WELL, WHAT AM I TALKING ABOUT?"

THE FISHER BODY PLANT WAS A BLOCK FROM MY HOUSE.

- [MIKE] YEAH.

- THE FORD ROUGE PLANT WAS RIGHT OUR WAY TO GO GET GROCERIES OR WHATEVER.

SO EVERYBODY'S CAR WAS MADE BY MY HOUSE.

(LAUGHS) - ABSOLUTELY.

WERE YOU A WORKING CLASS KID GROWING UP IN DETROIT?

- YEAH.

MY GRANDFATHER WORKED AT THE FORD ROUGE PLANT ACTUALLY.

- [MIKE] WOW.

- POLISH IMMIGRANT.

AND THEN I LEARNED UPHOLSTERY, FURNITURE AS A TEENAGER AND THEN MY PARENTS WORKED FOR THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

- [MIKE] OH, WOW.

- YEAH.

- LET ME ASK YOU, DO YOU THINK THAT TRADE SHOULD BE TAUGHT IN HIGH SCHOOL?

- I THINK IT SHOULD BE OFFERED FOR SURE, YEAH.

I WOULD THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO PICK SOME OF THOSE LARGER IDEAS, YOU KNOW, FOR COLLEGE, YOU KNOW, PICKING YOUR ENTIRE CAREER WHEN YOU'RE 16 YEARS OLD OR 17.

THEY'RE TRYING TO MOLD YOU INTO A PATH, WHICH IS IT'S GOOD INSPIRATION, BUT IT'S HARD AT THAT AGE TO EVEN COMPREHEND WHAT'S IT LIKE TO BE A PSYCHIATRIST OR WHAT'S IT LIKE TO BE SOMETHING THAT TAKES EIGHT YEARS OF COLLEGE OR 12 YEARS OF COLLEGE.

WHERE TRADES ARE, JUST EXPOSURE TO THEM WOULD BE NICE.

PLUMBING, ELECTRICIAN, CARPENTRY.

- HIGH SCHOOLS USED TO DO THAT.

- YEAH.

- THEY KIND OF GOT AWAY FROM IT.

MY OLDEST SON IS 28.

WELL WILL BE 28 THIS YEAR, BUT I'M LIKE, HE LOVES SKATING.

I'M LIKE, "IF A KID CAN BUILD A SKATE RAMP, A KID COULD BUILD A ROOM."

- OH, YEAH.

- SO I WORK WITH AN ORGANIZATION CALLED GEORGIA YOUTHBUILD, AND THEY TEACH KIDS TRADES.

SO WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT YOU WERE HEAVILY INTO THE TRADES, IT INSPIRED ME MORE TO LEARN SOMETHING 'CAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO NOTHING AT ALL.

- OKAY.

(LAUGHS) WELL, THAT'S WHY... YEAH, MY HIGH SCHOOL OFFERED A SHOP, A MECHANIC CLASS WORKING ON CARS, AND I WISH I HAD TAKEN IT.

I COULD HAVE TAKEN IT.

I JUST DIDN'T REALIZE.

I THOUGHT, "WHATEVER."

BUT NOW I DON'T REALLY KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT CARS, STILL TO THIS DAY.

I WISH I HAD TAKEN THAT.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) ♪ I'M GONNA FIGHT 'EM ALL ♪ ♪ A SEVEN NATION ARMY COULDN'T HOLD ME BACK ♪ ♪ THEY'RE GONNA RIP IT OFF ♪ ♪ TAKING THEIR TIME RIGHT BEHIND MY BACK ♪ ♪ AND I'M TALKING TO MYSELF AT NIGHT ♪ ♪ BECAUSE I CAN'T FORGET ♪ (UPBEAT MUSIC) ♪ BACK AND FORTH THROUGH MY MIND ♪ ♪ BEHIND A CIGARETTE ♪ - I'M MARRIED.

- YEAH.

- CAN WE TALK ABOUT MARRIAGE?

- YES.

(LAUGHS) - SO WHEN MY BARBER PLAYED... WE WERE LISTENING TO SOME OLD WHITE STRIPES STUFF BEFORE WE LISTENED TO THE NEW ALBUM THIS MORNING, AND HE WAS TALKING ABOUT YOU, TALKED ABOUT, "MAN, THESE DOPEST BROTHERS AND SISTERS EVER."

I WAS LIKE, "DOPER THAN THE OSMONDS?"

HE WAS LIKE "DOPEST."

I SAID, "DOPER THAN THE JACKSONS?"

AND I SAID, "THEY AREN'T BROTHER AND SISTER.

(JACK LAUGHING) THEY WERE MARRIED."

HE WAS LIKE... WELL, I WAS LIKE, "YEAH."

YOU KEPT YOUR MARRIAGE AND YOUR PERSONAL LIFE VERY PRIVATE.

AND PEOPLE GOT A CHANCE TO FOCUS ON THE MUSIC.

PEOPLE GOT A CHANCE TO FALL IN LOVE WITH THAT.

'CAUSE IT WASN'T THE FLEETWOOD MAC EFFECT.

PEOPLE WEREN'T, YOU KNOW, RUMORS ABOUT THE MARRIAGE.

YET YOU GOT MARRIED ON STAGE THIS TIME AROUND, IS THE EVOLUTION OF JACK WHITE OPENING UP A LITTLE MORE TO THIS AUDIENCE IN TERMS OF HIS PERSONAL LIFE?

IS THAT EVOLVING OR IT WAS A ONE-OFF WHERE YOU SAID, "I'LL LET YOU GUYS SEE THIS.

BACK TO PRIVACY, DON'T ASK ABOUT..." - YEAH, I'M STILL A PRETTY PRIVATE PERSON, BUT I'VE JUST BEEN GOING THROUGH... AND IT'S SO FUNNY BECAUSE THE PANDEMIC IS ALMOST LIKE, IF PEOPLE WANT TO THINK THAT'S THE REASON IT HAPPENED TO ME, THAT'S FINE WITH ME.

BUT IT SEEMED TO BE, IT WAS COEXISTING AT THE SAME TIME.

I WAS GOING THROUGH THIS METAMORPHOSIS ON MY OWN ALREADY, WHICH WAS SAY IN LAST COUPLE MONTHS OF '19, I THOUGHT, "WHEN 2020 HITS, I'M GOING TO NOT EAT ANY SUGAR AND SEE HOW LONG I CAN GO AHEAD WITHOUT HAVING ANY SUGAR."

AND I WENT 30 DAYS AND THEN I WENT 60 DAYS.

AND THEN I THOUGHT, "WELL, I'M NOT GONNA HAVE ANY CARBOHYDRATES ANYMORE."

I HAD READ THAT THE HUMAN BODY DOESN'T ACTUALLY NEED CARBOHYDRATES TO SURVIVE.

- GOTCHA.

- SO I STARTED GETTING INTO THIS.

WHAT IS OUR SPECIES ACTUALLY SUPPOSED TO EAT?

LIKE WALKING AROUND IN A FIELD?

WHAT WOULD WE... BEFORE MODERN TIMES, BEFORE INDUSTRIALIZATION, BEFORE AGRICULTURE, BEFORE ALL THIS STUFF.

AND STARTED GETTING INTO THESE IDEAS, AND THIS JUST HAPPENED TO BE WHEN THE LOCKDOWNS WERE STARTING IN THE BEGINNING 2020.

AND SO THIS WAS ALREADY...

I WAS ALREADY IN A METAMORPHOSIS ON MY OWN WITH MY OWN HEALTH AND FINDING MY OWN WELLBEING.

AND AT THE SAME TIME, TO GO BACK TO GETTING BACK TO GETTING BACK INTO FURNITURE AND THAT DESIGN IN A HEAVIER WAY IN THAT YEAR.

THIS WAS GREAT.

IT JUST KEPT GOING AND GOING.

I CHANGED MY BUSINESS MANAGER, MY LAWYER, PEOPLE I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH FOR 20 YEARS.

- [MIKE] YEAH.

- I CHANGED SO MUCH IN MY LIFE.

- [MIKE] YEAH.

- AND, YOU KNOW, NOW WE LIVE IN AN AGE TOO WHERE, YOU KNOW, TO DO THIS, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE EXPECTED TO DO THIS AND TO DO THIS, AND TO SELL AND TO DO THAT, IS WAY MORE SO THAN IT WAS WHERE IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING LIKE, HEY, YOU WERE ON THE JOHNNY CARSON SHOW OR SOMETHING ONCE THAT YEAR AND THAT WAS WHAT YOU DID.

NOW, IT'S "HEY LOOK, THIS IS WHAT MY KIDS HAD FOR BREAKFAST."

OR WHATEVER.

EXPECTATION TO SHARE OR OVERSHARE.

- [MIKE] YEAH.

- WHICH FOR SOME PEOPLE IS GREAT.

IT'S A COOL THING.

AND THEY'RE GOOD AT IT.

AND IT'S AN ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE FOR THEM.

WHERE TO ME IS JUST LIKE, I FEEL LIKE IT'S...

I DON'T KNOW.

IT JUST DOESN'T FIT ME VERY WELL.

SO SOMETIMES, I THINK LIKE, "WELL, I'LL SHARE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO ME IN A CERTAIN WAY."

- SO LIKE THAT, THE GETTING MARRIED ON STAGE, THAT DAY WAS SO BEAUTIFUL.

AND THE BUILDING WE WERE IN MEANT SO MUCH TO ME AND MY WIFE, THAT THIS SEEMED TO BE THE RIGHT MOMENT.

AND I KEPT THINKING THAT IF IT DOESN'T GO THAT WAY, THERE'LL BE A SIGN SAYING, "OH, THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO DO IT."

I ASKED HER, "WOULD YOU COME UP AND PLAY A SONG WITH ME IN A FEW SONGS?"

AND SHE GOES, "UM, OKAY."

AND I THOUGHT, "IF SHE SAYS, NO, I'M NOT GOING UP THERE."

I WOULD BE LIKE, "OKAY, WE'RE NOT DOING IT THEN."

BUT SHE DID, SO IT WAS GREAT.

SO...

BUT IT'S A... YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU PUT OUT THINGS THAT YOU HOLD DEAR AND YOU REALLY LOVE, IF YOU REALLY PUT THEM OUT THERE, I MEAN, PEOPLE CAN JUST WALK ALL OVER THEM AND DESTROY THEM.

- YEAH.

- AND THEN YOU'RE LEFT WITH THESE CRUMBLED PIECES OF THE THINGS THAT ARE SO IMPORTANT TO YOU.

SO I ONLY LET OUT SORT OF A TRUNCATED VERSION OF THINGS I'M INTERESTED IN.

- [MIKE] I GOT IT.

- YEAH, BUT IT'S HARD THOUGH, BECAUSE IF I WANNA GO TALK TO PEOPLE ON AN INTERVIEW AND TALK ABOUT AN ALBUM, HOW YOU MADE IT, YOU KNOW, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE MIGHT SAY, "HEY, WE HAD A LOT OF FUN IN THE STUDIO.

YOU KNOW, WE WENT IN AND BLAH, BLAH, WE DID THIS."

AND IT'S GREAT.

I FEEL LIKE I CAN'T EVEN TALK LIKE THAT.

IT FEELS LIKE IT'S DEMEANING, LIKE I'M INSULTING THE OTHER MUSICIANS OR THE PROCESS OR THE WHATEVER IT IS.

SO IT'S HARD FOR ME, AND I ALSO DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH CERTAIN THINGS MEAN.

SO I HAVE TO COME UP WITH SORT OF A SOUNDBITE VERSION OF IT.

- [MIKE] YEAH.

- AS WE ALL DO.

AND I GUESS I'VE HAD A HARD TIME.

I'VE ALWAYS HAD A HARD TIME WITH IT.

(LAUGHS) - MUSIC CAN BE SO PERSONAL SOMETIMES THAT AS MUSICIANS, YOU'VE PUT IT ALL HERE AND THEN HAVING TO RE-TALK ABOUT IT CAN ALMOST FEEL LIKE YOU'RE STEPPING ON THE WORK YOU'VE PUT, BECAUSE YOU WANT PEOPLE TO CONNECT WITH THE WORK IN A WAY THAT THEY WANNA CONNECT.

OR AM I OVERSTATING IT?

- YEAH, NO, I'M HEARING YOU.

AND I'M TRYING TO THINK OF HOW I'VE- - [MIKE] I DON'T WANNA- - SAID IT OVER THE YEARS WHERE I SORT OF FEEL LIKE I'M TALKING ABOUT THE PROCESS A LOT AND I SORT OF BECAME THE POSTER BOY FOR ANALOG RECORDING AND IT WAS BACK IN THE DAY, ESPECIALLY WHEN WITH THE WHITE STRIPES FIRST CAME OUT, IT WAS SORT OF LIKE EVERYTHING HAD BECOME SO SORT OF DIGITAL AND FAKE AND PLASTIC THAT IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS OUR JOB.

IF SOMEONE HANDED US THE MIC, WE SHOULD TRY TO PREACH ABOUT THE SOULFULNESS OF THE WAY THINGS USED TO BE DONE THAT WEREN'T BROKEN.

- YEAH.

- 'CAUSE WE DIDN'T THINK IT WAS BROKEN IN THE GARAGE ROCK SCENE, IN THE PUNK SCENE.

WE CAME FROM DETROIT.

WE ALL THOUGHT, "WELL, THIS IS THE WAY YOU WOULD DO IT IF YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, YOU KNOW."

SO WE PREACHED TO THAT, TO, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT WE DID.

IT WAS REAL.

IT WAS MORE PRETENDING, BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE THOUGHT, IF YOU WERE ASKING US HOW WE DO IT, THIS IS HOW WE DO IT.

- SO SPEAKING OF DETROIT, WHETHER THE ROCK AND ROLL WITH YOU GUYS OR SOUL MUSIC WITH MOTOWN, DETROIT HAS A LONG HISTORY AND HERITAGE OF MUSIC, BUT ALSO IT'S A BEAUTIFUL CITY TO LOOK AT FROM A SCULPTURE PERSPECTIVE, FROM A BUILDING PERSPECTIVE.

YOU SAVED THE MASONIC TEMPLE IN DETROIT, BUT BESIDES CREATING MORE CONSPIRACY THEORY- - [JACK] SO I COULD GET MARRIED THERE.

(LAUGHS) - YEAH.

(LAUGHS) - I WAS GONNA SAY, BESIDES CREATING CONSPIRACY THEORY OF THE MARRIAGE BEING SOME TYPE OF A CULT THING, IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.

WHY DID YOU SAVE THAT BUILDING?

AND WHAT DOES IT MATTER TO YOU THAT DETROIT DOESN'T BECOME AFTER, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING ELSE?

LIKE ATLANTA MATTERS TO ME, THAT CERTAIN BUILDINGS ARE KEPT, THAT CERTAIN STREETS ARE STILL NAMED.

AND DETROIT, PEOPLE FROM DETROIT HAVE THAT ABOUT THEM.

THEY'RE VERY PROUD OF THEIR CITY.

- YEAH.

- WHAT CAUSED YOU TO BUY THE BUILDING?

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT THE CITY AND THE HERITAGE?

AND DOES ANY OF THAT "HERITAGE KEEPING" LEAD INTO YOUR COLLABORATION WITH ONE OF MY FAVORITES, LORETTA LYNN?

- OH, OKAY.

- WHO'S NOT FROM DETROIT, BUT IS AN AMAZING ARTIST.

AND LIKE AS A LITTLE BLACK KID GROWING UP WATCHING HER, BARBARA MANDREL AND HER SISTERS, DOLLY PARTON, LIKE REALLY WHAT BROUGHT ME INTO COUNTRY MUSIC.

SO JUST TALK TO ME ABOUT HERITAGE, ABOUT THE BUILDING, ABOUT DETROIT AND ABOUT LORETTA'S COLLABORATION.

- THAT MASONIC TEMPLE BUILDING, I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL ACROSS THE STREET FROM THAT BUILDING.

SO I WAS ALREADY CONNECTED TO IT ON A DAILY BASIS, WALKING IN FRONT OF IT.

WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, I HAD FOUND OUT THAT ALSO MY BROTHER-IN-LAW HAD USHERED THERE AT A FEW SHOWS IN THE '70S.

I SAID, "OH, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT."

AND THEN MY MOM SAID, "WELL, I WORKED THE CANDY DESK IN THE LATE '70S THERE OR WHATEVER."

I'M LIKE, "WHAT?"

YEAH, SHE SOLD CONCESSIONS THERE.

SHE SAID, "OH YEAH, I WORKED THE DAVID BOWIE CONCERT."

MY MOM IS, YOU KNOW, VERY CONSERVATIVE.

LIKE "WHAT?"

SHE GOES, "WELL, WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?"

"OH, DAVID BOWIE CAME OUT WITH THIS UGLY PURPLE CAPE ON OR SOMETHING, I DON'T KNOW."

(MIKE LAUGHING) SO THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF THAT KIND OF CONNECTION THERE.

- SO REAL PERSONAL CONNECTION.

- YEAH SO A LITTLE BIT OF THAT, YEAH.

BUT THE BUILDING ITSELF WAS ALSO IN THE GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS.

IT HAS THE MOST ROOMS OF ANY BUILDING IN THE WORLD.

I GUESS OVER A THOUSAND ROOMS IN THAT BUILDING.

AND THERE'S JUST SOME INCREDIBLE ARCHITECTURE AND THERE'S SOME HISTORY THERE.

THE LONE RANGER RADIO SHOW WAS RECORDED THERE, I THINK.

AND MIKE WALLACE ACTUALLY WORKED, I MENTIONED HIM, HE ACTUALLY WORKED ON THAT RADIO SHOW IN THAT BUILDING.

AND THE THEATER ITSELF, HOW MANY STORIES I'VE HEARD.

I MEAN, WHEN I WAS A PA ON CAR COMMERCIALS WHEN I WAS YOUNGER AND REMEMBER A GUY, ONE OF THE LIGHTING GUYS WAS LIKE, "YEAH, I HANDED MICK JAGGER A BUCKET OF GLITTER WHEN HE WALKED OUT ON STAGE AT MASONIC, AND HE THREW IT OUT INTO THE CROWD."

AND I MEAN, EVERYONE'S GOT SORT OF, THE WHO, J. HENDRIX, THAT PLACE HAS GOT SOME INSANE VIBES AND HISTORY IN THE ROOM.

YOU CAN FEEL IT WHEN YOU WALK IN.

AND IT WAS ALWAYS...

EVEN WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, IT WAS ON A VERGE OF POSSIBLY, YEAH, THERE'S, FEWER AND FEWER MEMBERS OF THE MASONS WHICH I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT, BUT I HAD HEARD THAT, YEAH, THEY'RE GETTING OLDER AND OLDER, AND NO YOUNGER MEMBERS ARE JOINING OR SOMETHING.

SO I REMEMBER THEM TALKING ABOUT THAT BUILDING BEING IN JEOPARDY, EVEN WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER.

AND I HAD HEARD THAT, YEAH, THEY WERE ABOUT TO HIT FORECLOSURE 'CAUSE OF A TAX.

THEY OWED A LOT OF MONEY IN TAXES.

AND IT JUST SEEMED LIKE, I DON'T KNOW, YOU SEEM TO BE A BUSINESSMAN TOO, ON THIS SENSE OF WHERE WE...

I KEPT THINKING, "WHY DON'T YOU GUYS BOOK THOSE ROOMS, THAT THEATER AND THE SMALLER THEATER?"

I NEVER SEE ANY SHOWS THERE, LIKE WHOEVER'S RUNNING THE BOOKING, IT NEEDS A BREATH OF FRESH AIR OR SOMETHING.

SO I THOUGHT MAYBE THIS WOULD STIMULATE THAT.

AND IT WOULD ALSO HELP THE DETROIT MUSIC SCENE TOO IN BRINGING THAT UP.

BOB DYLAN'S FIRST SHOW WAS AT THE SMALLER THEATER IN DETROIT.

- THAT'S AMAZING.

- SO, YEAH, THAT WAS A ONE WAY OF GIVING BACK TO A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE I HAVE DIRECT CONNECTIONS FROM, WHICH WAS CALLED THE CASS CORRIDOR, WHICH IS A NOTORIOUS, YOU KNOW, MURDER CENTRAL OF DETROIT, THE ROUGHEST NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND THAT'S WHERE WE WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL AND CAUGHT THE BUS EVERY DAY.

AND SO YOU HAVE TO START WITH THAT FIRST.

- YES.

- IT'S EASIER TO DO BIGGER THINGS IN I DON'T KNOW, IN SORT OF NICER, MORE COMFORTABLE, SAFER WAYS, BUT THAT MORE OF A DANGEROUS PLACE TO TRY TO HELP THE HERITAGE.

- I'M PERSONALLY... T.I AND I BOUGHT A RESTAURANT TOGETHER.

IT'S THE OLDEST RESTAURANT ON BANKHEAD HIGHWAY, CALLED BANKHEAD SEAFOOD.

AND A BIG PART OF THE REASON WE BOUGHT IT WAS SIMILAR TO THE REASONS, LIKE OUR FAMILY HAD HISTORY THERE.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS LIKE OPEN WEDNESDAYS THROUGH THE WEEKENDS.

YOU CAN ONLY BUY BIG BOXES OF FISH, COULDN'T GET EXTRA HUSH PUPPIES, YOU HAD TO BUY ANOTHER BOX.

OLD LADY NAMED IS HELEN HARDEN BOUGHT IT.

BUT PART OF US BUYING IT WAS ABOUT PRESERVATION.

WE WANNA MAKE MONEY.

WE GONNA MAKE MONEY, BUT IT WAS ABOUT PRESERVING SOMETHING.

AND IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE A PRESERVATIONIST, LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE PRESERVED NOT ONLY THE MEMORIES OF YOUR DIRECT FAMILY AND THE CONNECTS TO THAT, BUT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR MUSICIANS TO COME AND PLAY AND PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY OF PEOPLE WORKING AROUND, FOR JOBS AND STUFF.

SO THAT'S BIGGER THAN BUSINESS.

I'D LIKE TO SEE MORE ATHLETES AND MUSICIANS IN PARTICULAR, BE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES BE DOING THAT.

THAT'S DEFINITELY A BRAVO.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) ♪ WHEN I'M DOWN ON THE FLOOR YOU'LL SEE ♪ ♪ THAT NO ONE WILL NOTICE ME ♪ ♪ IT'S BREAKING MY BACK ♪ ♪ BREAKING MY BACK ♪ ♪ WHEN YOU DROP THE MAIL OFF TO ME ♪ ♪ AND MAKE US BOTH COFFEE ♪ ♪ ARE YOU TAKING IT BLACK ♪ ♪ ARE YOU TAKING ME BACK ♪ - I DIDN'T KNOW THAT YOU ACTUALLY WERE CONSIDERING GOING INTO THE SEMINARY AND ENDED UP LIKE ME IN MUSIC.

AND I FOUND THAT MUSIC IS A WAY TO ME TO EXTEND GRACE.

IT'S A WAY FOR ME TO GIVE VERY COMPLEX AND BIG IDEAS IN A VERY SIMPLE AND LOVING WAY.

IS THERE ANY SIMILARITY BETWEEN YOUR WANT TO SEMINARY, TO GO INTO SEMINARY AND BRINGING YOU TO MUSIC?

ARE YOU A PREACHER OF SORTS?

- ABSOLUTELY.

- [MIKE] OKAY, TALK TO ME, JACK.

- I THINK YOU ARE TOO, YOU KNOW.

AND LIKE THE "RUN THE JEWELS" LYRIC ABOUT THE HERO WAS KILLED BY THE STATE.

JESUS, YOU'RE FRIEND- - YOU SAID YES, HAS NEVER FOUND... DICK GREGORY TOLD ME A COUPLE SECRETS BEFORE HE LAID DOWN IN THE GRAVE, "NEVER FORGET IN THE STORY OF JESUS, THE HERO WAS KILLED BY THE STATE."

- THAT'S A GREAT LYRIC AND ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN I FIRST LEARNED ABOUT SON HOUSE, THE BLUES SINGER'S STRUGGLES BETWEEN BEING A PREACHER AND A BLUES MUSICIAN, THAT IT SEEMED TO BE, YOU KNOW, AT FIRST MAYBE SORT OF MYTHOLOGICAL OR SOMETHING LIKE IT'S JUST A EASY, A BLANKET, BOX TO PUT HIM IN OR A DEBATE BETWEEN HEAVEN AND HELL AND GOOD AND BAD WITHIN ONE PERSON.

ALL THAT'S INTERESTING ON ITS OWN.

AND FOR EVERYBODY IT RELATES TO, I THOUGHT IT WAS GOOD.

BUT THEN I STARTED TO DIG DEEPER INTO IT AND HOW SIMILAR PREACHING AND BEING ON STAGE IS, AND HOW SIMILAR A CONCERT IS TO CHURCH.

AND I THINK THAT IT'S REALLY EXEMPLIFIED IN... YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU SAID, IF YOU'RE GOING INTO THE BOOTH AND YOU ARE NOT WRITING THINGS DOWN AND YOU ARE RAPPING OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD, THAT IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO PREACHERS WHO ARE SPEAKING FROM THE GUT ON A STAND ON A MICROPHONE.

I MEAN, PEOPLE TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED FROM A PREACHER.

YOU HAVE TO REALLY BE PASSIONATE.

I MEAN, THEY ASSURE THIS SNAKE OIL SALESMAN VERSION OF THINGS.

AND I'M SURE YOU CAN SEE IN SOME OF THE HISTORIES OF RELIGION WITH THAT.

I'M SURE YOU CAN SEE THAT IN THE NATION OF ISLAM, ALL THE WAY TO WHATEVER STANDARD ISLAM OR SUNNI ISLAM OR WHATEVER, THAT THERE'S DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF HOW YOU CAN LOOK AT THINGS AND HOW YOU CAN SELL IT TO OTHER PEOPLE.

AND THERE'S A SNAKE OIL SIDE OF THINGS, ALL THE WAY TO THE REALLY LEGIT SORT OF, YOU KNOW, FROM THE HEART, JUST TRYING TO FIND SOME PEACE AND SOME KNOWLEDGE FROM THE IDEA.

AND I THINK THAT IT'S EASY TO SEE SOMEONE WHO'S FREESTYLE RAPPING IS DOING THE SAME THING AS A PREACHER WHO'S SPEAKING FROM THE GUT.

BUT YOU HAVE TO LOVE IT, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO LOVE IT TO STAND IN FRONT OF THAT MIC AND BE ABLE TO NOT TRIP OVER YOUR OWN WORDS AND MAKE A MISTAKE, EVEN, YOU KNOW?

- SO I REMIND PEOPLE.

LIKE SO GETTING A HAIRCUT TODAY, WE LISTENED TO SOME GOSPEL MUSIC FIRST.

MEANWHILE, MY BARBER TAPED THIS, SENT TO HIS MOM SAID, "SEE, MOM, WE STILL LISTEN TO GOSPEL, RIGHT?"

MY GRANDMOTHER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT MY SOUL.

SO SHE OFTEN ASKED, "DO YOU STILL LISTEN?"

WHAT PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND A LOT OF TIMES THE SAME MUSICIANS THAT ARE PLAYING THE NIGHT BEFORE IN THE CLUBS AND THE JUKE JOINTS, ARE THE SAME PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY IN HOLINESS CHURCHES, THE SMALL PENTECOSTAL CHURCHES THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHEAST.

YOU GOT THE EXACT SAME MUSICIANS, HITTING A DIFFERENT WAVELENGTH WITH PEOPLE.

A LOT OF TIMES THE SAME RHYTHMS.

I WAS YOUNG AND I WOULD GO TO CHURCH WITH MY GRANDMOTHER.

WE BELONGED TO A BIGGER CHURCH, MOUNT OLIVE BAPTIST CHURCH.

AND AFTER YOU DO A COUPLE HOURS THERE, SUNDAY SCHOOL AND WHATNOT, IT WAS LIKE WE'RE, BUT YOU'RE NOT OFF.

NOW, WE'RE GOING TO THESE LITTLE SMALL, ONE AIR CONDITIONER IN THE WINDOWS IF THERE'S AIR CONDITIONING IN THE WINDOW AT ALL.

AND THERE'D BE THESE GREAT PLAYERS, KEYS, SINGERS AND THE WHOLE SHOW BECAME A SPECTACLE.

AND GREAT CONCERTS FEEL LIKE CHURCH TO ME.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE RECORDS IS CALLED SACRED STEEL.

AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, PEDAL STEEL GUITAR PLAYERS IN SOUTHERN CHURCHES.

I THINK THEY'RE ALL SOUTHERN BAPTIST CHURCHES THAT DIFFERENT RECORDINGS FROM.

AND IT'S ALMOST LIKE ON ONE SIDE YOU COULD SAY, "WELL, MAYBE PEOPLE ARE JUST USING A RELIGION AS AN EXCUSE TO JUST GET IN HERE AND PLAY."

- TO JAM.

- YEAH.

(BOTH LAUGHING) BUT ANOTHER SIDE, THEY MIGHT BE REALLY TAPPING INTO SOMETHING REALLY, REALLY DEEPER AND HOLIER, YOU KNOW.

- IT IS.

I REALLY FEEL THAT VIBRATION THAT CARRIES THROUGH MUSIC.

THERE IS A HOLINESS THAT YOU CAN HIT.

I MEAN, THE TWO REASONS I LOVED GO IN THOSE SMALL PENTECOSTAL CHURCHES WAS A REDHEAD GIRL WITH FRECKLES IN THEIR BAND.

THAT WAS THE REASON I WANTED TO GO TO BISHOP JAMES CHURCH.

AND THAT ENDED UP BEING WHAT ROCK CONCERTS FELT LIKE TO ME.

- YEAH, YOU KNOW, SO LIKE I WAS SAYING, LIKE DIFFERENT RELIGIONS CAN HAVE DIFFERENT WAYS OF SELLING IT, AND THERE'S ALWAYS GONNA BE CHARLATANS IN ANY RELIGION, BUT THERE'S PEOPLE THERE THAT CAN ALSO USE THAT WHOLE SCOPE TO CONNECT WITH YOU FOR ONE MOMENT.

AND EVEN THE SAME THING WITH THE CONCERT, YOU MAYBE HAVE THIS POP SINGLE OR JUST SOMETHING EVERYONE KNOWS, EVERYONE CAN SING ALONG WITH THAT.

WELL, THERE MIGHT BE JUST ONE MOMENT IN THAT CONCERT WHERE A TEENAGE KID GOT A FEELING OF THAT CHORD GOT HIT.

THAT ONE MOMENT HAPPENED WHEN THE WHOLE BAND STRUCK THAT NOTE.

AND IT JUST, WOW, THAT INSPIRED THEM FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFE.

- ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY.

WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO READING THE KORAN?

'CAUSE I'VE SUGGESTED SO MANY OF MY FRIENDS, BOTH BLACK AND NON-BLACK THAT ARE CONSERVATIVE OR VERY CHRISTIAN TO READ THE KORAN.

- YEAH.

- WELL, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL BOOK.

IT'S BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN.

- WELL, YEAH.

- I DON'T AGREE WITH EVERYTHING IN IT.

- SURE, YEAH.

- BUT WITH THAT SAID, WHAT BRINGS YOU, JACK WHITE, TO SAY, "I'M GONNA READ THIS BOOK."

- FIRST OFF, I ACTUALLY DON'T EVEN CONSIDER MYSELF A RELIGIOUS PERSON OR A CHRISTIAN EVEN.

I WAS RAISED CATHOLIC AND I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THAT.

BUT IT'S SOMETHING TO BE...

I KIND OF SAID, YOU KNOW, FOR ME, IT'S A LITTLE BIT IGNORANT TO HEAR ABOUT BUDDHISM OR HEAR ABOUT ISLAM AND NOT RESEARCH IT.

YOU KNOW, IF I HEAR ABOUT NATION OF ISLAM, I WANT TO GO READ ABOUT WALLACE FARAD AND HOW THAT CAME FROM, THAT CAME FROM MY OWN CITY.

I WENT TO SCHOOL, I WROTE.

- ABSOLUTELY.

- I MEAN, YOU CAN TAKE ANY RELIGIONS AND TALK ABOUT THE POSITIVE ASPECTS THAT THEY'VE BROUGHT TO PEOPLE AND THE NEGATIVE ASPECTS THEY'VE BROUGHT TO THE WORLD.

- ABSOLUTELY.

- YOU CAN TALK ABOUT THE CATHOLICISM ADVANCED ART IN THE RENAISSANCE PERIOD AND SCIENCE IN EARLIER PERIODS, BUT ALSO THE CRUSADES AND THE TRAGEDIES.

- AND IN THE GOSPEL IT SAYS SLAVERY IS COOL IF YOU'RE BLACK.

IT SAYS, "GO FOR IT."

PORTUGAL AND SPAIN WERE LIKE, "LET'S GO."

AND BELGIUM.

(LAUGHS) - BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, LIKE WHAT YOU JUST MENTIONED, BRINGING AN EMPOWERMENT TO A COMMUNITY AND TRYING TO OPEN UP A DIFFERENT PATHWAY FOR PEOPLE.

I THINK THAT'S THE MAIN... MY TAKE OF WHAT'S THE GOOD SIDE OF RELIGION, WHATEVER THE RELIGION IS.

- YES.

- YOU'RE TRYING TO SAY, YOU KNOW, IT HAS SAVED A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM, YOU KNOW, BEATING THE HELL OUT OF EACH OTHER AND MURDERING EACH OTHER THAT WOULD'VE POSSIBLY HAPPENED HAD THEY NOT JUST GIVEN ONE CHANCE.

THIS IS THROUGHOUT HISTORY I'M TALKING ABOUT.

- YEAH, ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY.

- BUT EVEN ON A DAY-TO-DAY LEVEL, IN THE SAME WAY, A WAY FOR US TO HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS ANSWERED, YOU KNOW, AMBIGUOUS WAY, BUT TO BRING SOME PEACE TO THE GENERAL COMMUNITY SO WE CAN ALL JUST KIND OF MOVE FORWARD AND GET ALONG.

- NEXT TIME ON "LOVE AND RESPECT" WITH KILLER MIKE, MORE WITH WHITE STRIPES CO-FOUNDER, JACK WHITE.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) - T-BONE BURNETT SAID SOMETHING TO ME ONE TIME, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS PRETTY INTERESTING ABOUT THE MUSIC BUSINESS.

HE SAID, "MUSIC STARTED TO NOT TO BE AS GOOD WHEN RECORD LABELS TRIED TO MAKE MUSIC FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIKE MUSIC."

(LAUGHING) - YEAH.

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