Jack White pays flying visit to Dublin

The secret was for once perfectly kept as Jack White stole in yesterday to be made an Honorary Patron of the Trinity College Philosophical Society. It’s an honour that’s previously been bestowed on such stars of stage, screen, page and pulpit as Al Pacino, Dame Helen Mirren, Salman Rushdie, Johnny Marr, Chris Blackwell, Dolores O’Riordan, Pete Doherty and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
"Well, I’ve been patronised in lots of different ways but never like this!” quipped the 34-year-old who from the tip of his white leather winklepickers to the top of his black fedora looked every inch the rock star.
After being presented with his medal, the White Stripes/Raconteurs/Dead Weather man took part in a 40-minute public interview and Q&A, which was presided over by Hot Press' Stuart Clark. It was a lively and highly entertaining affair, with Jack holding forth on everything from Bob Dylan, parenthood and upholstery (it's a lot more rock 'n' roll than you think!) to voodoo, Loretta Lynn and whether or not Britney Spears is a more authentic performer than Tom Waits.
He also talked about setting up his own Nashville studio complex, what 2010 holds in store for him and working on the aforementioned Mr. Zimmerman's Hank Williams project, something he described as “one of the most special things I’ve been involved with because I live on the street Hank Williams used to live on in Nashville.”
We'll have a full report and interview in our next issue, out on Thursday October 22nd.
In the meantime, here are some photos and links to further whet your appetite!