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Jack White has explained how his band’s recent recording sessions with Beck have him considering the White Stripes’ live future.

Falling short of actually calling time on the band’s career as a touring act, White at least gave hints that its appeal to him had cheapened.

"Well, the Beatles did it,” said White when asked by the LA Times if the Stripes’d ever become a ‘studio’ band. “I'm joking, but if we didn't ever tour again it doesn't matter to me… There are so many different aspects to being creative that it doesn't matter if one component is changed. Because it's been changing all the time since the band started.”

The impetus, as mentioned earlier, was the recent stay at Beck’s house where he, Jack and Meg recorded the B-sides to last single ‘Conquest’.

"Maybe working at Beck's house was something we needed to do to remind ourselves that touring is only one component of what we do. Taking a break from shows isn't going to stop it,” he said, referring to the recent cancellation of live dates due to Meg’s ill-health.

While admitting that any persistent health concerns would probably stop them heading out on the road, ultimately that isn’t the case.

"If it came to a point where Meg said, 'I don't want to be in this band anymore, it doesn't fulfil me in any way,' then it would be a different story. But she's not saying that."

Does this spare us the reformation ten years from now?