Jack White Offers Hollywood Palladium Slot to Twin Temple After Charley Crockett Drops 'Satanic' Duo From Tour
· 3 min read ·
The intersection of country music and devil-themed rock has produced an unlikely controversy, as self-described "Satanic" duo Twin Temple found themselves removed from country artist Charley Crockett's upcoming tour dates — only to receive a high-profile invitation from Jack White.
Jack White Extends an Invitation
On Friday, White took to Instagram to publicly offer Twin Temple an opening slot at his September 29th concert at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles. "Twin Temple, would you like to open my show in L.A. on September 29th at the Hollywood Palladium? Let me know. Get in front of me Satan!" he wrote, playfully reversing the title of the White Stripes' 2005 album "Get Behind Me Satan," itself a reference to a biblical passage from Matthew 16:23.
The duo, consisting of singer Alexandra James and guitarist Zachary James, responded with enthusiasm in the comments. They described themselves as lifelong fans, noting that "Dead Leaves on the Dirty Ground" was one of the first songs Alexandra ever learned on guitar. They had already been planning to attend the show, they said, and called it "a most infernal pleasure to play the devil's music with you."
Singer-songwriter Jenny Lewis, known for her work with Rilo Kiley, also voiced support in the comments, writing "Viva Anton LaVey!" — a reference to the late founder of the Church of Satan. Twin Temple's repertoire includes tongue-in-cheek tracks such as "Lucifer, My Love" and "Let's Have a Satanic Orgy."
Charley Crockett Stands Firm
Crockett, an acclaimed country artist known for his traditionalist style, addressed the situation on Instagram the same day. He defended his decision to remove the duo from his bill without apology.
"I won't conform and I'm not sorry," Crockett wrote. "There are many things I've done in my life to apologize for but this ain't one of them." His lengthy post touched on opening acts in general, spiritual power, and what he described as "shameless exhibitionists possessed by the desire to be famous and have the public's adoration" within the entertainment industry.
Without directly naming White, Crockett appeared to reference the public nature of White's invitation when he wrote that he would not advertise charitable gestures because doing so amounts to self-promotion. He suggested that opening for him could itself be transformative: "Shit you might get you a life changing gig just by standing next to me. That's magic."
Crockett also reflected on his personal philosophy, describing himself as neither left nor right politically but focused on life on the road. He spoke about spiritual belief, writing that "God is the fabric that ties all life together" and that there is "no need to even define or institutionalize it." He expressed disillusionment with elements of the entertainment business, saying he had been betrayed by many and could return to performing on street corners if audiences disappeared.
How the Split Began
Twin Temple first announced the cancellation on Thursday via their social media accounts. They wrote that they had been informed Crockett decided to remove them from his upcoming shows "due to our Satanic imagery." The duo expressed disappointment, noting they had looked forward to performing and to "bringing different types of people and music lovers together." They thanked supporters for backing artistic freedom and signed off with "HAIL SATAN!"
Crockett told Rolling Stone on Thursday that he had initially expected the act to resemble Black Sabbath. "I thought they were like Black Sabbath, but they ain't. Not today, Satan," he said. In a subsequently deleted Instagram post, he added a broader political statement: "Fuck Trump. Fuck Epstein. But hail Satan? Not me Jack."
The duo's stage show incorporates classic occult symbols such as pentagrams — imagery that may resonate more naturally when they open for Danzig, a booking confirmed for September, than with audiences drawn to traditional country music.
A Divided Reaction
Responses across social media reflected the polarizing nature of the situation. Some commenters praised Crockett for showing backbone, while others felt he was prolonging the controversy unnecessarily. A number of fans noted the overlap between Crockett's and White's audiences, creating a sense of divided loyalty. Many questioned how Twin Temple came to be booked on a country tour in the first place, and whether Crockett was obligated to honor the arrangement once made.
As Twin Temple prepares to join Jack White in Los Angeles and Crockett continues his tour without them, the episode raises broader questions about artistic freedom, genre boundaries, and where artists draw the line. What do you think about Crockett's decision and White's counter-offer? Share this article and let us know your take.
