The Corner Hotel — Where Jack White Wrote 'Seven Nation Army'

On January 29, 2002, during a soundcheck at the Corner Hotel in Richmond, Melbourne, Jack White picked up a Kay hollowbody guitar and played a riff that would become 'Seven Nation Army' — one of the most recognisable guitar figures in modern music history. White has confirmed the story directly in interviews, recalling that he ran the riff through a DigiTech Whammy pedal set to a low-octave shift to create the bass-like tone. He mentioned it to colleague Ben Swank, who was underwhelmed. White persisted. The song appeared on The White Stripes' Elephant in 2003.

The riff's simplicity — four notes descending, immediately memorable — has made it one of the most ubiquitous sports chants in the world, adopted by football crowds from Italy's Serie A to European club football before spreading globally. White has said he was thinking of it as a possible James Bond theme. Its transformation from a White Stripes album track into the default victory anthem of international sport is one of the stranger journeys in recent popular music.

The Corner Hotel at 57 Swan Street in Richmond is one of Melbourne's great live music venues — a mid-capacity room with a loyal following, a strong booking history, and the kind of slightly battered, no-nonsense character that suits the music it hosts. It still operates as an active venue and bar. Swan Street, Richmond, is easily reached from the CBD by tram.