Jack White has responded to the recent controversy surrounding the playing ability of White Stripes batsman Meg White.
Jack and Meg White formed the band in 1997 and went on to become one of the most successful bands of the 21st century, but the latter has often been criticized for their drumming style.
The discourse was revived recently when journalist Lachlan Markay tweeted: “The tragedy of the White Stripes is how great they would have been with a half-decent drummer.
“Yeah yeah I heard all the ‘but it’s a carefully crafted sound mannnn!’ I’m sorry Meg White was terrible and no band is better at having shitty drumming Markay has since deleted the tweet.
A number of musicians have defended Meg White, including Questlove from The Roots and Geoff Barrow from Portishead. Ruban Nielson of the Unknown Mortal Orchestra also said “there’s no one like Meg White”, and recalled that “kids would lose their minds over her drums”.
Now Jack White himself has stepped in to celebrate the drummer, posting a photo of Meg at her drum kit on social media yesterday (March 15) along with a poem that read: “Born in another time, to n’ any era but ours would have been fine. 100 years from now, 1000 years from now, another distant, different time.
“One without demons, cowards and bloodthirsty vampires, one with the positive inspiration to promote what is good.”
You can see the full message below.
Among those who offered their support for White was Karen Elson – Jack White’s ex-wife – who wrote on Twitter: “Not only is Meg White a fantastic drummer, Jack [White] also said the White Stripes would be nothing without her. To the reporter who rejected her, keep the name of my ex-husband’s ex-wife out of your fucking mouth. (Please and thank you).”
Markay has since reacted to the backlash, writing on Twitter, “It was an over-the-top version of TWS and White as drummers, and it was, let’s face it, truly awful in every way. Petty, obnoxious, just plain wrong.
By now you’ve probably seen a misguided (and since deleted) tweet I sent out yesterday about the White Stripes and Meg White. It was an over-the-top version of TWS and White as drummers, and it was, let’s face it, truly awful in every way. Petty, obnoxious, just plain wrong.
— Lachlan When (@lachlan) March 14, 2023
“I don’t know if Meg White herself saw this tweet. I hope not, because I guess it wouldn’t be great to see a stranger pounce on you like that,” he added. “So to Meg White: I’m sorry. Really. And for women in the music business in general, who I think are disproportionately prone to this kind of shit, I’m sorry for fueling this as well. I will really try to be more thoughtful in the future, here and elsewhere.
In 2002, White said of criticism around his drumming, “I appreciate other types of drummers who play differently, but that’s not my style or what works for this band. I receive [criticism] sometimes, and I go through times when it really bothers me. But then I think about it and realize that’s what this band really needs.