Meg and Jack White perform together in 2007Photo Credit: John Shearer/WireImage for Warner Bros. Records (Getty Images)
Earlier this week, a post began circulating online as particularly brain-damaging internet junk does: a thread by Pitchfork, a journalist named Lachlan Mackey, who called former White Stripes drummer Meg White a “terrible” drummer while hinting that the band would have been far more successful without them. (Mackey has since deleted the tweets.) After being circulated fairly thoroughly, the comments have already drawn rebuttals from a number of prominent musicians, including Questlove. But now White’s former bandmate/husband Jack White has also gotten involved… in his own unique way.
White did not address any of the internet hullaballoos by name, but he did put out what can only be seen as a clear statement of support for his former drummer/spouse. That said, he posted a picture of her to his Instagram, accompanied by a poem that cries out the modern world’s “demons, cowards, and vampires in search of blood” and prays for “an empty field, where no great red ones.” Poppies are cut down.” Which is pretty weird as far as “fuck off” statements go, but the intention to defend himself is still pretty clear and sweet.
The White Stripes officially disbanded in 2011, although they hadn’t released any music for a number of years before that. Meg White has since virtually retired from any public presence and has not released any new music in the meantime. (This isn’t official or anything, but the last time she appeared in press photo archives was in 2009 promoting the White Stripes documentary Under Great White Northern Lights.)
However, the White Strips have recently sparked renewed interest as we approach the 20th anniversary of their most successful album, Elephant. (The album’s anniversary is April 1; we’ve already passed the anniversary of its lead-off single, the endlessly infectious “Seven Nation Army,” in February.) Elephant is getting a re-release soon to celebrate the occasion; Meanwhile, both Whites are currently up for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame later this year.