In Praise of Meg White

It’s Throwback Thursday and today we celebrate the birthday of Meg White, drummer from The White Stripes.

White started drumming shortly after she and Jack got married. Story goes that one night, Jack asked Meg to play a simple beat for something he was working on, and shortly after, The White Stripes were born.

White’s drumming was simplistic, but that’s what made her great. Just watch the Stripes live in concert and if you can turn away from the frenetic style of play from Jack White, you’ll see a badass drummer who exuded confidence and style.

But that’s where the criticism began…She wasn’t good, critics said. She can’t keep up with Jack’s phenomenal guitar playing. But maybe, just maybe Meg White drove The White Stripes sound.

Like all drummers, she was the backbone of the band, there was no bass player to join her in the rhythm section. It was all on her powerful shoulders. And she delivered. Watch her live in any live performance and most times, you’ll see a focused face and a sly smile creep out as she delivered a pounding, forceful set.

Yet behind it all was anxiety. Nothing she spoke of, until September 2007, months after releasing the album Icky Thump. The White Stripes made an announcement that marked the beginning of the end. They were cancelling their entire upcoming fall U.S. tour. Meg White was suffering from acute anxiety and was unable to travel.

Naysayers came out of the woodwork to blast her and reiterate what they had said about her drumming and pile on about her breaking up what many considered one of the best rock bands in modern music.

But Meg White showed courage. Courage to be upfront talking about her own mental health care. Courage to walk away from one of the most successful bands of the 2000s. Meg shared her life with bravery and, like her drumming, steadiness. We should all look up to her for that alone.