“You are still inspiring individuals, together with me”

Jack White has paid tribute to his former White Stripes bandmate Meg White on her fiftieth birthday with a publish on social media.

The rocker took to his official Instagram account and posted a Polaroid of Meg White – the drummer of The White Stripes and his ex-wife. The publish’s accompanying caption learn: “HAPPY 50TH BIRTHDAY to my massive sister, the good Meg White. There’s solely one in all you Meggo, they broke the mildew. You’re nonetheless inspiring individuals, together with me. Love you a lot.”

Each musicians fashioned the duo in 1997 and went on to develop into probably the most profitable bands of the twenty first century. The band went on to launch six studio albums between 1999 via 2007 earlier than disbanding in February 2011.

Following The White Stripes’ breakup, Jack went on to work on his solo profession whereas Meg determined to retire and return to Detroit, Michigan. In an interview with Rolling Stone in 2014, Jack opened up about how Meg’s emotionally reserved nature was a supply of pressure inside the band, sharing: “We’d be working within the studio and one thing superb would occur: I’m like, ‘Rattling, we simply broke into a brand new world proper there!’ And Meg’s sitting in silence.

“I bear in mind listening to Ringo Starr say, ‘I at all times felt sorry for Elvis, as a result of in The Beatles we had one another to speak about what it felt like. Elvis was by himself.’ I used to be like, ‘Shit, strive being in a two-piece the place the opposite particular person doesn’t discuss!’”

Nevertheless, in the identical interview, Jack went on to reward his former bandmate, including: “I'd typically have a look at her onstage and say, ‘I can’t consider she’s up right here.’ I don’t suppose she understood how vital she was to the band, and to me and to music.”

He continued: “She was the antithesis of a contemporary drummer. So childlike and unimaginable and provoking. All of the not-talking didn’t matter, as a result of onstage? Nothing I do will high that.”

The White Stripes portrayed themselves as siblings however in 2001, proof of their 1996 marriage and divorce in 2000 got here to mild. Nevertheless, the duo nonetheless insisted that they have been siblings, with Jack explaining in a 2005 interview with Rolling Stone: “While you see a band that's two items, husband and spouse, boyfriend and girlfriend, you suppose, ‘Oh, I see…’ After they’re brother and sister, you go, ‘Oh, that’s attention-grabbing.’ You care extra in regards to the music, not the connection – whether or not they’re attempting to avoid wasting their relationship by being in a band.”

Final yr, journalist Lachlan Markay sparked discourse about Meg’s drumming talents after tweeting: “The tragedy of the White Stripes is how nice they might’ve been with a half first rate drummer. Yeah yeah I’ve heard all of the ‘however it’s a fastidiously crafted sound mannnn!’ takes. I’m sorry Meg White was horrible and no band is best for having sh*tty percussion.” Markay has since deleted the tweet.

Various musicians went on to defend Meg, together with The Roots’ Questlove and Portishead‘s Geoff Barrow. Unknown Mortal Orchestra‘s Ruban Nielson additionally mentioned “there’s nobody like meg white”, and recalled that “children would lose their thoughts to her drumming”.

Jack took the time to talk out in regards to the discourse by celebrating the drummer, posting a photograph of Meg at her drum package on social media together with a poem that learn: “To be born in one other time, any period however our personal would’ve been tremendous. 100 years from now, 1000 years from now, another distant, totally different, time.

“One with out demons, cowards and vampires out for blood, one with the constructive inspiration to foster what is nice.”

The musician’s ex-wife, Karen Elson, additionally stepped in to defend Meg, tweeting: “Not solely is Meg White a implausible drummer, Jack [White] additionally mentioned the White Stripes could be nothing with out her. To the journalist who dissed her, hold my ex-husband’s ex-wife identify out of your f*cking mouth. (Please and Thank You)”

Rage In opposition to The Machine guitarist Tom Morello additionally chimed into the discourse and shared: “I hear there’s some controversy on this matter recently so let me set fools straight: #MegWhite is among the best drummers within the historical past of rock n roll,” in a publish on his Instagram.

In different information, Jack White just lately introduced the main points of a UK and European tour for 2025.