Women who drum: Meg White from "The White Stripes

[the_future_modernes]

American Meg White is know for her percussive and stripped-down drumming style, which is considered controversial in the music world because of its very simpleness.

She's really quiet and seems to have let the dude do most of the talking for the band, which means that I couldn't find an interview feat. her alone on google. Most of teh info I found her her playingh habits was garnered from Stripespedia. In this quote she takes on detractors of her drumming:

Meg White herself admits, "I appreciate other kinds of drummers who play differently, but it’s not my style or what works for this band. I get [criticism] sometimes, and I go through periods where it really bothers me. But then I think about it, and I realize that this is what is really needed for this band. And I just try to have as much fun with it as possible." She has also said, “I just know the way [Jack] plays so well at this point that I always know kind of what he’s going to do. I can always sense where he’s going with things just by the mood he’s in or the attitude or how the song is going. Once in a while, he throws me for a loop, but I can usually keep him where I want him."

Other interesting info acquired from her entry on Stripespedia: She's partially deaf in her right ear and wears a hearing aid. She used to drum barefoot or wearing socks, but now she wears shoes because barefoot druming tore up her skin. Apparently in 2007 she contracted a bad case of anxiety which led to 18 dates being cancelled, then the rest of the UK tour dates. She did recover and performed during an encore presentaion with one of Jack White's other bands in 2008. And she apparently came up with the name for the band. I would love to see an article or interview featuring her thoughts on her style of drumming. She occasionally sings:

Meg does sing lead vocals on five of the band's songs: "In the Cold, Cold Night" and "Well It's True That We Love One Another" (from Elephant), "Passive Manipulation" (from Get Behind Me Satan), "Who's a Big Baby?" (released on the "Blue Orchid" single), and "St. Andrew (This Battle is in the Air)" (from Icky Thump).

Here's "In The Cold Cold Night" in which she plays a keyboard of some sort:

Here are some of my favourite of her performances


The White Stripes - The Hardest Button To Button

The White Stripes - Icky Thump

The White Stripes - Seven Nation Army

Gorgeous pics of her playing are at Drummerworld


And you can go here for info about her drum kit: Equipment


Here is she with Jack White on Charlie Rose:

Unfortunately, The White Stripes announced their breakup on their website on Feb 2 this year. I hope to see Meg White in another band at some point...