Meg White: Drumming Defiance

[@nebbykoo]

Meg White is an object lesson in what is truly important in the role of drumming. She basically tells all of the boys (like myself) that we're obsessed with the wrong things. Stop worrying about playing fast and flashy. Meat-n-potatoes is where it's at.

[@wxcferdts]

I'd have liked it more if she had actually stuck to meat and potatoes and given the drums a very wide berth indeed ...

[@ImnotgoingSideways]

@@wxcferdts Tom Waits doesn't like you either.

[@rocoe9019]

​@@wxcferdts then don't listen to them karen!

[@rocoe9019]

​@@wxcferdtswhy did you watch the video so? Just to leave a karen comment!

[@XXjg_]

Jack White taught her how to play, and told her what to play. She wasn’t making any drumming decisions. Not negating what she did, but it’s important to put it in context.

[@gaskins2077]

I love her drumming style. She’s one of my favorite drummers. Drummers don’t have to be super flashy, just needs a good groove. And it works with this music.

[@thescatteredsun]

Such a raw and powerful drummer. She gets her flowers here and there, but the woman truly deserves gardens of roses. Wishing her the best ❤

[@KindredAmy]

God thank you for doing this right. Hats off to Meg!

[@ShadeCandle]

Definitely follows proudly in the tradition of Mo Tucker and the drummer from Low, whose name I forget. I love super simple, rough drumming.

[@hugocortizo6993]

Mimi Parker was indeed absolutely great. And a wonderful singer as well. She is so sorely missed.

[@Caligari...]

Moe from the Velvet Underground also had a unique style that worked well with that band . Meg White rules !

[@wychwoodmusic]

The White Stripes played live with the same spontaneous freedom of some the great, old, solo blues players they loved. Meg's drumming was the key that made that possible. No one could play or keep up with those old players because they were so unpredictable. Because they almost always played solo, they would throw in an extra bar whenever they felt like it, or break suddenly into a different song that wasn't on the setlist (what setlist?), or do all kinds of sudden stops and starts, dramatic pauses, etc. I remember thinking "no band could every pull that off." But the simplicity of Meg's drumming - and the simplicity of being a duo, as well their close relationship - meant she could lock in with Jack so their music could have this kind of telepathic complexity made from very simple elements. Plus, as you say so well in this video, her playing is primal and kickass.

[@Gilbert_Dice_Gottfried]

Musical connection is more important for a band than musical competence or brilliance. Meg and Jack white play well together and that’s exactly why their sound worked. It’s the same reason the Beatles admit that they weren’t the Beatles until Ringo joined. Certain members complement and contrast each other to form a machine. People that criticize Meg just don’t get the point of what a band is. It’s a collaborative artistic/musical experience.

[@wxcferdts]

It’s a collaborative artistic/musical experience ... grounded in and based on SOME level of proficiency and knowing what your instrument is about.

[@hugocortizo6993]

Absolutely. To build on your Ringo example, I've heard it said that he wasn't even the best drummer in the band (which I'm not even sure is true in any meaningful way), but I think at this point I'm time there is absolutely a consensus on him being the best drummer *for* the band.

[@NormanMcDonald-n9e]

Best of luck and wishing you to be happy and do live life to the fullest, from Corpus Christi Texas (LEM).

[@witchbvrner]

Meg did exactly what she needed to; kept the fuckin' beat. How many drummers do you know that absolutely CAN'T do that? I can think of three people personally that are super flashy choppy artists behind a kit, but if I held a gun to their head and told them to play 4 on the floor with a snare on 2 and 4 around 150bpm, they'd be dead in under a minute.

[@Scolecite]

Your role on guitar is to keep a fuckin' melody. How many guitarists do you know that absolutely CAN'T do that? I can think of three people personally that are super flashy choppy artists on guitar, but if I held a gun to their head and told them to play 4 simple bar chords and a basic strumming pattern at 150bpm, they'd be dead in under a minute.

[@witchbvrner]

@@Scolecite my man 🤝

[@wxcferdts]

What a silly and facile and totally untrue claim!

[@TheConcertCruizer]

Yeah her playing basic, but so was Jack’s playing. That was part of the charm. I mean Seven Nation Army is right up there with Smoke on the Water in terms of guitar riffs everybody learns.

[@LawlessLabel]

They were the loudest band I’ve ever seen live💯 her kick drum about collapsed my soul ❤️‍🔥

[@wxcferdts]

Uh ... I think the PA might have something - sorry: EVERYTHING - to do with that. What a poor and silly argument ...

[@susragejr477]

@@wxcferdtsyou when something sounds good

[@earldrum]

Great work!

[@Six3rdy]

So I'm gonna stick my neck out there. She isn't _quite_ my preferred cup of tea, but I do respect her. No shade intended, I _can_ see why people would criticize, but I don't necessarily agree with them in that regard. She doesn't suck; she never did. She gave to the music what it needed. The fans of the White Stripes fux wit' her (meaning vibe with her) and appreciate her. Jack White fux wit' her and appreciates her. She's done her job, and she did it very well. We can have different preferences and different things about someone's playing that appeals to us (I'm more of a Steve Jordan, Eric Moore, or Christian Coma type of guy myself), but it's not fair to disparage her when she's making music that has this level of impact. That's all I'm saying.

[@maxhocks2006]

The white stripes are like a burger and fries. So many people seem to think they can only be good if they have tons of ingredients, crazy beef mixes, and exotic potatoes. The white stripes prove that simple classics done well are just as good if not better than all that. Jack’s playing isn’t as memorable or focused without meg. None of his bands since then have been as good or successful as the white stripes. And Meg is a huge part of that.

[@XXjg_]

Jack White taught her how to play, and told her what to play. She wasn’t making any drumming decisions. Not negating what she did, but it’s important to put it in context.

[@portal432]

I like when she plays the floor tom

[@wxcferdts]

Yes, that merits another documentary, I feel ... Unsurpassed, how she hits that part of the drum, never even missing it once ...

[@susragejr477]

@@wxcferdts she’s still the one playing on seven nation army and you are just another random pretentious larper writing 28 comments about how advanced your music taste is

[@rocoe9019]

@@wxcferdts why watch the video if you knew before hand you would be triggered and just act like a karen in the comments?

[@wxcferdts]

@@rocoe9019 The 'triggering' occured AFTER the video. And I commented just to state the obvious and to be amazed - once again - at the incredible and obsequious gullibility of so many, and at the almost instant and unargumented deification of mediocrity. There, I've said it ...

[@LawlessLabel]

@offbeat you should do a video on Mercedes Lander from Kittie ❤️‍🔥

[@Here4TheHeckOfIt]

She gave their sound that early stripped down punk sound like the Stooges

[@henrysmith7008]

You done Bill Bruford? If not please do him 🤟 King Crimson, Yes, Earthworks, UK, Bruford, toured with Genesis. The list is endless 😂

[@swingAE86]

If someone covers a white stripes song and they try to do any kind of drum heroics it immediately ruins the song.

[@wxcferdts]

If someone covers a DREAM THEATER song and they try to do any kind of drum SIMPLICITY it immediately ruins the song. Uh ... duh! What kind of an argument is that? Stating the rather obvious, I think.

[@susragejr477]

@@wxcferdtsclearly when we got pedestrians like you bitching about her not throwing in 50 million fills constantly yeah the argument clearly has merit

[@rocoe9019]

@@susragejr477 his album sales compared to the white stripes says it all!

[@ImnotgoingSideways]

There's flexing chops and there's making music. The Stripes made music.

[@wxcferdts]

One does NOT exclude the other: poor argument

[@ImnotgoingSideways]

​@@wxcferdts Let me guess. Huge Dream Theater fan. I bet you hate Trout Mask Replica.

[@brunoduarte6437]

2002 is the year of Sonic Youth's latest masterpiece (with the precious help of Jim O' Rourke, your chosen artist of 2001) also count a lot TQOTSE - Songs for the Deaf and Steroid Maximus - Ectopia by Clint Ruin/Foetus. Thanks

[@susragejr477]

Steve Shelley is a super underrated drummer

[@BillCoz]

"Meg White can't drum" - that drummer child from School of Rock

[@jeremywhakarau2403]

She famous I'm not ...😂

[@wxcferdts]

That, in a nutshell, says it almost all! Go and watch her not being famous and playing with a third-rate guitar player like Jack, and you'd walk away, smiling and maybe feeling some pity ...

[@mikesmith6594]

Jack White reminds me alot Jimmi Hendrix!

[@dorianford6227]

Her approach to drums is like how Kurt Cobain approached guitar. Simple effective and free of ego

[@wxcferdts]

and above all free of musical and instrumental ability ...

[@dorianford6227]

@@wxcferdts I mean Jack White doesn’t just play with anyone now

[@matthewguzda4075]

Cmon

[@joellebrodeur1015]

Maybe Meg was sick of touring and sick of the music business machine itself.

[@wxcferdts]

I think she suddenly became honest into admitting to herself that her drumming was nothing special ...

[@susragejr477]

@@wxcferdtsshe’s special enough that you left 28 comment larping about how much you think she sucks lol

[@Huehuecoyote]

If you sum up the time that Meg White practiced the drums, it probably would be shorter than this video.

[@wxcferdts]

Why would she need to practive, if there are clearly people around praising her to heaven for doing what she does now ...?

[@Huehuecoyote]

I don't praise her. And that's what matters

[@rocoe9019]

@@wxcferdts she doesn't need " practive" she has millions in album sales! She was playing gigs and selling records with only a couple of months of "practive" , you've played to how many people and sold how many albums?

[@rocketpigrecords3719]

She didn't tear the heart out of anything, she hung on for dear life & barely survived.

[@wxcferdts]

That is toally correct! Let's keep some sense of realism and integrity in (musical) debate.

[@jmdrumsgarrison]

Met White is awesome. There should be no detractors. If you are a drummer who hates Meg or Ringo or any of the other musicians who focused on the song as opposed to showing off, you exemplify the problem in crappy rock songs. I do not see Meg retiring as any of the options you presented. I see her retirement as "I've got enough money, why do this stuff that isn't fun? I'm going to live my best life." She rocks and if you think otherwise, you suck.

[@wxcferdts]

It is absolutely NOT focusing on the song: it is JUST playing that which you can JUST play, in the hope that the song survives and you can remain in the band. It is doing your utmost to NOT fail, and that is something totally different.

[@TheWolfsnack]

Well.....at least she isn't drumming for Corey Feldman....there's that......

[@Squant]

I'm not sure the metaphor makes sense. A bicycle without wheels is objectively useless. It's failed to do the one job it was tasked to do. Nobody wants a bicycle without wheels.

[@susragejr477]

Maybe a better comparison is driving vintage cars as opposed to Teslas?

[@ImnotgoingSideways]

"Lack of wheels" doesn't have to mean no wheels. That is to say, a majority of vehicles achieve stability by using 3 or more wheels. Bicycles only have 2 wheels. Does that automatically make it inferior? Why not add 2 more wheels with double wishbone suspension and replace the pedals with a powerful engine? Well, it won't be a bicycle anymore, would it? Another familiar analogy is something like "don't judge a fish for it's inability to climb a tree."

[@ajdc88]

why do people pretend she's not terrible? it's ok. john lennon was terrible at guitar. bob dylan was terrible at harmonica. but they made it part of the style/sound.

[@MrZauberelefant]

I think if you contribute to the sound of the White Stripes, you're simply not "terrible". I mean, she's rubbish from a technical point, but the world of rock music is for some reason not entirely George Kollias country...

[@danielatherton1631]

Bob Dylan was an awful singer. How'd you skip past that to harmonica?

[@jodybriggs1075]

John Lennon was NOT a terrible guitar player. He played and wrote plenty of great Beatles lead lines. But keep throwing out nonsense generalities.

[@susragejr477]

@@MrZauberelefantway too many annoying people online think a drummer isn’t good if they don’t play crazy prog metal. Obsession with chops and perfection has killed the personality in modern rock drumming

[@maxhocks2006]

Because music isn’t only technical skill. Megs drumming was perfect for the white stripes. Is instantly recognizable. And distinctly her. Like the video said saying Meg is terrible is like saying motorcycles make terrible trucks. You’re kinda missing the entire point.

[@robertnobody]

She's actually not a drummer, she's a former bartender that Jack met and married, then he put her on the drums for his "idea" Duo band, but she never had any formal training and did not even own a drum kit until Jack wanted her to be in his "Duo" band.

[@negtype13]

Never wished Peart was in your band?!? I think we can ALL thank God that he wasn’t considering your band is the epitome of basic/limitation. Be that as it may, you actually SHOULD have wished this cause we all know you would’ve lasted more than (under) a decade with a peak of maybe 2-3 years; making you basically a one hit wonder. Greatest rock music from the past 25 years?!?!😫🤦‍♂️ Now I’m seriously questioning if you(uploader) has the capacity/capability to EVEN speak on, let alone have a full video/doc, on a guy like Peart! White Stripes = nothing more than how ridiculous people are for pretty much praising ZERO talent (pushed more by the brass than the actual band’s ability!)😫🤬 But yeah Jack, good choice on the ex for success.🙄🤦‍♂️👎

[@cameronphlodge1293]

There's a difference in being tastefully sloppy and just a terrible drummer that can't play in time. Meg is the ladder.

[@susragejr477]

sure

[@rocoe9019]

😂😂😂 omg are you serious 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 MEG IS THE LADDER😂😂😂😂😂 LADDER 😂😂😂😂 here let mix fix your comment and educate you!!! Meg is the latter! LATTER!!!

[@wxcferdts]

And yes, another one of these so-called 'true insights into what music and musicality is all about'! Some level of ability and sophistication? Nah! Some sparing, but awesome fills? Nah! Anything that even slightly merits adulation? Nah! She plays drums like countless other drummers, who by dint of not having reached fame are of course totally unknown and dis-/unregarded. That seems to be enough, however, for devoting some 12 minutes to this 'genius', in which - oh irony! - there is little or no actual musical example of her so-called genius. She has just been lucky to be part of a famous band - and I know not why, because Jack White is anything BUT a good guitar player - that has been praised by so-called musical cognoscenti, and that's it: she is a drumming legend. A fine example of 'polishing a turd'. You can probably tell by these strident words that I'm absolutely fed up with these YT-posts trying to make things and people out to be something they're obviously not: any good. Celebrating inferiority - and I'm talking ONLY about musical ability, and NOT personal appreciation - is so lame, but I suppose it fits in with the current social narrative of 'everything is good and fine and everyone is great and deserves a prize' etc.

[@rocoe9019]

@@wxcferdts poor Karen! Here🍼 take that to your safe space where you can't get triggered because of your jealousy! Oh and how many awards and record sales have you karen?? 🤣

[@alexhightron.5442]

🤓☝️

[@Emanresuadeen]

A DEI drummer. That’s all. And likewise she has to be totally immune from criticism.

[@rocoe9019]

Ok karen ! And how is it a karen speaks for Jack White?

[@xdiamonddogx]

oof..no one took her drumming serious.

[@lorenzodicapo6305]

It's okay if you like the White Stripes. They're loud, sloppy and sound like crap, but it's okay to like them. But don't try to defend them on grounds of any kind of talent or ability, they're barely competent.

[@wxcferdts]

Yep, totally agree. If you like them, no debate WHATSOEVER!!! But the debate stops there ... don't go any further ...

[@susragejr477]

Ok KZbinr commentator

[@ibanezlaney]

White Stripes = Worst live show I ever saw.

[@Poepopdestoep]

I believe you. From everything i've seen, it's something akin to attending a kindergarten recital :) But hey, maybe without the WS we would not have Royal Blood and bands like that.

[@rocoe9019]

​@@Poepopdestoep Royal blood because an over produced pop band! They had one good album and became a pop band! They suck now!

[@Poepopdestoep]

@@rocoe9019 Opinions! ;)