Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello is the latest musician to weigh in on the controversy surrounding Meg White’s drumming skills.
It all started when a writer named Lachlan When criticized Meg’s musicianship in a since-deleted Twitter rant — during Women’s History Month, to boot. The tweet quickly went viral and the author received a wave and backlash. Several prominent musicians, including Meg’s former White Stripes bandmate and ex-husband Jack White, came to her defense, prompting Markay to delete the post and issue an official apology.
Now Morello has familiarized himself with the situation via an Instagram post. He called Meg “one of the greatest drummers in the history of rock n roll” and praised her “untouchable” vibe. Read his full statement below.
I’ve heard there’s been quite a bit of controversy about this matter lately, so let me just say it straight: #MegWhite is one of the greatest drummers in the history of rock n roll. It’s not even a debate. There are a HANDFUL of drummers EVER who are INSTANTLY recognizable with their MANY HIT SONGS with Flavor, Fire & Flair. She’s on that list, bruh. Does she do a lot of complicated tom tom fills? No, thank God.
She has style and swag and personality and oomph and taste and awesomeness that is off the charts and a vibe that is untouchable by all you boring skin beaters who think we care about your ‘tight’ syncopated para-diddles. She is a FORCE and her records are forever stepping stones to how to do it your own way while rocking the damn planet. @officialjackwhite knows it too so show some respect.
In the tweet that started it all, Markay wrote: “The tragedy of The White Stripes is how great they would have been with a half decent drummer,” the writer tweeted. “I’ve heard all the ‘but that’s a carefully crafted sound mannnn!’ I’m sorry Meg White was terrible and no band is better at having crappy percussion.”
After all the backlash, Markay apologized in a series of follow-up tweets that have also been deleted. “I’m sorry,” he said. “And to women in the music business in general, who I think are disproportionately exposed to that kind of crap, I’m sorry for feeding it too. I’ll really try to be more thoughtful in the future, both on here and off.”
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