Where is Meg White now? Reclusive drummer from The White Stripes has not been pictured in 14 years

Publish date: 2024-06-25

The White Stripes drummer Meg White now leads a quiet life in Detroit having not been seen in public for nearly 14 years since she attended a Toronto International Film Festival event with her ex-husband-turned-bandmate Jack White in September 2009.

In February, the reclusive 48-year-old and the prolific 47-year-old's garage band scored an official nomination to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame but, alas, they were not voted into the 2023 class.

The press surrounding the nod lead to a (since deleted) mean tweet on March 13 from ex-journalist Lachlan Markay where he blasted Meg's performances as 'terrible' and 's****y' and mused about how 'the tragedy of the White Stripes is how great they would've been with a half decent drummer.'

On March 15, Jack responded to Markay's allegation with an Instagram snap of White playing her signature peppermint-swirled drum alongside a poem about having no regrets while calling out 'demons, cowards, and vampires out for blood.'

White (born Gillis) famously took - and kept - the four-time Grammy winner's surname after their 1996 wedding, and he told Rolling Stone in 2014 of her hermit nature: 'All the not talking didn't matter, because onstage? Nothing I do will top that.'

Where is she? The White Stripes drummer Meg White (L) now leads a quiet life in Detroit having not been seen in public for nearly 14 years since she attended a Toronto International Film Festival event with her ex-husband-turned-bandmate Jack White (R) in September 2009

Where is she? The White Stripes drummer Meg White (L) now leads a quiet life in Detroit having not been seen in public for nearly 14 years since she attended a Toronto International Film Festival event with her ex-husband-turned-bandmate Jack White (R) in September 2009

Back in the spotlight: In February, the reclusive 48-year-old and the prolific 47-year-old's garage band scored an official nomination to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame but, alas, they were not voted into the 2023 class

Back in the spotlight: In February, the reclusive 48-year-old and the prolific 47-year-old's garage band scored an official nomination to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame but, alas, they were not voted into the 2023 class

And the 12-time Grammy winner wasn't the only one coming to Meg's defense as his ex-wife #2 Karen Elson, six-time Grammy winner Questlove, Amanda Palmer, Ben Lee, and Grammy nominee Margo Price all took to Twitter to praise her.

'Not only is Meg White a fantastic drummer, Jack also said The White Stripes would be nothing without her,' the British 44-year-old wrote.

'To the journalist who dissed her, keep my ex husband's ex wife name out of your f***ing mouth. (Please and thank you).'

The Roots drummer tweeted: 'I try to leave "troll views" alone but this right here is out of line af. Actually what is wrong w music is people choking the life out of music like an Instagram filter - trying to reach a high of music perfection that doesn't even serve the song (or music). This is why I walk that Dilla path and play like a drunken sloppy af amateur because them flaws is the human element in music that is missing. Real film > IG filter photo.'

Palmer tweeted: 'If Meg had been male, her sound would have been hailed as "stripped-down, distinct and powerful." Someday.'

Lee wrote: 'If you're dissing Meg White you fundamentally misunderstand what makes music good.'

And Price chimed in: 'Meg White inspired me to sit behind the drum throne and pick up the sticks. Her style and the White Stripes music was a breath of fresh air compared to most of the stuff going on at the time. Anyone who s*** talks her wouldn't know rock and roll if it bit then in the a**.'

Through an unnamed female friend, White - who suffers from acute anxiety - reacted to going viral in the June-July edition of ELLE: 'Her response was something along the lines of "Oh, that again?"'

'The tragedy of the White Stripes is how great they would've been with a half decent drummer': The press surrounding the nod lead to a (since deleted) mean tweet on March 13 from ex-journalist Lachlan Markay where he blasted Meg's performances as 'terrible' and 's****y'

'The tragedy of the White Stripes is how great they would've been with a half decent drummer': The press surrounding the nod lead to a (since deleted) mean tweet on March 13 from ex-journalist Lachlan Markay where he blasted Meg's performances as 'terrible' and 's****y'

'Happy to do it all again': On March 15, Jack responded to Markay's allegation with an Instagram snap of White playing her signature peppermint-swirled drum alongside a poem about having no regrets while calling out 'demons, cowards, and vampires out for blood'

'Happy to do it all again': On March 15, Jack responded to Markay's allegation with an Instagram snap of White playing her signature peppermint-swirled drum alongside a poem about having no regrets while calling out 'demons, cowards, and vampires out for blood'

White (born Gillis) famously took - and kept - the four-time Grammy winner's surname after their 1996 wedding, and he told Rolling Stone in 2014 of her hermit nature: 'All the not talking didn't matter, because onstage? Nothing I do will top that' (pictured in 2007)

White (born Gillis) famously took - and kept - the four-time Grammy winner's surname after their 1996 wedding, and he told Rolling Stone in 2014 of her hermit nature: 'All the not talking didn't matter, because onstage? Nothing I do will top that' (pictured in 2007)

'Meg White a fantastic drummer': And the 12-time Grammy winner wasn't the only one coming to Meg's defense as his ex-wife #2 Karen Elson, six-time Grammy winner Questlove, Amanda Palmer, Ben Lee, and Grammy nominee Margo Price all took to Twitter to praise her

'Meg White a fantastic drummer': And the 12-time Grammy winner wasn't the only one coming to Meg's defense as his ex-wife #2 Karen Elson, six-time Grammy winner Questlove, Amanda Palmer, Ben Lee, and Grammy nominee Margo Price all took to Twitter to praise her

Through an unnamed female friend, White - who suffers from acute anxiety - reacted to going viral in the June-July edition of ELLE: 'Her response was something along the lines of "Oh, that again?"'

Through an unnamed female friend, White - who suffers from acute anxiety - reacted to going viral in the June-July edition of ELLE: 'Her response was something along the lines of "Oh, that again?"'

The insider added: 'She spent 15 years traveling and touring and playing. It's not that odd to think that she just likes to be home'

The insider added: 'She spent 15 years traveling and touring and playing. It's not that odd to think that she just likes to be home'

Curtain call: The White Stripes officially disbanded in 2011 - two years after their final performance with their 2002 track We're Going to Be Friends on the final episode of NBC's Late Night With Conan O'Brien in February 2009

Curtain call: The White Stripes officially disbanded in 2011 - two years after their final performance with their 2002 track We're Going to Be Friends on the final episode of NBC's Late Night With Conan O'Brien in February 2009

Still putting out stuff! On April 21, The White Stripes released a limited edition two-disc LP of Elephant in honor of the 20th anniversary

Still putting out stuff! On April 21, The White Stripes released a limited edition two-disc LP of Elephant in honor of the 20th anniversary 

Hitting shelves October 3! Fans of the red, white, and black-toned twosome can buy the 300+ page book The White Stripes Complete Lyrics featuring never-before-seen and rare photos

Hitting shelves October 3! Fans of the red, white, and black-toned twosome can buy the 300+ page book The White Stripes Complete Lyrics featuring never-before-seen and rare photos

'She spent 15 years traveling and touring and playing. It's not that odd to think that she just likes to be home,' the insider added.

The White Stripes officially disbanded in 2011 - two years after their final performance with their 2002 track We're Going to Be Friends on the final episode of NBC's Late Night With Conan O'Brien in February 2009.

On April 21, The White Stripes released a limited edition two-disc LP of Elephant in honor of the 20th anniversary.

Fans of the red, white, and black-toned twosome can buy the 300+ page book The White Stripes Complete Lyrics, featuring never-before-seen and rare photos, which hits shelves October 3.

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