White slams meg's drumming critics

Jack White has spoken out in defence of his ex-wife and bandmate Meg - taking aim at critics of the drummer's laid-back style.

The White Stripes rockers were husband and wife from 1996 to 2000, and have sold 12 million albums worldwide since they launched as a duo in 1997.

But Meg White, who is now married to Patti Smith's son Jackson, has come under fire from rock fans for her shy on-stage demeanour and retiring drumming style.

But Jack White is adamant his former lover is the real winner - because she has made a fortune from her quirky ways.

He tells Britain's Daily Star, "She can do what those with technical prowess can't. She inspires people to bash on pots and pans. For that, they repay her with gossip and judgement. In the end she's laughing to the Prada handbag store. She wins every time.

"Her femininity and extreme minimalism are too much to take for some metal heads and reverse-contrarian hipsters."