In the mother of all unbelievable battles, it has been announced that The White Stripes are officially suing the US Air Force. Yes you read that correctly. Just to drive the point home, The White Stripes are suing the US Air Force. Some have welcomed this action, with the anti war groups being particularly vocal about this, and some have branded it unpatriotic but either way it looks set to be one of the biggest battles in music in the coming months.

So what exactly is the issue? Well, an advert was screened on TV during Sunday night’s Superbowl showcasing the Air Force in an attempt to recruit those interested in a career in the military. The song used was Fell In Love With A Girl by The White Stripes, which has been re-recorded for the ad. Apparently the Air Force did so without permission and will now have to answer that charge in court.

Jack White has been particularly vocal on the issue and has used the band’s website to put out a statement that made his position crystal clear: “We believe our song was re-recorded and used without permission of the White Stripes, our publishers, label or management. The White Stripes take strong insult and objection to the Air Force Reserves presenting this advert with the implication that we licensed one of our songs to encourage recruitment during a war that we do not support. The White Stripes support this nation’s military, at home and during times when our country needs and depends on them. We simply don’t want to be a cog in the wheel of the current conflict, and hope for a safe and speedy return home for our troops.”

Needless to say after that diatribe, the Air Force Reserve had absolutely no comment to make at all. So who is in the right here? And, more importantly, how much will the military have to pay to stop the furore in its tracks?