United States: Band protests military use of song

February 14, 2010
Issue 

US rock group the White Stripes has protested at what it says is the unauthorised use of an instrumental version of its song "Fell in Love With a Girl" in a recruiting ad for the US military, the New York Times said on February 9.

The ad, for the Air Force Reserve, was created for the NFL Super Bowl Sunday on February 7.

A statement by the White Stripes, posted on the site of its record label Third Man Records on February 8, said: "The White Stripes take strong insult and objection to the Air Force Reserve presenting this advertisement 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 ... 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.

"We have not licensed this song to the Air Force Reserve and plan to take strong action to stop the ad containing this music."

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