White Stripes star charged with assault

White Stripes frontman Jack White was charged today with aggravated assault after a fight with the lead singer of another band.

White went to a Detroit police station yesterday and gave a statement saying he struck Von Bondies lead singer Jason Stollsteimer in self defence.

The fight between White and Stollsteimer began in a Detroit concert hall where both men were in the audience for another concert.

Stollsteimer, 25, told police that White had punched him seven times in the face.

White, 28, faces a maximum of one year in prison if convicted.

Wayne County Prosecutor Mike Duggan said the two had an ongoing disagreement that began after Stollsteimer criticised White’s role in producing the Von Bondies’ first album.

“It seems that far too often celebrities think that the law does not apply to them,” Duggan said.

White and his sister, Meg, make up the White Stripes. They are nominated together for three Grammy Awards: album of the year and alternative music album for Elephant, and best rock performance by a duo or group with vocal for Seven Nation Army. The song also earned Jack White a solo nomination for best rock song.

White also has a small role as a singer in the film Cold Mountain, starring Nicole Kidman, Jude Law and Renee Zellweger.