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Wins 'Stairway' Lawsuit...IT'S NOT A RIP-OFF...
Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page and Robert Plant didn't jack the rock classic "Stairway to Heaven" ... according to the jury in their song theft trial.
The verdict came in Thursday morning -- after less than a day of deliberation -- and the jury ruled in favor of Zeppelin.
The trustee for songwriter Randy Wolfe, from the group Spirit, had sued claiming the iconic 'Stairway' guitar riff was lifted from Spirit's song, "Taurus." The jury didn't hear that and said there was no substantial similarity.
During the trial ... Spirit bassist Mark Andes recalled the band played "Taurus" at a Denver show where Led Zeppelin opened. Zepp's attorney claimed the bands were never onstage together and never toured together.
But a 1968 concert review in the Rocky Mountain News -- found on LZ's own website -- puts the bands together at the Denver concert. It was Zeppelin's U.S. debut.
In court ... guitar and piano renditions were played by musicians from both sides. Defense experts argued the songs only share a descending chord sequence that's common -- and clearly, the jury agreed. "If you listen very hard ... the truth will come to you at last."
If a thing's worth doing, it's worth doing well
(Proverb)
Follow Ups:
Led Zep's first US tour was supporting Spirit.
Plant and Page were at the first shows Spirit played in London in 68 or 69, I saw them there.
So it goes.
...but they weren't in the audience and didn't necessarily even hear the song in question.
Second, it isn't that close.
...having compared the two songs, the verdict was correct.
Fanja is also correct - Zep copied and ripped many others off.
LZ stole more from the Blues genre of music.
And without any scruples!Bert Janschs version of Blackwaterside on Jack Orion is credited as "Traditional"
Whereas LZs Black Mountain Side is a note for note rip off of Bert Jansch (sans vocals) and is credited to Jimmy Page.
Cheers,
John K
Edits: 06/28/16
Right On!
it is no industry secret that musicians "borrow" from one another at some point over a career. I like the Paul Simon and Los Lobos case the best, though.
I remember reading an interview with Robert Plant a long time ago. He stated that LZ considered themselves a blues band, but were classified as hard rock or heavy metal by the industry.
I read a review in RS back in the day proclaiming jimmy Page " greatest blues guitarist between 5'6" and 5'8"
but not certainly:
"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination" -Michael McClure
Angus Young probably the best rock n' roll guitarist between 5'0 and 5'6".
If a thing's worth doing, it's worth doing well
(Proverb)
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