With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Was 'Stairway To Heaven' Plagiarized? Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Filed Against Led Zeppelin
"Stairway To Heaven" is arguably the most classic of rock songs. Everyone knows it, even the millennials! But is "Stairway To Heaven" also the greatest scam in rock history? A copyright infringement lawsuit filed against Led Zeppelin members has been moving its way through the courts, and now a jury is going to decide if it's original, or ripped off from a band called Spirit. The lawsuit was brought by Michael Skidmore, who is a trustee for the late Randy Wolfe of Spirit, who made similar allegations in the 1990s before his death.Spirit toured with Led Zeppelin in 1968 and 1969, performing the song in question, titled "Taurus." This was years before Led Zeppelin IV (which featured "Stairway to Heaven") was released.
Robert Plant and Jimmy Page are specifically the ones being accused of stealing the opening chords for their 1971 classic, and they'll be headed to a Los Angeles courtroom on May 10th. According to the Guardian, U.S. district judge Gary Klausner decided last week that the opening of the songs were similar enough, and a jury would decide. He declared:
While it is true that a descending chromatic four-chord progression is a common convention that abounds in the music industry, the similarities here transcend this core structure. For example, the descending bass line in both "Taurus" and "Stairway to Heaven" appears at the beginning of both songs, arguably the most recognizable and important segments. Additionally, the descending bass line is played at the same pitch, repeated twice, and separated by a short bridge in both songs.
To break it down further, here's TJR of TJR Music with an incredibly helpful explainer on all of this.
Sponsor
Here's Spirit's "Taurus" in full:
And here's "Stairway to Heaven" — at least we can agree that Zeppelin did very good things with those chords, if they did in fact steal them.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
