Led Zeppelin Trial: Was "Stairway to Heaven" famous riff stolen?

dmaradona10

Sound similar to you?
http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/12/entertainment/led-zeppelin-stairway-heaven/index.html

PJ_Soul

Well, I guess it's technically possible that that is just a coincidence... But it's Led Zeppelin. I LOVE them so much, but it's common knowledge that they were were music thieves. I think it's probable that they stole that riff from Spirit. It is identical.

dmaradona10

PJ_Soul said:

Well, I guess it's technically possible that that is just a coincidence... But it's Led Zeppelin. I LOVE them so much, but it's common knowledge that they were were music thieves. I think it's probable that they stole that riff from Spirit. It is identical.

Yeah, no denying the similarities. I guess sampling music was different back then. Kinda makes me think of Zeppelin differently which kinda sucks.

PJ_Soul

dmaradona10 said:

PJ_Soul said:

Well, I guess it's technically possible that that is just a coincidence... But it's Led Zeppelin. I LOVE them so much, but it's common knowledge that they were were music thieves. I think it's probable that they stole that riff from Spirit. It is identical.

Yeah, no denying the similarities. I guess sampling music was different back then. Kinda makes me think of Zeppelin differently which kinda sucks.

Yeah, I remember feeling pretty bummed when I first found out just how much music they ripped off (something like at least 14 full songs according to some info I've read, plus riffs! ). But that was years and years ago. It was kind of a huge blow then, but I guess I'm just used to this fact now. And really, their genius still trumps their thievery IMO, so whatever I suppose. They are still one of my favorite bands of all time and have been since I was probably 13 years old. I'm not going to let one more stolen riff effect my opinion about them at this point, lol. I mean, it really can't get any worse than it already has, hahaha. Ugh.

DewieCox

No way...I get why it would go to trial with their track record, but the pattern was used before and has been used since. If the Spirit side wins this lawsuits they in turn will be sued by Davey Graham or any number of artists that used that progression before. It will open the flood gates as to what constitutes plagiarism.

Zeppelin's theft is consistently overstated. They've been proven to recycle ideas and deserve some scorn for it, but there are also quite a few examples that get brought in that have no business being in the conversation...they didn't really take anymore than other bands of the day and they have "done their time". If nothing else, those bands they lifted from have seen way more money and notoriety b/c of Zeppelin.

Do I wish they credited properly and do they get a notch? Sure, but I'm not gonna hang them. I don't think malicious intent was there, especially with the way Page and Plant talk about those artists with such reverence.

PJ_Soul

I agree that some cases have been overblown... although I think that's made up for where other cases have been underblown. TBH, I don't know if it makes a difference at this point. Once you've got that reputation it's not going anywhere. And you know what? It doesn't even seem to matter anyhow. They are still one of the most beloved bands in the history of the world.

Who Princess

The article refers to Spirit as a "lesser known band" but they were VERY popular in the late 60s, early 70s (no idea why good old "classic rock" radio seems to have ignored them completely). Zep was still an opening act when they played on the same venues with Spirit. Wouldn't surprise me in the least if they "borrowed" the riff, and if Randy California hadn't passed away this probably would have gone to court much sooner.

DewieCox

He died 30 years after the fact and it's not like he didn't hear Stairway a billion times before his death. Better go after Floyd for Is There Anybody Out There, as well.

Who Princess

DewieCox said:

He died 30 years after the fact and it's not like he didn't hear Stairway a billion times before his death. Better go after Floyd for Is There Anybody Out There, as well.

Yup, and he commented on the fact, even if he didn't take any legal action then, nothing to say he wouldn't have eventually. Why did it take Jake Holmes so long to sue about Dazed and Confused?

Thoughts_Arrive

I'm going to record myself crying "leave Led Zep alone" and post it on YouTube

InHiding80

This is reminding me of that Simpsons episode where a hobo voiced by Kirk Douglas claims he owns Itchy and Scratchy. The real owner voiced by Alex Rocco made a good point that mostly everything is a ripoff in some way.

I'm sorry, but this idiot waited way too long to complain about a hit song from 40 years ago. It's not like LZ threatened him like Bill Cosby did to his victims because of their power. You snooze, you lose.

smarchee

InHiding80 said:

I'm sorry, but this idiot waited way too long to complain about a hit song from 40 years ago. It's not like LZ threatened him like Bill Cosby did to his victims because of their power. You snooze, you lose.

if you are referring to the composer, he is dead
it's the trustee of his Estate, probably acting on behalf of the beneficiaries financial interest and his own, cough, that is seeking damages

The lawsuit was brought by a trustee for the estate of the late Randy Wolfe, also known as Randy California -- a songwriting member of the American rock group Spirit.

InHiding80

smarchee said:

InHiding80 said:

I'm sorry, but this idiot waited way too long to complain about a hit song from 40 years ago. It's not like LZ threatened him like Bill Cosby did to his victims because of their power. You snooze, you lose.

if you are referring to the composer, he is dead
it's the trustee of his Estate, probably acting on behalf of the beneficiaries financial interest and his own, cough, that is seeking damages

The lawsuit was brought by a trustee for the estate of the late Randy Wolfe, also known as Randy California -- a songwriting member of the American rock group Spirit.

Touché.

2-feign-reluctance

Most ridiculous thing ever.

brianlux

This kind of thing always reminds me of this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fpq5RTJECJI

"Don't Cuss The Fiddle"
(originally by Kris Kristofferson, )
(duet with Willie Nelson)

I scandalized my brother
While admitting that he sang some pretty songs
I'd heard that he'd been scandalizing me
And Lord, I knew that that was wrong.

Now I'm looking at it over somethin' cool
And feeling fool enough to see
What I had called my brother on
Now he had every right to call on me.

Don't ever cuss that fiddle boy
Unless you want that fiddle out of tune
That picker there's in trouble boy
Ain't nothin' but another side of you.

If we ever get to heaven boys
It ain't because we ain't done nothin' wrong
We're in this gig together
So let's settle down and steal each other's song.

I found a wounded brother
Drinkin' bitterly away the afternoon
And soon enough he turned on me
Like he'd done every face in that saloon.

Well, we cussed him to the ground
And said he couldn't even steal a decent song
But soon as it was spoken
We was sad enough to wish that we were wrong.

Don't ever cuss that fiddle boy
Unless you want that fiddle out of tune
That picker there's in trouble boy
Ain't nothin' but another side of you.

I know that it sounds silly
But I think that I just stole somebody's song
She's a good timin' woman
In love with a good two timin' man.
And she loves him inspite of the way
That she don't understand...

scurtis

Impossible to prove the different between inspiration and infringement.