Led Zep - Stairway...

An estimate of the song's historical earnings is $562,000,000...

Having listened to the Spirit song "Taurus" on YouTube, IMO it is much better than "Stairway to Heaven"...the two groups toured together in 68 and 69...the article mentions four previous settlements regarding Led Zep songs...

I agree with the following comment posted on YouTube



Sooo zeppelin stole the very common chord progression from part of a 2 1/2 minute song that only vaguely sounds similar, then just happened to write an additional 5 1/2 minutes of song with different timing around it?

So if this chain of events is accurate, they basically heard a tune, then wrote a song that had a similar chord progression, structured it completely differently, added lyrics, verses, a breakdown, drums, a solo, and a bunch of other ****?

If this counts as plagiarism, then 99% of bands that have ever existed are criminals.

Thought as much...all criminals...

Why four previous settlements...?

I agree with Facts.  I think it was John Lydon who said something like "there are only 12 notes in Western music, and they've all already been used in every combination"

Definitely misquoted, probably mis-attributed, and a bit simplistic - but you get the point.

This comparison has been around for many years now, it's just that some lawyer somewhere has decided to actually give it a go (or hope for an out of court settlement).

This has also been quoted, and was long before Taurus ....

.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWeejHJxGjs&feature=kp

A great album would be one where you compile all the songs they have claimed as their own that turned out to be by other people, but by the original artist. It would be like listening to a Led Zep tribute compilation album, but in a sort of reverse sense. I reckon there’s enough for a double album.

Stairway is comparatively a light steal, in my opinion. Page added a melody to that chord sequence and made it his own. Worse are songs like Since I’ve Been Loving You and Dazed and Confused which they simply claimed authorship to that were substantially by other people.

I love how no-one has batted an eyelid at the song's royalties being 562 squillion bucks...no doubt you all have fuzzy nostalgic feelings about learning to play "Stairway" on an acoustic guitar when you were fifteen...

Got it in one!

Did read about it but sheesh, try finding a well known song with an unused chord progression, I doubt it exists.

Cant blame somebody trying to top up their pension pot I guess

The Spirit guitarist is dead and it's his estate that is suing...I think Led Zep are due to bring out re-mastered versions of four albums...also, there is a statute of limitations in the USA...you have to sue within three years of a record's release...so, any settlement might only be payable on future royalties.

Clare Torry

"That wiz no' bad hen -- here's thirty quid -- get yersel' a new jumper, doll..."

Rolf did a great cover




http://youtu.be/5NMzuQFHJVU