Page and Plant win Stairway to Heaven Plagiarism Lawsuit

By a count of 12-0 Led Zeppelin are deemed not to have taken the opening chord progression to Stairway to Heaven from Spirit's Taurus. After the verdict plaintiffs council Francis Malofiy claim they lost on a technicality, acting as though the entire lawsuit was not based on a technicality. The fact is if the first four notes of both songs where as similar as the next 12, there would never have been a lawsuit. This case boiled down to who owns the Am arpeggio in the 5th position? Answer, not Francis Malefic.


Here's Led Zeppelin's official statement about today's verdict:

We are grateful for the jury's conscientious service and pleased that is has ruled in our favour, putting a rest to questions about the origins of 'Stairway to Heaven' and confirming what we have known for 45 years. We appreciate our fans' support, and look forward to putting this legal matter behind us.

And Warner Brothers official statement:

At Warner Music Group, supporting our artists and protecting their creative freedom is paramount. We are pleased the the jury found in favour of Led Zeppelin, re-affirming the true origins of Stairway to Heaven. Led Zeppelin is one of the greatest bands in history, and Jimmy Page and Robert Plant are peerless songwriters who created many of rock's most influential and enduring songs.

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Stairway to Heaven v. Taurus Lawsuit Has Gone to the Jury

A lawsuit in Los Angeles alleging that Jimmy Page and Robert Plant plagiarized part of Stairway to Heaven from the Spirit song Taurus (I know, never heard of them either), has finished and a decision now rests with the jury.

The lawsuit claims Page took the opening four bars of Stairway from a similar sequence in Taurus, written by late Sprit Guitarist Randy California (nee Wolfe). The suit saw all three surviving members of Led Zeppelin taking the stand.

During testimony Jimmy Page claimed to have never heard Taurus, John Paul Jones claims never to have heard Spirit, and Robert Plant laughingly stated he had no recollection of Spirit or "mostly anybody I've ever hung out with." As well, early recordings from Headley Grange in 1971 featuring Page playing the parts of Stairway to the rest of the band, plus an early run through with incomplete lyrics were played in the courtroom.

While the opening sequence of Stairway does bear similarity to Taurus, it is not the same melody or chords, merely the descending bass line over Am chord, a sequence that appears often in musical history, dating back to the 16th century. Such 20th century standards as My Funny Valentine and Chim Chim Cher-ee use the same sequence. I have more thought and see audio examples on Episode 118 of The Ramble on Radio Podcast.




Reporter Pamela Chenin has been doing a phenomenal job of covering the trial via twitter.

The Jury is expected to have a verdict tomorrow, although they could in theory take much longer. Follow Pamela Chenin or Ramble on Radio on twitter for the verdict as it happens.




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Train - You Shook Me

From Does Led Zeppelin II :

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Ramble On Radio Episode #118

In 118th Episode of Ramble on Radio, I sit with my guitar and examine the similarities and differences between Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven and Spirit's Taurus. I also look at some other examples of this appreciated chord pattern, dating back to the 17th century.




You can download the podcast at Podbean or Spreaker. If you go to Spreaker, be sure to follow the episode.

You can also subscribe on iTunes. If you subscribe via iTunes, be sure to leave a review.

Ramble on Radio is also on Stitcher Radio.



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Robert Plant Austin City Limits Performance

Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters recording Austin City Limits on Monday.


 


 
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Ace Frehley Covers Zeppelin

Except for the fact that he was born in outer space, as a kid Ace Frehley was just like you and me.

Original Kiss guitarist, Ace Frehley will cover Led Zeppelin’s Bring it on Home, itself an homage to the Sonny Boy Williamson track (and written by WIllie Dixon), on his upcoming covers album. Titled Origins Vol. 1, the album sees Frehley cover songs by artists such as Cream, Free and Jimi Hendrix along with the Zeppelin track.

“Townshend, Page, Clapton, and Hendrix – I had some of the best teachers in the world,” Frehley says. His influences run through Origins Vol. 1, with all of the above but Pete Townsend’s The Who represented on the album. As well, Frehley covers a few of his old bands songs: Parasite, Cold Gin and Rock and Roll Hell.

Origins Vol. 1 is set for release April 16th.

As for Bring it on Home, Frehley rocks up the intro a little, replacing the old school blues intro with an electric intro filled with some hot bluesy licks. The song starts off with a train bell, setting the tempo. When the main body kicks in, Frehley sticks with the Jimmy Page lick and chord pattern, using a repeated hammer-on E7/A/E then G-E pull off pattern. He ends it, like Led Zeppelin, in a traditional blues style, sticking with the electric guitar.

Despite using different singers on the album, most notably his old band mate Paul Stanley, but also including Lita Ford and Mike McCready, Frehley takes the vocal duties himself on Bring it on Home. His voice is never been his strong suit, but he is an alright singer and it works well in this instance.








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Scarlet Page Resonators Prints

Friend of Ramble on Radio Scarlet Page, who appeared on Ramble on Radio Episode #102 last July, is making limited edition high quality black and white prints of images from her book Resonators. The prints feature guitar players such as Jack White, Jeff Beck, Chrissie Hynde, Joe Walsh, John Frusciante and two of Page's father, Jimmy Page.

All prints are signed, unframed and can be purchased at 16x20 inch for £250 or 20x24 inch signed print for £400. Order prints here.

Meanwhile the book Resonators can currently be purchased at hive.co.uk for £33.55.




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