20 May Is Led Zepellin’s “Stairway to Heaven” a Ripoff?
It only took about 46 years, but a surviving member of the barely-known 60s band Spirit has sued rock hall of famers Led Zeppelin claiming the legendary opening riff in the overwhelmingly iconic “Stairway to Heaven” was stolen from a Spirit song called “Taurus.” Spirit and Zeppelin toured together in 1968, and “Stairway” appeared in Led Zep’s fourth album in 1971. The song is considered by many to be one of the greatest rock songs ever, and by others to be one of the greatest songs ever written period. Personally I pretty much stop whatever I’m doing when it comes on and just enjoy it.
Why sue now? Led Zeppelin is issuing a remastered version of “Stairway” along with other big hits and some new music. The late Randy California of Spirit told an interviewer before his death in 1997 that he thought the song was a ripoff. But he claimed he had no money for lawyers and assumed the statute of limitations was up anyway. But with the reissuance it all starts again and a surviving member of Spirit has sued. “Stairway” has generated roughly a half billion dollars in royalties for the band.
This is also not new. The legendary classic rock band had to change writing credits on four of their songs over the years (including “Whole Lotta Love” and “Dazed and Confused”) following similar claims by others. Here’s a link to the Taurus song, go to around the 50 second mark to hear what does indeed sound remarkably similar to the famous riff:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xd8AVbwB_6E.
UPDATE AS OF JUNE 23, 2016: A California jury today has ruled that Led Zep did not steal the song. Jimmy Page and Robert Plant declared themselves “grateful” in a statement.
Paul Alpert
Posted at 12:28h, 23 JanuaryHi David,
This article caught my attention. I am a musician ( jazz drums by trade), and listener of all genres. I also minored in music history at Hunter College.
I recently had a discussion at the office regarding a similar scenario, namely how Vanilla Ice ripped off a famous riff from a Queen song in the early 1990’s.
How are these instances any different than just about every single rock n roll band from the 50’s/60’s & later stealing riff’s, lyrics, and practically entire songs from the ‘ol time blues musicians of the south? My point is that the majority of this past century’s pop music is derived from similar “rip-offs” both musically and lyrically, which is just part of the progression of music and art in general. You ever hear Muddy Waters or Son House kvetch about the first three Rolling Stone’s albums?
Curious to hear your thoughts, and from a legal standpoint as well.
Paul Alpert
David Feldman
Posted at 13:27h, 10 FebruaryPaul, I guess there’s a difference between the “creativity is fluid, let’s all share” mentality of some musicians vs. the legal boundaries that do exist if one seeks to enforce them. If a hazy memory of a riff somehow gets it into a song is that theft? The law says it probably is. Like with patent infringement, enough differences can make a difference to avoid a legal claim. You can be inspired by music without outright stealing it. Or am I missing something?