After going public with their claim, a lawyer representing the late Spirit guitarist Randy California has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Led Zeppelin. The suit claims that Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page plagiarized a track performed by the forgotten ‘60s band for the legendary intro to “Stairway to Heaven.”
Attorney Francis Alexander Malofiy went public with the claims late last month, making it clear that the estate intends to sue the group and try to put a stop to an impending re-issue of Led Zeppelin IV, which features the song in question. “Stairway To Heaven” was released in 1971 and has become a classic rock radio staple.
It turns out that Led Zeppelin did tour the U.S. with Spirit in the late 1960s and Mark Andes, one of the surviving members of Spirit, claims that Page must have heard them perform California’s “Taurus.” He also believes that Led Zep began integrating their Spirit’s songs into their own setlists.
Malofiy followed through with his promises to file the lawsuit and did so on May 31, notes CNN. It was filed in the United States District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania, with California’s estate listed as the plaintiff.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the lawsuit practically attributes everything that makes Led Zep one of the most iconic bands in rock history to California. “Jimmy Page’s use of the Etherwave-Theremin, and other psychedelic-type audio effects which helped give Led Zeppelin its distinctive sound — especially prominent in 'Whole Lotta Love' — was inspired by seeing California effectively use these types of audio-enhancing effects on tour,” the suit states.
The lawsuit does list several songs that Led Zep has faced plagiarism claims for in the past. For example, the group did have to add Willie Dixon’s name to the writing credits for “Whole Lotta Love.”
The lawsuit seeks statutory damages and a cut of profits from the song. In addition, the estate wants California’s name added to the writing credit of the song.
As Businessweek points out, Page told the French newspaper Liberation that the claim is “ridiculous.”
image courtesy of INFphoto.com