Two years ago I wrote about the similarity between Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven' and the instrumental 'Taurus' which featured on the first album by US west coast band, Spirit.
Here is my original post from May 2014.
I now see that recent reports state that a US judge has decreed that a jury must decide and a trial has been scheduled for 10th May. Here is what The Guardian had to say on the subject.
As I said two years ago, Led Zeppelin may lose money and the estate of the late Randy California may gain, but at the end of the day, the only real winners in this whole sad affair are the lawyers. I mean they have been raking it in for at least two years now and I have a feeling the matter will not be resolved any time soon.
Meanwhile, sitting quietly on the sidelines is Michael Chapman, who also claims that Zeppelin ripped off his song 'Kodak Ghosts'.
Personally I think he is wise to stay out of it.
Showing posts with label Taurus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Taurus. Show all posts
Wednesday, 13 April 2016
Wednesday, 21 May 2014
Stairway to Heaven - A Rip Off Or Not?
About a year ago I posted comments about a Michael Chapman gig I attended at which he claimed that Led Zeppelin ripped off his guitar part from 'Kodak Ghosts' and used it to open their own 'Stairway To Heaven'. It's a nice story and while Chapman may harbour some resentment about the amount of cash Zeppelin made from that song (over £300m to date), he appeared pretty relaxed about the whole thing.
On the other hand US lawyers acting on behalf of the late Spirit guitarist Randy California, are seeking a writing credit claiming that the opening guitar part of 'Stairway To Heaven' was actually taken from the song 'Taurus' which was written by California in 1968. They are consequently seeking compensation for copyright infringement.
All rather sad really and I suspect that besides Led Zeppelin, the only ones who will wind up rich will be the lawyers themselves.
Personally I can see similarities in all three songs, yet all three are also very different. I like them all so have posted links to each of them below.
You can then make up your own minds.
STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN
TAURUS
KODAK GHOSTS
On the other hand US lawyers acting on behalf of the late Spirit guitarist Randy California, are seeking a writing credit claiming that the opening guitar part of 'Stairway To Heaven' was actually taken from the song 'Taurus' which was written by California in 1968. They are consequently seeking compensation for copyright infringement.
All rather sad really and I suspect that besides Led Zeppelin, the only ones who will wind up rich will be the lawyers themselves.
Personally I can see similarities in all three songs, yet all three are also very different. I like them all so have posted links to each of them below.
You can then make up your own minds.
STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN
TAURUS
KODAK GHOSTS
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