Stairway to Heaven - Music was stolen

[ufkacbln]

Allegedly in the early days Led Zeppelin suported a band called "Spirit"

The claim is that the music for Stairway to Heaven was copied and "stolen" from Spirit and the song writer Randy California

Allegedly this is the original version, the part in question starts at 0:50




They have been accused before of ripping off other artists works, but this time it is a law suit that is to be heard in the federal court and a multi million dollar claim for the copyright infringement

Thoughts?

 

[Dan B]

My first thought is that the thread title should probably end in a question mark.

 

[Tin Pot]

That kind of music has always been about riffs, shared, stolen, bastardised - it's impossible to prove a malicious copy and it would mean nothing if we didn't have these ridiculous IP laws.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

Allegedly this is the original version, the part in question starts at 0:50

1.40 to about 2.03 seems to be the bit I would identify as almost "ripped off" - if not to the note then note far off

 

[Hill Wimp]

I can hear the similarities everynow and again but to say its a copy or a rip off is a bit way off. I could see how bits of it would have influenced the song as we know it but influence it is not copy surely.

 

[Beebo]

Why now? And not 40 years ago.
Couldnt be anything to do with the recent Blurred Lines verdict?
A verdict which many people think was a bit dodgy.

 

[accountantpete]

It's a very slight rip off well within acceptable artistic licence - unlike this one


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvLwMrGZiH0

 

[raleighnut]

Randy 'California' (real name Randy Wolfe) was playing with Jimi Hendrix before Jimi came to England (he was 16 and his parents would not allow him to come with Jimi)
I'd bet money that him and Jimmy Page sat and played together, sharing ideas and riffs and if Randy was alive today he would not pursue this 'claim' unfortunately when someone comes up with an idea like this lawyers tend to get involved and despite this happening in the 70s they will probably carry on chasing it now.
It does coincide with a lot of recordings of Spirit being 'discovered' though and previously unreleased live material coming onto the market (most of which I have bought as I've been a massive fan for years, since a mate played me some stuff in 1980)
A truly great musician and very innovative (give Future Games a listen) and a shame he died rescuing his son from drowning.

As for the stage name Jimi introduced him on stage as "This is 'er' Randy from California" and he adopted that stage name.

 

[raleighnut]

My favourite Spirit song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=LBkaPDcrRJ0

Edit- although this just seems to be random bits of video whilst the song is played, I'll try and find some better versions

 

[Chromatic]

My thoughts are that Stairway To Heaven is crap, as was everything else Led Zep did, with the exception of Kashmir, which was good.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

George Harrison was successfully sued because My Sweet Lord was alleged to be stolen from something which I can't remember that sounded nothing like it.

 

[Chromatic]

George Harrison was successfully sued because My Sweet Lord was alleged to be stolen from something which I can't remember that sounded nothing like it.

He's so Fine by The Chiffons IIRC

 

[Globalti]

Lawyers are clever and creative aren't they? Always dreaming up new wheezes for making money. I'm suprised the lawyers for the estate of Beethoven haven't sued the Mozart estate and hundreds of others haven't sued each other because they all borrowed ideas from fellow composers. Charles Gounod's famous Ave Maria uses Bach's Prelude No. 1 in C major, written over 100 years earlier. So what.

 

[raleighnut]

My thoughts are that Stairway To Heaven is crap, as was everything else Led Zep did, with the exception of Kashmir, which was good.

This was quite good.....................back in the days when Jimmy page played a Telecaster.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Eu6FTAVRCMI

 

[Vapin' Joe]

He's so Fine by The Chiffons IIRC

That's the one.

Crap song that sounds nothing like My Sweet Lord.