Many listeners are convinced that Led Zeppelin copied the “Stairway to Heaven” opening directly from Spirits “Taurus. What do you think ? The members of Led Zeppelin say that the lawsuit filed against them earlier this year regarding their epic Stairway to Heaven should either be moved to a California court or dismissed completely. As previously reported, Francis Alexander Malofiy -- a Philadelphia-based attorney who represents late Spirit guitarist Randy California -- filed a copyright suit against Zeppelin on May 31, claiming that the opening of Stairway was cribbed from an obscure instrumental called Taurus from Spirits 1968 debut. At the time, Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page said, This is ridiculous. I have no further comment on the subject. Now, according to Business Week, Page and Zeppelins other two surviving members -- singer Robert Plant and bassist John Paul Jones -- are arguing that the Philadelphia federal court where the lawsuit was filed is an inappropriate venue. In a statement filed September 17, Page wrote, I have not performed as part of the musical group known as Led Zeppelin in the state of Pennsylvania since 1985 ... That performance was without fee as one of many participants in a Live Aid charity concert. Page, Plant, Jones and lawyers for their label, the Warner Music Group, have filed a motion to either dismiss the case or move it to U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, where they claim that many relevant records and possible witnesses exist. Stairway to Heaven, though never released as a single, stands as perhaps Led Zeppelins most popular song. Coincidentally, the record it appeared on -- alternately known as Led Zeppelin IV and the untitled album -- is due to be reissued on October 28.
Posted on: Fri, 19 Sep 2014 15:23:53 +0000