Here's the song Led Zeppelin is accused of plagiarizing in 'Stairway to Heaven'

Led Zeppelin

Here's the song Led Zeppelin is accused of plagiarizing in 'Stairway to Heaven'
(Image credit: Led Zeppelin)

Members of the long-since-disbanded California band Spirit, plus the estate of late Spirit guitarist Randy California, are suing Led Zeppelin for a songwriting credit on "Stairway to Heaven." Spirit's 1968 song "Taurus" (listen below) has a guitar riff that's pretty similar to Jimmy Page's iconic opening melody on 1971's "Stairway" and Spirit bass player Mark Andes and California's trust are threatening to block the June re-release of Led Zeppelin IV until California gets credit on the album.

Credit means cash. As I noted Tuesday, credited songwriters get royalties every time one of their songs is played on the radio or in a public place like a bar or roller rink, streamed online, or appears in a film or ad or TV show. "Stairway to Heaven" has already earned at least $562 million in record sales and royalties, according to Portfolio estimates, and California could be eligible for a cut of that. Andes said Page would have heard "Taurus" when Zeppelin performed with Sprit in 1968 and '69.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.