On June 15, 2016, Jimmy Page, the legendary guitarist of Led Zeppelin, took the stand in a high-profile copyright trial concerning the band’s iconic song “Stairway to Heaven.” The lawsuit, filed by Michael Skidmore, trustee of the estate of Spirit guitarist Randy Wolfe (known as Randy California), alleged that the opening guitar riff of “Stairway to Heaven” was copied from Spirit’s 1968 instrumental “Taurus.” ([bbc.com][1])
### Page’s Testimony
During his testimony, Page firmly denied any intentional borrowing from “Taurus.” He stated that he had never heard the song until a few years prior when comparisons began circulating online. “I knew I had never heard that before,” Page testified. “It was totally alien to me.” He also admitted to owning several Spirit albums but could not recall how he came to possess them, noting that his extensive collection included over 4,000 albums and nearly 6,000 CDs. ([theguardian.com][2], [bbc.com][3])
Page further explained that the descending chord pattern in question was a common musical figure and not unique to “Taurus.” He emphasized that such patterns have been used in various musical compositions across different genres and eras. ([cbsnews.com][4])
### The Legal Battle
The case centered on whether the opening notes of “Stairway to Heaven” were substantially similar to “Taurus” to warrant a copyright infringement claim. The jury ultimately sided with Led Zeppelin, concluding that while the band may have had access to “Taurus,” the two songs were not substantially similar. This decision was reaffirmed in 2020 when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal, effectively ending the legal dispute. ([theguardian.com][5], [npr.org][6], [cbsnews.com][4])
### Broader Implications
The trial highlighted ongoing debates in the music industry regarding copyright laws and the fine line between inspiration and plagiarism. It underscored the challenges in protecting musical creativity while acknowledging the influence of common musical elements that permeate various compositions. ([pitchfork.com][7])
In the end, the court’s ruling allowed Led Zeppelin to retain full credit for “Stairway to Heaven,” affirming its place as one of rock’s most enduring and original compositions.
* [time.com]()
* [pitchfork.com]()
* [pitchfork.com]()
[1]: “Led Zeppelin did not steal Stairway To Heaven riff, appeals court rules”
[2]: “Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page denies stealing guitar riff in Stairway to Heaven | Led Zeppelin | The Guardian”
[3]: “Jimmy Page denies stealing Stairway to Heaven riff – BBC News”
[4]: “Led Zeppelin prevails in \”Stairway to Heaven\” plagiarism case after Supreme Court decision – CBS News”
[5]: “Plagiarism case over Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven finally ends”
[6]: “Jury Clears Led Zeppelin In ‘Stairway To Heaven’ Plagiarism Suit : The Two-Way : NPR”
[7]: “What Led Zeppelin’s \”Stairway\” Trial Says About Copyright’s
Increasingly Blurred Lines”