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Did Led Zeppelin steal ‘Stairway to Heaven’ riff?

Led Zeppelin's singer, Robert Plant
( / EFE/Archivo)
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A Pennsylvania judge has denied a motion to dismiss a lawsuit alleging Led Zeppelin stole one of the most famous riffs in "Stairway to Heaven," one of the most famous rock and roll songs ever recorded.

Does this mean U.S. District Court Judge Juan Sánchez is setting up the most epic showdown in the history of rock and roll? Or that he just likes listening to the song on the job?

At issue is whether Zeppelin pilfered its heavenly melody from Spirit's instrumental song, "Taurus." How similar are the songs, anyway? Listen for yourself below.

Led Zeppelin's legal team had wanted to dismiss the plagiarism lawsuit filed against the band, singer Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page and their music companies by the heirs of Randy Craig Wolfe aka Randy California, one of the founding members of Spirit, a lesser-known band that toured with Zeppelin in the late 1960s.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Zeppelin's legal eagles argued band members "are British citizens residing in England, own no property in Pennsylvania and have no contacts with Pennsylvania, let alone ties sufficient to render them essentially at home here."

The counter-argument came that Page, Plant and others "make millions of dollars from the Eastern District of Pennsylvania by directly targeting this district for the exploitation of 'Stairway to Heaven' through CD sales, digital downloading, radio and television play, advertising, marketing, concert performances, other performances, licensing, and otherwise targeting resident individuals and businesses to profit off the exploitation of 'Stairway to Heaven.'”

Judge Sánchez denied the motion to dismiss or transfer "without prejudice," which means Zeppelin's attorneys can try again for a dismissal or as Bloomberg Businessweek wrote in its headline: "Led Zeppelin Isn't Actually Losing the Stairway to Heaven Lawsuit."

Plágio?

It was international news.And the debate motored across America, too.That of course is also up for debate.Did they steal it? This Rutgers University media professor says no.What do you think? Here is the song that came first. Begin listening at 0:44 and let us know if it's the same.

'Taurus' by Spirit

'Stairway to Heaven'


Can't get enough? Here are some other versions, including one from Zeppelin's live "The Song Remains The Same."





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