It’s always painful when the heroes of our youth are shown to be mere mortals, subject to the vagaries of human desires and failings just like ourselves, so take a deep breath this is painful for me too.
A story first brought into the spot light by Howard Stern a couple of months ago was revisited today when he had guest Denny Somach, famed Dee Jay and the World’s Foremost Classic Rock expert, on the show to discuss what appears to be very blatant plagiarism by “The Greatest Hard Rock Band of all time.”
This is very disturbing to many of us I’m sure, but if you take a listen to Mr. Somach’s compiled evidence he clearly makes the case that Led Zeppelin’s “Borrowing” goes way beyond the acknowledged blues fandom and influence to almost note for note and lyric for lycric plagiarism. In fact, on their first album only one of the 9 songs appears to be an original composition.
But it gets worse from there, one can still hope that this was perhaps the actions of a hungry young band, misguided by bad management. All doubts will be shattered though when you listen to the song “Taurus” by the band of the same name, where almost note for note Led Zeppelin seems to have found the “inspiration” for the opening riff of “Stairway To Heaven.”
In the face of all this plagiarism how does one explain the meteoric rise and staying power of Led Zeppelin? A deal with the Devil perhaps? It might be more likely than we think.
June 28, 2007 at 1:38 am
huh, that’s a little disheartning for someone that had no Idea.
How much of their later stuff was taken as well?
June 28, 2007 at 9:01 pm
Great article! I happend to catch that interview as well, and could not believe what I was listening! It’s just amazing.
June 29, 2007 at 8:56 pm
Heard the “Taurus” bit from an old sub i had in high school, freshman year.
October 23, 2007 at 9:48 pm
I listened to the Stern piece and it was interesting. I thought the evidence ranged from convincing to dubious. To me the most clear example was ‘Black Mountain Side’. The Joan Baez connection to “Babe I’m going to leave you” was tenuous. I think a lot of their examples were shades of grey. The Joan Baez song, the “Dazed and Confused” supposed original and the spirit song, each contained sort of faint connections to the Zep songs. I don’t know copyright laws, but if you start with a little piece of an idea from a song, add many more elements and original pieces, and play it in a totally different style with a completely different sound, is it your song or someone else’s? I personally don’t think any of those “original” artists could legitimately claim they wrote the Led Zeppelin song; they are too dissimilar in my view. Could LZ tip their hat to those artists and say they were an influence? Sure. But I suppose a lot of the complaints have to do with $$ and what is owed. I know if I were on a jury I would dismiss the case against LZ, as I believe their songs to be more original that not.
December 24, 2007 at 5:00 pm
Dontcha think, after 35 years, any valid claims to plagiarism have been dealt with? Two lawsuits in the life of LZ, in at least one case for a cover they did AFTER a different band had made the same cover, but who weren’t rich and famous so did NOT get sued for it… Cripes, the BEATLES were sued for plagiarism. Randy California, writer of ‘Taurus’, the great ‘Stairway’ ripoff, has stated publicly, as has Page, that Page got the ‘idea’ for the intro from him, and RANDY’S FINE WITH IT. It’s not plagiarism if you borrow something from someone else and they are OK with it - it’s called collaboration. And that’s a loose connection anyway if you actually take the time to listen to the two. Joan Baez ‘plagiarized’ Babe I’m gonna leave you 8 years before LZ. In a 1962 recording she listed it as an ‘arranged’ traditional tune since she did not know who wrote the song, which is EXACTLY what Page did on Led Zep I, years later, listing it as ‘arranged’ by him. The versions don’t sound anything at all alike, again if you’ve ever bothered to actually listen. Why is Baez not crucified for it equally? Oh, she’s not Led Zeppelin. Sheesh people, either enjoy the music or don’t listen to it if all the ‘borrowing’ bothers you so much, but you’ll sure be limiting what you listen to if you apply the same criticisms equally rather than targeting one band over and over and over and over and over and over and over ad nauseum…
February 26, 2008 at 10:36 pm
One thing everyone is forgetting: THE BLUES NEVER BELONGED TO ANYBODY. LZ borrowed from black blues players, who borrowed from other black blues players, who borrowed from…etc., etc., etc. No doubt, many of the lyrics are also rehashes of traditional forms and stories.
In other words, if you look closely, you’ll find yet earlier versions of the blues done by Dixon, House, King, etc.
March 11, 2008 at 2:05 pm
[...] “Whole Lotta Love” as an original composition was a really stupid move on their part. The charges of plagiarism don’t end here, but that’s all I’m going to address at this [...]
April 13, 2008 at 5:56 am
I didn’t realize that Heart was an old blues band. “Achilles’ Last Stand” is a DIRECT RIPOFF of “Barricuda”!!!!
April 23, 2008 at 6:04 am
It is disheartening that Zep didn’t give credit originally where credit was due. They only gave credit to some of the stuff AFTER they were sued. Let’s see….what does the original Jake Holmes version of Dazed and Confused have in common with Zep: Only phrasing, melody, and some lyrical content, but hey, who’s counting? Holmes’ recording predates Zep’s but Page STILL claims he wrote the riff and song. And the original Bert Jansch “Black Water Side”== same KEY, smae fingerpicking style, same tuning, same notes….hmmmmm
Sorry, guys, but give credit where credit is due. We’re not talking about mere influences here. When you can start to recognize complete phrases and melody, that leads to copyright infringement.
May 7, 2008 at 2:27 am
Hey Desol81, Barricuda came after Zeppelin…
May 7, 2008 at 2:28 am
*after zeppelin wrote Achilles
July 30, 2008 at 6:10 am
Led zepplin are just a terrible band all together. As a band they are horrible,and as musicians they obviously just played music for fame and money!This is almost as bad as rap and Emo!If being a liar , a cheat and a froud is what the music buisness is about I don’t want to be any part of it. Especially playing for people who foolishly Think led zepplin is an absolute classic and musical wonder!I consider their popularity Complete luck, not talent!I could name tons of artits or musician that have passed up led zepplin by light years that none of you probebly know about!How depreesing,I hope more poeple can appriciate talant and individuality in music and do the right thing!