Robert Plant and Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin were yesterday cleared of copying the opening riff for their ’70s song Stairway to Heaven.
The lawsuit accused Plant and Page of lifting the excerpt from an instrumental titled Taurus from LA band Spirit.
It was brought about by the estate of Spirit’s guitarist, Randy Wolfe, who sued for recognition and a share of the royalties earned from Stairway to Heaven.
After a six-day trial, a jury in Los Angeles ruled not guilty on Thursday, June 23rd.
“We are grateful for the jury’s conscientious service and pleased that it has ruled in our favour, putting to rest questions about the origins of Stairway to Heaven and confirming what we have known for 45 years.”
Robert plant and jimmy page
Said Plant and Page: “We are grateful for the jury’s conscientious service and pleased that it has ruled in our favour, putting to rest questions about the origins of Stairway to Heaven and confirming what we have known for 45 years.
“We appreciate our fans’ support, and look forward to putting this legal matter behind us.”
A spokesperson from the band’s label, Warner Music Group, added: “At Warner Music Group, supporting our artists and protecting their creative freedom is paramount.
“We are pleased that the jury found in favour of Led Zeppelin, re-affirming the true origins of Stairway to Heaven.
“Led Zeppelin is one of the greatest bands in history, and Jimmy Page and Robert Plant are peerless songwriters who created many of rock’s most influential and enduring songs.”
Music Business Worldwide
