Spirit sues Zeppelin after 40 years!
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Topic: Spirit sues Zeppelin after 40 years!
Posted By: SteveG
Subject: Spirit sues Zeppelin after 40 years!
Date Posted: June 13 2014 at 16:42
| Attorneys for Proto proggers Spirit are suing Led Zeppelin for lifting the opening arpeggio to Stairway To Heaven from a track titled Taurus from Spirit's 1968 self titled debut album. If you have the album, post if you think it's a Yea or a Nay. |
Replies:
Posted By: Guldbamsen
Date Posted: June 13 2014 at 16:44
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What?!?! After 40 years? ------------- “The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” - Douglas Adams |
Posted By: Horizons
Date Posted: June 13 2014 at 16:49
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They we're prolly sick of being broke and unknown. [Insert Dazed and Confused reference joke here]
------------- Crushed like a rose in the riverflow. |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: June 13 2014 at 17:07
| Zeppelin were known plagiarists. Pretty soon, Bob Mosley from Moby Grape will sue for their version of Never, which of couse is Since I've Been Loving You...... |
Posted By: Dayvenkirq
Date Posted: June 13 2014 at 18:15
... 40 years ... 
Also:
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SteveG wrote:Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: June 13 2014 at 18:26
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- Graham, not George......
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Posted By: Dayvenkirq
Date Posted: June 13 2014 at 18:27
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Damn.
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Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: June 13 2014 at 18:34
^ Even funnier, I've known Day Tripper and Roxy S/T for over 25 years and never linked the two 
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Posted By: HolyMoly
Date Posted: June 13 2014 at 18:40
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It was actually all started by the music publishing equivalent of an ambulance chasing attorney. He saw an untapped opportunity (thanks to internet discussion) and called up Mark Andes. Randy California, the author of Taurus (deceased), years ago reportedly expressed his hope that Page would at least acknowledge the lift (and it's just a little bit of a lift, let's be honest), but he was never after any royalties or damages, nor held any ill will. I think all they seek is a cowriting credit of some sort, not back royalties. I don't think anyone would have even thought about it were it not for that opportunistic lawyer, and I doubt Andes really wanted this to be a news item. Probably just some legal papers going back and forth, not worthy of a lot of fuss. ------------- My other avatar is a Porsche It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle if it is lightly greased. -Kehlog Albran |
Posted By: Dayvenkirq
Date Posted: June 13 2014 at 18:42
| ^ +1. |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: June 13 2014 at 20:32
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If everyone who was touring together, or hanging out & recording at the Epic or Atlantic studios, did not lift from each other I'd be surprised. Stephen Stills should sue Page for pilfering 'Carry On' from Déjà vu and turning it into 'Friends'. The Hendrix Estate should sue Page for poaching 'Little Miss Lover' and transforming it into 'Immigrant Song'. I
mean they were all together, constantly hearing each other's music and
trading this or stealing that. Same with Tull. Sure Zeppelin were thieves but as they say in politics, they "stole it fair & square". And don't tell me LZ themselves were not stolen from-- they were just the single most influential rock band in history. - EDITED ------------- "Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: June 13 2014 at 22:35
I actually play 12 Dreams (one of my all time favorite proto prog albums..)more than any Zep albums these days. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: KingCrInuYasha
Date Posted: June 14 2014 at 02:43
1. I think "Carry On" was based on the main riff to "Cat's Squirrel". So Zepp ripped off Stills who ripped off a traditional number. 2. I don't think "Dolly Dagger" sounds like "Immigrant Song". If "IS" took anything, is that the cry Robert Plant did sounds like the opening notes to the Get Smart theme. 3. There's a difference be a homage and a ripoff. For example, take this piece: Here's an instance of what might some could consider a ripoff: And here's where it's used as homage: I love that song.  Oh, where was I? Oh, right.Of course, it's a tame example, since the source was based on a traditional melody where the identity of the writer has been lost to the sands of time, but you get the idea. (For a more blatant example, compare Howlin' Wolf's "Killing Floor" with Zepp's "Lemon Song".) Back on topic, I think I heard about Mr. California's reaction to "Stairway". The guy seemed to be a good sport about the whole thing about only wanting Page to give him a nod. If any good came from this, is that the whole affair was a nice bit of musical education; plus it lead me to be a fan of Spirit's material. ------------- He looks at this world and wants it all... so he strikes, like Thunderball! |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: June 14 2014 at 02:53
------------- "Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy |
Posted By: Michael678
Date Posted: June 14 2014 at 07:46
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in cases like these, i say "Who gives a f**k?" cause i don't and they went through this stuff for a long time so its nothing new. and by the way, i think its just similarity, not plagiarism (imho). ------------- Progrockdude |
Posted By: Moogtron III
Date Posted: June 14 2014 at 07:50
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It is quite well known that Stairway had a theme copied from Taurus, for so many years it is known. It's rather odd to see that after 20 years there is a legal issue.
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Posted By: aapatsos
Date Posted: June 14 2014 at 08:19
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Read about this a few days ago and agree there is a lot of similarity in the tune of "Taurus". But really... get a life BTW Taurus is from the debut album |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: June 14 2014 at 08:28
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There is a similarity but they've left it too late imo. The Stone should have sued for this one |
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: June 14 2014 at 08:41
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Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: June 14 2014 at 08:45
But The Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus has to be the best title ever for a psychedelic album.
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Posted By: Svetonio
Date Posted: June 14 2014 at 15:29
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Everyone was stealing from everyone. It seems that it was "normal" back then. For example, Pete Townshend stole riffs from Ohio's The Lemon Pipers (Green Tambourine, 1968).
Green Tambourine was a hit in the U.S. in 1968; exactly at the time when The Who were at their first U.S. tour Neither the boys from Hertfordshire didn't return from the U.S. without a souvenir ... |
Posted By: Chris S
Date Posted: June 14 2014 at 17:53
Desperate desperate desperate. How pathetic ------------- ...As I venture through the slipstream, between the viaducts in your dreams...[/COLOR] |
Posted By: ProgMetaller2112
Date Posted: June 14 2014 at 18:42
Finally  ------------- “War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.” ― George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four "Ignorance and Prejudice and Fear walk Hand in Hand"- Neil Peart |
Posted By: infocat
Date Posted: June 14 2014 at 23:35
------------- -- Frank Swarbrick Belief is not Truth. |
Posted By: Michael678
Date Posted: June 15 2014 at 07:28
and to add on to what i said back then, it took these guys 40 years. seriously? people already noticed this similarity between these two, but also it was his estate as he unfortunately drowned in '97. but still, it took those guys that amount of time to this, i mean, sheesh, let's just get this over with and get ready for the next round of reissues. ------------- Progrockdude |
Posted By: KingCrInuYasha
Date Posted: June 15 2014 at 11:21
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One thing that I find to be slightly baffling is that with the arrival of the internet, you would think it would be easier for the musicians to prepare their cases. For example, look at this video of the Yardbirds performing Jake Holmes' "Dazed And Confused": And that's just one thing. By the time Holmes filed his suit, there was a lot of evidence to support his claim floating around on the internet. If someone - either Holmes himself, one of his' fans or lawyers, or someone who wanted to troll Jimmy Page - took the time to gather this information, the incident would have been settled earlier and probably would have gotten him a co-writing credit (at the least) instead of "Inspired by". That's just me. Maybe I'm over simplifying things. ------------- He looks at this world and wants it all... so he strikes, like Thunderball! |
Posted By: Dayvenkirq
Date Posted: June 15 2014 at 11:24
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Posted By: Anon-E-Mouse
Date Posted: June 15 2014 at 15:22
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Well, yes, there are striking similarities between the two tunes. But 40 years later??? They've got to be joking!
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Posted By: Dayvenkirq
Date Posted: June 15 2014 at 15:37
| ^ What makes you people think that time matters? Isn't the question: Why are they suing at this particular time? |
Posted By: Polymorphia
Date Posted: June 15 2014 at 16:23
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Is this why they didn't reissue IV? :(
------------- https://dreamwindow.bandcamp.com/releases" rel="nofollow - My Music 
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Posted By: KingCrInuYasha
Date Posted: June 15 2014 at 16:41
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I wouldn't be surprised. ------------- He looks at this world and wants it all... so he strikes, like Thunderball! |
Posted By: Svetonio
Date Posted: June 15 2014 at 16:54
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'68 was a really good year for "inspiration".. |
Posted By: HolyMoly
Date Posted: June 15 2014 at 18:02
------------- My other avatar is a Porsche It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle if it is lightly greased. -Kehlog Albran |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: June 15 2014 at 18:54
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At this point going after Page for pilferage is a bit like going after Tolkien's estate for his use of Celtic and Norse mythologies.
------------- "Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy |
Posted By: Chris S
Date Posted: June 16 2014 at 05:31
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^It is all a big joke these plagiarism conspiracies.....funny you mentioned Tolkien, cos they remind me of a bunch of headless hobbits running around. ------------- ...As I venture through the slipstream, between the viaducts in your dreams...[/COLOR] |
Posted By: Svetonio
Date Posted: June 16 2014 at 05:45
| After all, Bo Diddley is the most robbed artist in rock music. |
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: June 16 2014 at 08:52
| ^Chuck Berry must be close. |
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: June 16 2014 at 09:55
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Posted By: The Dark Elf
Date Posted: June 17 2014 at 09:33
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Much ado about nothing. An attorney akin to an ambulance-chaser is trolling for cash on the heels of a major Led Zep remaster that will garner the band millions and probably a series of #1 albums. Read up on the lawyer, he's a real piece of work. ------------- ...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology... |
Posted By: Michael678
Date Posted: June 18 2014 at 14:18
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well as of late all the 3 albums on the Billboard Top 10 as we speak ------------- Progrockdude |
Posted By: KingCrInuYasha
Date Posted: June 20 2014 at 10:26
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Wow. Talk about staying power. ------------- He looks at this world and wants it all... so he strikes, like Thunderball! |