Jury could rewrite history of Led Zeppelin’s epic ‘Stairway’

A lawyer representing the estate of a deceased songwriter criticized members of Led Zeppelin for “selective” memories and “convenient” truths in testifying about the origin of Jimmy Page’s acoustic guitar opening of the 1971 rock anthem.

The trust for the late songwriter Randy Wolfe claimed Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page and singer Robert Plant stole a riff from Wolfe’s 1968 instrumental “Taurus” recorded with the band Spirit.

After the proceeding, Page and Plant thanked fans for their support and said they were eager to put the legal battle behind them.

Both men wore sharp suits, white shirts and ties throughout the trial and had their hair pulled back in neat ponytails.

“The reality is that we proved access, but (the jury) could never hear what (Page and Plant) had access to”, said trust attorney Francis Malofiy, who described the jury’s decision as disappointing, according to The Washington Post.

A California jury has ruled that the members of Led Zeppelin did not plagiarize the opening bars of their hit “Stairway to Heaven”, a seminal song in rock history.

A jury ruled in favor of the rock band Led Zeppelin in a multi-million dollar lawsuit that claimed their song “Stairway to Heaven”, especially the iconic guitar riff played by member Jimmy Page, was copied from a 1968 song called “Taurus” from the band Spirit.

Musicologist Alexander Stewart said the rhythm, chords and harmonies of Taurus, and the introduction to Stairway To Heaven, were “virtually identical”, while professional musician Kevin Hanson said the two songs had a “striking similarity”.

Plant cracked up the courtroom when said he didn’t remember most people he had hung out with over the years.

The Guardian reports that Plant denied any connection or inspiration from Taurus: “I really don’t recall any of the bands I saw there or everyone I ever hung out with”.

Wolfe died in 1997 and complained of the similarity in interviews but never brought a suit.

The name of Tom Jobim, one of the most influential Brazilian artists, unexpectedly came up during the trial of British rock band Led Zeppelin.

“I’d be shocked if they didn’t try to get attorneys’ fees and I’d be surprised it they don’t get them”, Hochberg said. The trust relied on expert accounts from the sheet music filed with the U.S. Copyright Office. Though witnesses said they’d spotted Plant – and his distinctive curly mane – at a Spirit show in 1970, Plant noted that he’d been in a serious vehicle wreck only hours later and had no memory of the prior evening.

Spirit’s bassist Mark Andes testified last week he met Plant at the show and played snooker with him afterward.

Dressed more flamboyantly for the verdict in blue jeans, a black shirt and jacket and a red tie, Plant, 67, and his 72-year-old bandmate circulated a written statement noting the jury’s “conscientious service”.