Stairway to Heaven Plagiarized?

I was talking about Stairway with a guy at the music store in T.O., and he was mentioning how the intro guitar had been ripped off from another song called "Spirit" by Taurus. I kinda didn't believe it till I heard this...

http://s93744050.onlinehome.us/SpiritTrimmed.mp3

Is this just a coincidence, or did Jimmy Page actually steal the riff?

Spirit was the first band Zeppelin ever toured the US with.

I think the two are different enough that you can't say it was plagiarized. but possibly that it was influenced by it.

Originally Posted by: Jolly McJollysonSpirit was the first band Zeppelin ever toured the US with.

So much for coincidence. Jeez... I'm suprised he didn't get sued.

Originally Posted by: 6strngs_2hmbkrsI think the two are different enough that you can't say it was plagiarized. but possibly that it was influenced by it.

It's not really influence if it's the exact same chord progression, though.

Originally Posted by: Jolly McJollysonIt's not really influence if it's the exact same chord progression, though.

but if you look at pop music or christian music you find that they all have the same chord progression, just in different keys. Em C G D gets old real fast

I hate it when people make posts like the one Im making now, but does it matter now? Zep wrote enough great music after Stairway to more than make up for any plagiarisms imo. Doesnt justify it, but I wouldnt take anything away from them for it.

yea, and metallica's "am i evil?" is a rip off of "smoke on the water" :rolleyes:

Originally Posted by: stacknyI hate it when people make posts like the one Im making now, but does it matter now? Zep wrote enough great music after Stairway to more than make up for any plagiarisms imo. Doesnt justify it, but I wouldnt take anything away from them for it.

I'd agree with ya, except I just went Google surfing and came up with this.
Apparently Stairway isn't the only song they were 'influenced' by.

Now by popular demand! A list of some of the songs Zep stole from other artists:

* "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" - A folk song by Anne Bredon, this was originally credited as "traditional, arranged by Jimmy Page," then "words and music by Jimmy Page," and then, following legal action, "Bredon/Page/Plant."
* "Black Mountain Side" - uncredited version of a traditional folk tune previously recorded by Bert Jansch.
* "Bring It On Home" - the first section is an uncredited cover of the Willie Dixon tune (as performed by the imposter Sonny Boy Williamson).
* "Communication Breakdown" - apparently derived from Eddie Cochran's "Nervous Breakdown."
* "Custard Pie" - uncredited cover of Bukka White's "Shake 'Em On Down," with lyrics from Sleepy John Estes's "Drop Down Daddy."
* "Dazed And Confused" - uncredited cover of the Jake Holmes song (see The Above Ground Sound Of Jake Holmes).
* "Hats Off To (Roy) Harper" - uncredited version of Bukka White's "Shake 'Em On Down."
* "How Many More Times" - Part one is an uncredited cover of the Howlin' Wolf song (available on numerous compilations). Part two is an uncredited cover of Albert King's "The Hunter."
* "In My Time Of Dying" - uncredited cover of the traditional song (as heard on Bob Dylan's debut).
* "The Lemon Song" - uncredited cover of Howlin' Wolf's "Killing Floor" - Wolf's publisher sued Zeppelin in the early 70s and settled out of court.
* "Moby Dick" - written and first recorded by Sleepy John Estes under the title "The Girl I Love," and later covered by Bobby Parker.
* "Nobody's Fault But Mine" - uncredited cover of the Blind Willie Johnson blues.
* "Since I've Been Lovin' You" - lyrics are the same as Moby Grape's "Never," though the music isn't similar.
* "Stairway To Heaven" - the main guitar line is apparently from "Taurus" by Spirit.
* "White Summer" - uncredited cover of Davey Graham's "She Moved Through The Fair."
* "Whole Lotta Love" - lyrics are from the Willie Dixon blues "You Need Love."
I'm not listing covers that the band credited to the actual authors ("You Shook Me") or the less blatant ripoffs (the "Superstition" riff in "Trampled Underfoot").

Originally Posted by: z0s0_jpyea, and metallica's "am i evil?" is a rip off of "smoke on the water" :rolleyes:

Metallica didn't write "Am I Evil?" It's a cover of a Diamond Head song.

Still, saying this is a ripoff is pretty credible. I mean, it's pretty blatant.

Originally Posted by: Jolly McJollysonMetallica didn't write "Am I Evil?" It's a cover of a Diamond Head song.

Still, saying this is a ripoff is pretty credible. I mean, it's pretty blatant.

damn...that's right....duh :o

With the help of my girlfriend, I just did a solo 'influenced' by Eruption...

Ladles and Gentlemoon... "Ejaculation"

http://s93744050.onlinehome.us/Ejaculation.mp3


.... yes, I'm enjoying several beers right now. :cool:

Originally Posted by: schmangeWith the help of my girlfriend, I just did a solo 'influenced' by Eruption...

Ladles and Gentlemoon... "Ejaculation"

http://s93744050.onlinehome.us/Ejaculation.mp3


.... yes, I'm enjoying several beers right now. :cool:

Nice....hahaha... :D

Originally Posted by: schmangeWith the help of my girlfriend, I just did a solo 'influenced' by Eruption...

Ladles and Gentlemoon... "Ejaculation"

http://s93744050.onlinehome.us/Ejaculation.mp3


.... yes, I'm enjoying several beers right now. :cool:

HA! Oh god... You need one good whammy dive bomb at the end, though.

In regards to the plagiarism......I just can't help thinking "meh."
Ripped off, yeah, probably, but Led Zep was essentially just a folk/blues band cranked all the way up. And it's not like the blues are known for being original. Just say "got me a woman" with some minor variation 3 times in a row, then some other line regarding prison, death, booze, or more women.

I don't really doubt Led Zep ripped off those songs, but it's probably for the best. The artists they supposedly ripped off are a lot more obscure (well, to me anyway), and if they hadn't ripped 'em off, we'd probably never know they existed.

Originally Posted by: schmangeWith the help of my girlfriend, I just did a solo 'influenced' by Eruption...

Ladles and Gentlemoon... "Ejaculation"

http://s93744050.onlinehome.us/Ejaculation.mp3


.... yes, I'm enjoying several beers right now. :cool:

I don't think I've ever seen anything as cool as that. I bow my head to you.

http://www.guitartricks.com/forum/showpost.php?p=137172&postcount=48

Originally Posted by: schmangeI'd agree with ya, except I just went Google surfing and came up with this.
Apparently Stairway isn't the only song they were 'influenced' by.

Now by popular demand! A list of some of the songs Zep stole from other artists:

* "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" - A folk song by Anne Bredon, this was originally credited as "traditional, arranged by Jimmy Page," then "words and music by Jimmy Page," and then, following legal action, "Bredon/Page/Plant."
* "Black Mountain Side" - uncredited version of a traditional folk tune previously recorded by Bert Jansch.
* "Bring It On Home" - the first section is an uncredited cover of the Willie Dixon tune (as performed by the imposter Sonny Boy Williamson).
* "Communication Breakdown" - apparently derived from Eddie Cochran's "Nervous Breakdown."
* "Custard Pie" - uncredited cover of Bukka White's "Shake 'Em On Down," with lyrics from Sleepy John Estes's "Drop Down Daddy."
* "Dazed And Confused" - uncredited cover of the Jake Holmes song (see The Above Ground Sound Of Jake Holmes).
* "Hats Off To (Roy) Harper" - uncredited version of Bukka White's "Shake 'Em On Down."
* "How Many More Times" - Part one is an uncredited cover of the Howlin' Wolf song (available on numerous compilations). Part two is an uncredited cover of Albert King's "The Hunter."
* "In My Time Of Dying" - uncredited cover of the traditional song (as heard on Bob Dylan's debut).
* "The Lemon Song" - uncredited cover of Howlin' Wolf's "Killing Floor" - Wolf's publisher sued Zeppelin in the early 70s and settled out of court.
* "Moby Dick" - written and first recorded by Sleepy John Estes under the title "The Girl I Love," and later covered by Bobby Parker.
* "Nobody's Fault But Mine" - uncredited cover of the Blind Willie Johnson blues.
* "Since I've Been Lovin' You" - lyrics are the same as Moby Grape's "Never," though the music isn't similar.
* "Stairway To Heaven" - the main guitar line is apparently from "Taurus" by Spirit.
* "White Summer" - uncredited cover of Davey Graham's "She Moved Through The Fair."
* "Whole Lotta Love" - lyrics are from the Willie Dixon blues "You Need Love."
I'm not listing covers that the band credited to the actual authors ("You Shook Me") or the less blatant ripoffs (the "Superstition" riff in "Trampled Underfoot").

Dang, changes my thinking also...