The Latest on a copyright lawsuit over Led Zeppelin’s song “Stairway to Heaven” (all times local):
2:50 p.m.
Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page has taken the stand in a copyright infringement lawsuit in Los Angeles.
Page, wearing a suit and tie, denied Wednesday that he’d ever heard the song “Taurus” by the defunct band Spirit until a few years ago.
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A lawyer for the estate of late Spirit guitarist Randy California is suing, alleging the famous guitar intro on the 1971 Zeppelin ballad “Stairway to Heaven” was lifted from “Taurus.”
Music experts not involved in the case have said the descending chord sequence is a common one.
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1:40 p.m.
A rock musician testifying in a copyright infringement case against Led Zeppelin says he spent time with singer Robert Plant and that a guitar riff from “Stairway to Heaven” sounds identical to one used earlier by his band.
Mark Andes took the stand Wednesday in Los Angeles federal court. A trustee for another member of his group Spirit is suing Led Zeppelin over the famous guitar intro to “Stairway.” The suit claims the riff was lifted from Spirit’s song “Taurus.”
Parts from both songs were played in court, and Andes said they sounded the same. Musical experts not involved with the trial have said the descending chord sequence is common.
Andes testified that his band played “Taurus” at a show in 1968 where Led Zeppelin was the opening act. He also said he drank beer with Plant in England in 1970.
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A lawyer for the singer and guitarist Jimmy Page has said they didn’t hear “Taurus” until decades after it was recorded.
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