Led Zeppelin ‘Stairway to Heaven’ Plagiarized? Led Zeppelin’s Rock Classic Staple Heard On First Tour By the Band Spirit; Decide for Yourself [VIDEO]

Led Zeppelin are being sued for plagiarism for their biggest, best known song. Stairway to Heaven might have been heard at a concert Led Zeppelin played with the babnd Spirit.

Lawyers for the band Spirit are suing Led Zeppelin for plagiarism, according to Bloomberg Businessweek. The suit claim that Led Zeppelin's 1971 song Stairway to Heaven was lifted from the song "Taurus,"  Spirit's 1968 instrumental track guitarist Randy California (born Randy Wolfe) and the band's former bassist Mark Andes.Plagiarism has plagued popular music since music became popular. Last year, Robin Thicke and K-Pop star IU made headlines for plagiarism charges. Led Zeppelin's signature song "Stairway to Heaven" just joined the list.

According to Led Zeppelin mythology, Jimmy Page wrote the instantly recognizable intro for "Stairway To Heaven" by candlelight in 1970. Page often refers to the song as his "baby." That chord progression has sounded familiar to fans of the band Spirit for years. Now they might get a songwriting credit.

"It's been a long time coming," says Francis Alexander Malofiy, a lawyer representing a trust for the late writer Randy California. "The idea behind this is to make sure that Randy California is given a writing credit on 'Stairway to Heaven.'"

This isn't the first time Led Zeppelin has been hit with plagiarism charges. They changed the credits to "Whole Lotta Love," "The Lemon Song" and "Dazed and Confused" after they were sued for copying more than licks.

According to multiple published reports, Malofiy will seek an injunction against the release of Led Zeppelin's upcoming release of the remastered "Led Zeppelin IV" and also file a copyright infringement lawsuit.

Led Zeppelin and Spirit shared the bill at four concerts between 1968 and 1969. Businessweek claims Spirit played "Taurus" during the shows. According to repots, Led Zeppelin played a medley that included the Spirit song "Fresh-Garbage" on their first U.S. tour. Spirit had a hit with "I Got a Line on You."

Representatives for Led Zeppelin have not made any comment on the Businessweek story.

Speaking of an earlier plagiarism charge, Jimmy Page recently told The New York Times that Led Zeppeling credited Willie Dixon for "Whole Lotta Love" because "Within the lyrics of it, there's [Dixons's] "You Need Love," and there are similarities within the lyrics. Now I'm not pointing a finger at anybody, but I'm just saying that's what happened, and Willie Dixon got credit. Fair enough."

Reissues of "Led Zeppelin," "Led Zeppelin II" and "Led Zeppelin III" are due in stores on June 3rd. 

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led zeppelin stairway to heaven
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