Led Zeppelin didn’t steal music for ‘Stairway to Heaven,’ jury rules
At issue in the case was whether the British band stole the opening passage from an instrumental song by L.A. rock outfit Spirit
Rock giant Led Zeppelin did not lift music that formed the basis for their iconic hit “Stairway to Heaven,” a jury found, clearing the iconic band of accusations that it stole the opening of one of rock’s most celebrated songs.
The unanimous decision by the panel of eight men and women came after a weeklong trial in which Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant and bassist John Paul Jones took the stand to rebuff the claim of thievery and tell how the band’s most famous song was created nearly half a century ago.
Jones was not a defendant in the case.
Page and Plant hugged members of their defence team after the clerk read the verdict from the four-man, four-woman jury.
“We are grateful for the jury’s conscientious service and pleased that it has ruled in our favour, putting to rest questions about the origins of ‘Stairway to Heaven’ and confirming what we have known for 45 years,” they said in a joint statement. “We appreciate our fans’ support, and look forward to putting this legal matter behind us.”