Led Zeppelin goes on trial for 'Stairway to Heaven' in Los Angeles [View all]

[steve2470]

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-music-ledzeppelin-idUSKCN0Z00XR

A musical riff Led Zeppelin is accused of stealing from another band for its 1971 classic "Stairway to Heaven" was not unique, singer Robert Plant and guitarist Jimmy Page's attorney said at a civil trial on Tuesday.

"No one owns common musical elements," defense attorney Peter Anderson said in opening arguments for the copyright infringement trial in Los Angeles federal court.

The lawsuit, which alleges the British band stole the opening chords for "Stairway to Heaven" from the 1967 instrumental "Taurus" by the American band Spirit, was brought by Michael Skidmore, a trustee for the late Randy Wolfe, Spirit's guitarist and the composer of "Taurus."

"Stairway to Heaven" is considered one of the most widely heard compositions in rock history and is the signature song of Led Zeppelin, which broke up in 1980.