Zeppelin's back in the news

[Paducah Home Theater]

Holy crap, I was about to dismiss it but I'm listening to the Taurus one right now and that's straight up Stairway.  Two different people don't just make that up twice in a short period of time.  Is kind of strange though, over in Japan they kind of have the opposite view, had you done this there the original artist would consider it to be a big honor.  

 

I do think that you need to still be alive and it needs to not be 45 years after the fact though for a lawsuit to go through.  Just a wee bit late.  Sounds like some lawyers see some paychecks in the distance and that's all that is driving this.  

Edited April 14, 2016 by MetropolisLakeOutfitters

[oldred]

Man.... To think all the times I was token up listening to that song.... It was stolen.... Still good.... The song that is..... Gave up token up years ago.... You know how it goes.... I got to give that up before I turn 30.... Turns into I got to give that up before I turn 40.... Then when you turn 50 you finally give it up. 

Personally I think the judge needs to do some token up..... Got to go...

 

G.E.M 

Edited April 15, 2016 by oldred

[Jeff Matthews]

I consider Zeppelin the best band ever, just imo.

 

Me, too. 

[mark1101]

So if Zep loses.............who pays?  Zep the corporation?  The record company?  Can they go after the musician's personal wealth?  What if Zep declares bankrupcy or is considered defunct/disbanded?

[akdave]

Great question. I have no idea. The timing of this, so long after its release, is part of what makes this so interesting.

[Ceptorman]

 

I consider Zeppelin the best band ever, just imo.

 

Me, too. 

 

+3

[JL Sargent]

I wonder if the court can/will take into consideration previous decisions handed down against Zepplin with similar lawsuits. What is this, #3?

[Travis In Austin]

So if Zep loses.............who pays? Zep the corporation? The record company? Can they go after the musician's personal wealth? What if Zep declares bankrupcy or is considered defunct/disbanded?

They would be owed on Copyright and mechnical. So Page, individually, Plant, individually, Jones was dismissed, he didnt claim a writing credit.

The publishing company for any sheet music sold.

The record company,who is Atlantic I think, now a part of who? Sony?

They are all solvent, that's why it will settle.

[JJkizak]

I would fight it to the end holding that record in my cold dead hands. OOOppps, that might be a copyright violation.

JJK

[JohnA]

I hear the similarities and some differences.  After learning to play bass enough to embarrass myself, I think Stairway To Heaven may have been inspired by Taurus (the downward chord progression), but, only that.  The songs are too different, really. 

 

Edited April 16, 2016 by John Albright

[Khornukopia]

There's a sign on the wall
But she wants to be sure
'Cause you know sometimes words have two meanings

 

There's a feeling I get
When I look to the west,
And my SPIRIT is crying for leaving

 

[Travis In Austin]

If anyone is interested in the technical legal aspects of the lawsuit, here is a link to a site that discusses in pretty good detail what the plaintiff's claims are, the defenses, and the court's recent decision throwing out certain claims, but allowing some claims proceed to a jury.

It contains a link to the actual decsion of the court.

The decision discusses the difference between "strikingly somilar" and "substantially similar" and why a similar 4 chord progression is enough to let a jury decide.

http://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/skidmore-v-led-zeppelin-usdc-c-d-96590/

[Islander]

Then there's Little Roger and the Goosebumps.  They did a version of Gilligan's Island to the tune of Stairway to Heaven.  Led Zep jumped all over them to block the sale of the 45, which is why it's not widely known.  They claimed that this song devalued their most important song and money earner, and I think they won the case. 

 

However, some radio stations did play it, so it's not totally obscure.  It's very hard to find a copy, though, since it was a limited run.

 

See what you think:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8oGz0mxwks

 

 

This clip is the same, but without the scratches and the amusing video:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mg-MuLvAQe4

 

 

In related news, the SS Minnow is moored in Nanaimo, on central Vancouver Island.  I saw it there about ten years ago.  It has been fully restored and you can take a 3-hour tour on it.  Seriously.

 

http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/gilligan-s-ss-minnow-to-offer-3-hour-vancouver-island-tours-1.751062

[Travis In Austin]

Then there's Little Roger and the Goosebumps.  They did a version of Gilligan's Island to the tune of Stairway to Heaven.  Led Zep jumped all over them to block the sale of the 45, which is why it's not widely known.  They claimed that this song devalued their most important song and money earner, and I think they won the case. 

 

However, some radio stations did play it, so it's not totally obscure.  It's very hard to find a copy, though, since it was a limited run.

 

See what you think:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8oGz0mxwks

 

 

This clip is the same, but without the scratches and the amusing video:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mg-MuLvAQe4

 

 

In related news, the SS Minnow is moored in Nanaimo, on central Vancouver Island.  I saw it there about ten years ago.  It has been fully restored and you can take a 3-hour tour on it.  Seriously.

 

http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/gilligan-s-ss-minnow-to-offer-3-hour-vancouver-island-tours-1.751062

Now that brought back some great memories. Little Roger and the Goosebumps played at my high school, and they would play that song. It was on the radio all of the time one summer, '78 or '79 maybe?

I thought I remember reading something where Page said he heard the song and really liked it.

In any event, times change, and somebody, somewhere, has given the o.k. for their song to be released. I bet the vinyl is worth a pretty penny.

http://www.amazon.com/Laguna-Tunes-Various-Artists/dp/B0000457GF

[Jeff Matthews]

I had to laugh at Stairway to Gilligan's Island.  I've never heard of it before.  It's funny the way the poetry matches the music.

[Jeff Matthews]

If anyone is interested in the technical legal aspects of the lawsuit, here is a link to a site that discusses in pretty good detail what the plaintiff's claims are, the defenses, and the court's recent decision throwing out certain claims, but allowing some claims proceed to a jury.

It contains a link to the actual decsion of the court.

The decision discusses the difference between "strikingly somilar" and "substantially similar" and why a similar 4 chord progression is enough to let a jury decide.

http://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/skidmore-v-led-zeppelin-usdc-c-d-96590/

 

Reading Part III A of the Opinion made me want to vomit.  Granted, Led Zeppelin is the best band ever, and so, I am biased.  However, the reflux comes about because as we all know in litigation, experts are paid whores who can, and will, say anything.  It is so interesting to hear them talk about how the songs are "substantially similar" because of things like "a Renaissance feeling about them" and “the use of reverb to create a mystic, dreamlike quality [so that] each note of the guitar has a ‘whispering tail.’”

 

Yeah, right.  If this is the standard, then let any musician without sin cast the first stone.  Ridiculous!

[oldtimer]

Then there's Little Roger and the Goosebumps.  They did a version of Gilligan's Island to the tune of Stairway to Heaven.  Led Zep jumped all over them to block the sale of the 45, which is why it's not widely known.  They claimed that this song devalued their most important song and money earner, and I think they won the case. 

 

However, some radio stations did play it, so it's not totally obscure.  It's very hard to find a copy, though, since it was a limited run.

 

See what you think:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8oGz0mxwks

 

 

This clip is the same, but without the scratches and the amusing video:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mg-MuLvAQe4

 

 

In related news, the SS Minnow is moored in Nanaimo, on central Vancouver Island.  I saw it there about ten years ago.  It has been fully restored and you can take a 3-hour tour on it.  Seriously.

 

http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/gilligan-s-ss-minnow-to-offer-3-hour-vancouver-island-tours-1.751062

I love that song.

[akdave]

Then there's Little Roger and the Goosebumps.  They did a version of Gilligan's Island to the tune of Stairway to Heaven.  Led Zep jumped all over them to block the sale of the 45, which is why it's not widely known.  They claimed that this song devalued their most important song and money earner, and I think they won the case. 

 

However, some radio stations did play it, so it's not totally obscure.  It's very hard to find a copy, though, since it was a limited run.

 

See what you think: 

 

 

This clip is the same, but without the scratches and the amusing video:

 

 

 

In related news, the SS Minnow is moored in Nanaimo, on central Vancouver Island.  I saw it there about ten years ago.  It has been fully restored and you can take a 3-hour tour on it.  Seriously.

 

http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/gilligan-s-ss-minnow-to-offer-3-hour-vancouver-island-tours-1.751062

That's funny! I'll say it makes one appreciate Plants vocals when you hear this guy try to crank out the high parts.

[Woofers and Tweeters]

“If you use up your 10 hours, you’re out -- that’s it,” the judge said.

 

 

Getting Credit

Skidmore and the trust, if they win, would only be entitled under copyright law to a share of “Stairway to Heaven” revenue for the three years before the case was filed. They also would be entitled to royalties going forward. Malofiy declined to comment on the possible size of a verdict.

[Jeff Matthews]

“If you use up your 10 hours, you’re out -- that’s it,” the judge said.

 

 

Getting Credit

Skidmore and the trust, if they win, would only be entitled under copyright law to a share of “Stairway to Heaven” revenue for the three years before the case was filed. They also would be entitled to royalties going forward. Malofiy declined to comment on the possible size of a verdict.

 

Further from the article:

 

“The most important thing is to receive the credit,” he said after the hearing. “Give credit where credit is due.”

For "Stairway to Heaven?"  Ha!  I don't think so.  Maybe for that single bar of 4 seconds or so, but the song is much more than that.