On June 15, 2016, legendary Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page took the stand in a Los Angeles courtroom to defend one of rock music’s most iconic songs, “Stairway to Heaven,” against accusations of copyright infringement. The band was accused of lifting the song’s famous opening guitar riff from “Taurus,” a 1968 instrumental track by the American rock band Spirit. The case was brought by Michael Skidmore, a trustee for the estate of Spirit guitarist Randy Wolfe (aka Randy California), who claimed that Led Zeppelin had used key elements of “Taurus” without permission or credit.
Jimmy Page, under oath, firmly denied any intentional copying. He testified that he had not heard “Taurus” until recent years when online users began comparing the two songs. Page acknowledged owning several Spirit albums but insisted he had no recollection of ever listening to “Taurus” before the lawsuit was filed. During cross-examination, Page admitted he did own Spirit’s self-titled debut album — the one that includes “Taurus” — but claimed he had no memory of how or when it entered his collection.
Page also noted that both bands had performed at the same concerts in the late 1960s, but he stressed that he never watched Spirit perform live and was unaware of their music at the time. His testimony aimed to reinforce the argument that any similarity between the two songs was purely coincidental and not the result of copying.
The trial delved deep into the creative process behind “Stairway to Heaven” and the common musical elements shared among rock compositions of that era. The case would ultimately hinge on whether the jury found substantial similarity between the two works — and whether Led Zeppelin had access to “Taurus” when composing their 1971 classic.
