Led Zeppelin stole some songs off others

**starbuck** · March 24th, 2007, 12:45 PM

so a guy claims he can back up his claims that Zep stole some of their biggest hits from other artist. The first song he provides proof for is Stairway To Heaven. a band Zeppelin use to open for called Spirit had a song called Taurus that is basicly the original music to Stairway.

**starbuck** · March 24th, 2007, 01:48 PM

you can listen to Taurus here

http://music.yahoo.com/track/825329
And, of course, there's 'Taurus'. All of you certainly know this song even if you have never heard it before. How? Simple. After a brief, gentle strings and Mellotron introduction, Randy California picks up his acoustic and plays a melody that was... yeah, sit up straight: almost perfectly, note-by-note nicked off by Jimmy Page for the main acoustic riff of 'Stairway To Heaven'. Okay, so he changed a couple of chords to make it impossible for Randy to sue him, but that doesn't change the essence - and since it is historically documented that Led Zeppelin once used to open the show for Spirit and Page took a particular interest in 'Taurus', the fact may be considered proved. Not that 'Taurus' is really better than 'Stairway To Heaven' - but it's just different, a short, moody instrumental, with none of 'Stairway's epic magnificence, but also with none of its banal pretentions.

**Veritas** · March 24th, 2007, 04:51 PM

Led Zeppelin had the reputation of ripping off lots of early blues artists especially on their early albums. Read the book "Hammer of the Gods" if you desire more information.

**sup-rbeast** · March 24th, 2007, 04:52 PM

All artists borrow and steal from other artists...doesn't diminish Zep tho

**Ironlung** · March 24th, 2007, 05:03 PM

Nope. Greatest rock band ever.

**starbuck** · March 24th, 2007, 06:27 PM

doesn't really bother me either way, but this guy must really "hate" Zeppelin to go on a rampage about it and a buddy of mine is kind of disappointed when he heard this stuff. I don't really care for Zeppelin myself but I won't deny their influence on Rock music