'Stairway to Heaven' leads to copyright-infringement lawsuit - KPLC 7 News, Lake Charles, Louisiana

'Stairway to Heaven' leads to copyright-infringement lawsuit

The lawsuit alleges that the iconic guitar opening of the song "Stairway to Heaven" was ripped off from another band's song. (Source: Heinrich Klaffs/Wikipedia) The lawsuit alleges that the iconic guitar opening of the song "Stairway to Heaven" was ripped off from another band's song. (Source: Heinrich Klaffs/Wikipedia)

(RNN) - Led Zeppelin has been slapped with a lawsuit over its breakout hit, Stairway to Heaven, more than 40 years after its release.

The lawsuit alleges that the iconic guitar opening of the song was ripped off from Spirit, a California-based band that reached its zenith in the late 1960s.

The trust of the late Randy California, the front man of the band, as well as bassist Mark Andes, are joining forces in the lawsuit ahead of a Led Zeppelin re-release, according to the Guardian.

The lawsuit alleges the opening for Stairway to Heaven mirrors Taurus, an instrumental track from Spirit's eponymous first album.

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The bands crossed paths during some U.S. gigs in 1968, when Led Zeppelin first toured in the U.S.

Born Randy Wolfe, California as a teen played in Jimi Hendrix's band, Jimmy James and the Blue Flames. It was Hendrix who gave him the moniker Randy California to differentiate him from the other Randy in the band, according to the Randy California tribute website.

In 1997, California drowned saving his son from a rip current in Hawaii.

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