14 DAY TRIAL // A US lawyer is preparing the legal paperwork in a lawsuit that will intend to show how legendary rock band Led Zeppelin stole at least one line from the classic hit “Stairway to Heaven” from another rock band from the `60s, Spirit.
The lawsuit aims to obtain an injunction against the reissue of Led Zeppelin's album “Led Zeppelin IV” on behalf of dead guitarist Randy California, the member of the band Spirit who wrote the song after which the hit is believed to be inspired.
The case alleges that one line of the song and the similar instrumental is identical to one of Spirit's songs, “Taurus.” Francis Malofiy, attorney for the dead California claims that Led Zeppelin came into contact with the song when playing as a supporting act for Spirit, in the late 1960s.
For those wondering why it's taken so long for this lawsuit to be filed, Malofiy explains that “it's been a long time coming,” but that California never had the money to file it and he also believed that the statute limitations prevented him from winning his rights in court.
Rock guitarist California died tragically in 1997, when he tried to save his son from drowning as he was swept by a strong current. It's also the time the lawsuit is believed to have been first set up proper but the timing is more than a little dubious, as Led Zeppelin has recently announced the release of its remastered album.