The intro to Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven' is one of the most recognisable in rock history - but it may not be as original as we have all thought.
The song was written by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, but now they will have to face a jury trial to prove that the composition was entirely theirs, and not partially cribbed from a band that they toured with, Spirit, in the late 1960s.
Michael Skidmore, a trustee for Spirit, is bringing the case on behalf of the late Randy California, who was guitarist with the band. He argues their song 'Taurus' was plagiarised for 'Stairway to Heaven', and that California (real name Randy Wolfe) should have gotten a writing credit.
The case will now go to trial on May 10th, after a judge found that the similarities between the two songs were strong enough for Wolfe's case to be made.
Plant and Page will have to give evidence and prove that their most famous song was 100% their composition. The only comments that they have made so far have been that the song's "chord progressions were so clichéd that they did not deserve copyright protection".
What do you think? Hear an examination of the two songs below:
