The first question most are asking is why did it take 45 years to bring this case to trial? That we cannot say but we can give you a recap of what happened on the first day of the trial that will determine who owns the right and royalties for the Led Zeppelin song Stairway to Heaven.

Day 1

Michael Skidmore, the executor of deceased “Taurus” songwriter and Spirit member Randy “California” Wolfe, sat across from Jimmy Page and Robert plant and first up was jury selection. After that the witnesses were announced including remaining members of the band Spirit, Mark Andes and Jay Ferguson. For the defense Led Zeppelin Bassist John Paul Jones, who hopes to convince the jury to leave all the royalty dismemberment the way it is.

The lawyer’s played samples of “Taurus” and “stairway to Heaven” and the witnesses were questioned including the defense’s expert musicologist Lawrence Ferrara.  Lawyer for Led Zeppelin Peter Anderson made the claim that “Taurus” was not owned by Wolfe’s trust but by Lou Adler’s Hollenbeck Music therefore even if Skidmore could prove the song was stolen he could not claim royalties on behalf of Randy California and the band.

Led Zeppelin lawyer Peter Anderson also explained to the jury that the chromatic chord progression from both songs known as a “minor line cliché” is played by musicians frequently and its use goes back centuries it has even been used in the Beatles song “Michelle”

The Judge stated very early that this case will not be long and drawn out and does not want it lasting longer than 10 hours in total.

 

 

 

 

 

Filed under: led zeppelin, music, Spirit, stairway to heaven, taurus