On this day in 2016, rock legend Jimmy Page walked into a courtroom—not with a guitar slung over his shoulder, but with a $79 million lawsuit hanging over his head. The iconic opening riff of Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” was under fire. Michael Skidmore, speaking for late Spirit guitarist Randy Wolfe, claimed Page and Robert Plant stole the riff from Spirit’s 1968 song “Taurus.” Page took the stand, calm but firm, swearing he’d never even heard the track until the internet lit up with accusations. Then, like a scene out of a movie, he picked up a guitar in front of the judge and jury, played the legendary riff—and proved his case. Led Zeppelin walked out with their legacy intact
On This Day in 2016: Jimmy Page Played for His Legacy in Court—and Won Nine years ago today, the hallowed chords of Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway […]