Led Zeppelin get caught out again

Led Zeppelin get caught out again
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Mon 5 Jul 2010

Legendary British rockers Led Zeppelin are once again being targeted over claims of copyright breach, with a 73-year-old folk singer suing over the track “Dazed And Confused”.

One of Zeppelin’s most famous tunes (the title going on to inspire a Hollywood movie title), for over 40 years the song has been credited to guitarist Jimmy Page. It appeared on the very first self-titled Led Zeppelin album back in 1969, and since then was always thought to be a Page original.

Turns out folk-singer Jake Holmes recorded and wrote the tune on his own 1967 LP, The Above Ground Sound of Jake Holmes. Page even covered the song later on with his pre-Zeppelin group, the Yardbirds.

Now the 73-year-old folkie has had enough and wants his share of Zeppelin profits. He’s sued the band in California’s US District Court for the Central District last week, asking for both damages and royalties.

It’s not the first time Zeppelin have overlooked accrediting proper songwriters. One of their most famous numbers, “Whole Lotta Love”, turned out to be a reworking of a song penned by blues musician Muddy Waters, titled “You Need Love”. Meanwhile “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” was another blues number (this time by Willie Dixon”) and “Boogie With Stu” was a new version of the tune “Ooh My Head”, by rock & roller Ritchie Valens.

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