Led Zeppelin’s ‘Stairway to Heaven’ in Copyright Trial … Copied From the Song “Taurus” by the Band Spirit

Stairway to Heaven the Court Room …

Starting on Tuesday, a Los Angeles court will try to decide whether the members of the legendary rock band Led Zeppelin ripped off the riff from Stairway to Heaven. The copyright lawsuit was brought by the trustee of guitarist Randy Wolfe from the band Spirit. Attorneys for the trustee contend that 1971′s “Stairway to Heaven” stole the riff from the Spirit song “Taurus,” which Wolfe wrote in either 1966 or 1967. Wolfe died in 1997.

FOX News:

Generations of aspiring guitarists have tried to copy the riff from Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven.”

Starting on Tuesday, a Los Angeles court will try to decide whether the members of Led Zeppelin themselves ripped off the riff.

The band’s guitarist Jimmy Page and singer Robert Plant are named as defendants in the lawsuit brought by the trustee of guitarist Randy Wolfe from the band Spirit. Attorneys for the trustee contend that 1971′s “Stairway to Heaven” copies music from the Spirit song “Taurus,” which Wolfe wrote in either 1966 or 1967. Wolfe died in 1997, drowning while saving his son in Hawaii.

Page, Plant and their bandmate John Paul Jones are all expected to testify at the trial, though Jones has been dismissed as a defendant in the case.

Led Zeppelin and Spirit performed at some concerts and festivals around the same time, but not on the same stage.

U.S District Judge R. Gary Klausner ruled in April that evidence presented in hearings made a credible case that Led Zeppelin may have heard “Taurus” performed before their song was created.

We report, you make the call. Below are the videos of both songs ‘Taurus’ and ‘Stairway to Heaven.’ Hmm, the very beginning is rather similar, especially at the 44 second mark of Taurus. This is going to be a tough call to call and prove.

Spirit – Taurus

Led Zeppelin-Stairway to Heaven

UPDATE I: The copyright infringement lawsuit against Led Zeppelin of its classic “Stairway to Heaven” has now gone to the jury.

The copyright infringement lawsuit against Led Zeppelin over the songwriting credits and profits of its classic “Stairway to Heaven” has now gone to the jury, which began deliberations Wednesday morning.

In the sixth day of the case – “Michael Skidmore v. Led Zeppelin et al” (the “et al” referring to corporate defendants Atlantic Records, Rhino Records and Warner/Chappell Music) – both sides made final arguments in Court 850 of Los Angeles’ Edward R. Roybal Federal Building and United States Courthouse. The presiding judge, Gary Klausner, allotted counsel representing the plaintiffs (the trust of Randy “California” Wolfe, whose composition “Taurus” for the band Spirit they allege has been plagiarized) and Zeppelin’s defense team 45 minutes each to convince the eight-person jury of their arguments.

22 Year Old Former ‘Voice’ Singer Christina Grimmie Dead, Shot to Death Following Orlando Concert (Update: Gunman Kills Himself)

TRAGIC …

22 year old Christina Grimmie  has been shot dead following her concert in Orlando, Florida. The former NBC “The Voice” singer was shot to death while she signed autographs for fans following her concert. Grimmie was performing with the band Before You Exit at The Plaza Live on Bumby Avenue. The gunman, who was described as a 21-year-old white man, walked toward Grimmie with two guns and shot her. The unidentified gunman shot himself in a scuffle following the shooting. Sadly, Grimmie has taken to a local area hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Hours before what would be her last concert, singer Christina Grimmie jovially invited fans to see her show in central Florida in a video that she posted on social media on Friday afternoon.

Not long after, the former star of NBC’s “The Voice” would be dead — shot by a man who walked up to her after the performance in Orlando, police said.

The man who shot and killed singer Christina Grimmie in Orlando on Friday night was not from that central Florida city, and “traveled to Orlando apparently to commit this crime,” Orlando Police Chief John Mina told reporters Saturday.

The gunman — who authorities say fatally shot himself after shooting Grimmie — was a 21-year-old white man, and had two handguns, two additional loaded magazines and a large hunting knife, Mina said.

REST IN PEACE

Christina Grimmie shot while signing autographs after concert.

At some point during the interaction with fans, the gunman, who was described as a 21-year-old white man, walked toward Grimmie with two guns and shot her.

At a news conference Saturday, police said the gunman was not from the area. They said he was carrying two extra magazines of ammunition and a hunting knife.

Police said Grimmie’s brother immediately tackled the assailant, and during the subsequent struggle, he shot himself.

UPDATE I: Police: Suspect specifically targeted Christina Grimmie.

The 27-year-old man, whose name police did not release, travelled to The Plaza Live theater with two small-caliber handguns Friday night. He walked up to Grimmie, who was signing autographs after the show, and shot her at about 10:30 p.m., Police Chief John Mina said. Her brother immediately tackled the suspect and the man shot himself at the scene.

The man came to Orlando from another city in Florida with the intention of killing Grimmie, Mina said. He declined to say which city.

Mina said no car was found at the venue and police believe the man arranged transportation to and from the venue. No detail was given about how he originally arrived in Orlando.

Daily Commentary – Monday, April 25, 2016 – Although Not My Favorite Style of Music, Sad to See Prince Die at Age 57

• Many loved him and his music and hailed him as a music icon and genius

Daily Commentary – Monday, April 25, 2016 Download

MTV Plans a Major Return to Music … What a Novel Concept (VIDEO)

MTV plans to put the MUSIC back in MTV …

As reported at the LA Times, What’s old is new: MTV plots a major return to music. Wow, imagine that, MTV finally realizes after a terrible past 25 years of programming that the “M” in MTV actually stands for music. I have to admit and I am about to date myself, I remember the very first day and song that MTV hit TV. How can you forget the music video, Video Killed the Radio Star by the Buggles.  In 1981 it was a ground breaking event when a 24 hour music television was born. And yes, I had such a crush on Martha Quinn

Then MTV decided to go the way of the dodo and do everything and anything except music. They had an opportunity to ride the wave and they went the wrong direction. However, for MTV is probably too late and too much innovation has taken place since 1981, because just as Video killed the Radio star, the Internet and social media may have killed MTV.

MTV’s original show

For much of the modern era, the word music in the MTV acronym has been an afterthought, a vestige of an earlier time and identity.

That’s all about to change.

Under the guidance of new President Sean Atkins, the youth network is embarking on a redo that will put music at its center.

With ratings flat or down in a number of time periods, MTV is turning to songs as its savior. The network is prepping a new version of its classic “Unplugged”; a music competition show in the world of hip-hop produced by Mark Burnett; and an L.A.-set live-music series titled “Wonderland.” The last one is MTV’s first such program in about two decades.

Though much of the network’s success this century has come via nonscripted series with little connection to bands (“Jersey Shore,” “The Hills”)–and though original scripted programming remains the rage across much of the cable dial — MTV believes it will fare better by returning to its roots.

“The thing that kept coming back when I first started this job was, ‘Why doesn’t MTV do more music?” Atkins said in an interview. “Music is our muse, our spirit animal. And it’s a great muse to have. So we’re leaning into it.”

Buggles – Video killed the radio star

Prince Found Unresponsive at his Paisley Park Residence … Dead at 57, RIP

PURPLE RAIN HAS PASSED AWAY … WHEN DOVES CRY.

Prince Rogers Nelson, better known as the iconic music superstar Prince has passed away at the age of 57. According to reports, Prince was briefly hospitalized last Friday with what his representatives said was the flu, which caused him to cancel two shows earlier in April. The medical examiners office has received Prince’s body and will perform an autopsy Friday. However, TMZ is reporting that it may have been a drug overdose before his death. Sadly, we have lost another music giant far too soon.

This one stings a bit, especially when the music artists of your youth start dying, and far too soon. We did not know  it at the time in the 1980′s, but we were not just listening to Prince and the Revolution, but a revolutionary performer. Prince was inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, and performed a legendary version of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” to close the ceremony. REST IN PEACE.

1999

Prince passed away Thursday morning at his Paisley Park recording studio. He was 57.

Prince’s publicist, Yvette Noel-Schure, confirmed the pop music superstar’s death early Thursday afternoon.

“It is with profound sadness that I am confirming that the legendary, iconic performer, Prince Rogers Nelson, has died at his Paisley Park residence this morning at the age of 57,” Noel-Schure said. “There are no further details as to the cause of death at this time.”

Carver County Sheriff Chief Deputy Jason Kamerud says deputies responded to Paisley Park at 9:43 a.m. on the report of a medical situation.

When deputies and medical personnel arrived, they found Prince unresponsive in the elevator. Responders attempted to provide lifesaving CPR, but were unable to revive him.

He was pronounced dead at 10:07 a.m.

Purple Rain

UPDATE I: Prince’s 40 Biggest Billboard Hits.

The man born Prince Rogers Nelson was an icon on Billboard’s Hot 100 songs chart (and fittingly won Billboard’s Icon Award at the 2013 Billboard Music Awards), where he racked up an impressive array of hits, including five No. 1s. They range from his unforgettable chart-toppers (“Let’s Go Crazy,” “Kiss”) to funk workouts (“Hot Thing,” “Controversy”) to gorgeous love songs (“The Most Beautiful Girl in the World,” “Take Me With U”).

Billboard is looking back on Prince’s long career with his 40 top Hot 100 hits. The list is led by his No. 1 smash from the Purple Rain soundtrack, “When Doves Cry.”

Here are Prince’s 40 biggest Billboard Hot 100 hits:

Rank, Title, Hot 100 Peak Year, Position (Weeks Spent at No. 1)
1, “When Doves Cry,” 1984, No. 1 (5)*
2, “Kiss,” 1986, No. 1 (2)*
3, “Let’s Go Crazy,” 1984, No. 1 (2)*
4, “Cream,” 1991, No. 1 (2)**
5, “Batdance,” 1989, No. 1 (1)
6, “Raspberry Beret,” 1985, No. 2*
7, “U Got the Look,” 1987, No. 2
8, “Purple Rain,” 1984, No. 2*
9, “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World,” 1994, No. 3
10, “Sign ‘O’ the Times,” 1987, No. 3

One of my favorites – Little Red Corvette

WAPO Obit:

An eccentric, eclectic and electrifying singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer and arranger, Prince Rogers Nelson became one of popular music’s leading stars in the 1980s — a towering figure who found enormous critical and commercial success by blending R&B and rock to make a relentlessly funky, soulful and sensual stew.

Recording Academy President Neil Portnow referred to Prince — a seven-time Grammy winner — as “one of the most uniquely gifted artists of all time.”

“Never one to conform, he redefined and forever changed our musical landscape,” Portnow said in a statement. “Prince was an original who influenced so many, and his legacy will live on forever. We have lost a true innovator and our sincerest condolences go out to his family, friends, collaborators, and all who have been impacted by his incredible work.”

Prince, the son of a jazz musician, was born Prince Rogers Nelson in June 1958. His debut album, “For You,” was released in 1978; one year later came “Prince,” an album that contained “I Wanna Be Your Lover,” his first hit.

That pair of albums “unveiled a budding genius and one-man band,” the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame said.

In the early 1980s, Prince released “1999.”

Then, in 1984, came “Purple Rain,” which “elevated Prince from cult hero to superstar,” the Rock Hall said.