led spirit

Oh dear.. there's trouble brewing for Jimbo and Led Zep. It seems "Stairway To Heaven" is being called a rip off of Spirit's 1968 track "Taurus". .

"Business Week reports - Spirit founding bassist Mark Andes and the trust that handles (Randy) California’s royalties are working with Philadelphia lawyer Francis Alexander Malofiy, who says he is going to file a copyright infringement lawsuit and seek an injunction to block the rerelease of “Led Zeppelin IV” (as part of that band’s expanded reissue series, which starts next month)."
**Hennemusic

Randy California, Spirit founding member and writer of the precious chords under dispute had been complaining for years before his death in 97 that his song had been nicked after the young Zeppelin crew had toured with his band back in the 60's.
Although you have to wonder why a lawsuit wasn't being chucked around when the song had such success in the 70's. Seems like old wounds never heal.

**The clarity seems to be a present-day clarity, not at the time of infringement,” adds Andes. “I can’t explain it. It is fairly blatant, and note for note. It would just be nice if the Led Zeppelin guys gave Randy a little nod. That would be lovely.”

What the mother suing first line of that means is anyone's guess, well not ours actually, but it's nice to know that Andes and his lawyer have Randy's best interest at heart and all this has nothing what so ever to do with the outstanding fortune a successful lawsuit would bring. Because we all know how benevolent lawyers are, right?
So as one of rocks religious anthems climbs the stairway to the courtroom it's also given the perfect answer for any young guitarist finding themselves banned from the guitar shop for playing those haloed chords.. "Stairway to Heaven? no mate... I'm playing Taurus".

Mind you uploader ' Totally Sounds Like' nailed all this 5 years ago when he compiled the two chord progressions for us all to clock the similarity.. ? You'll probably be the best judge.

the spirit lives on

We don't hear Randy California's name mentioned often these days so as it's his birth date today, born 20th Feb 1951, it might be a good time to remember... boy could he play.
He was in Hendrix's band The Blue Flame as a 15 year old and was considered to join The Experience in it's formative years in the UK, but his parents thought him too young to leave school (ouch that must have hit the kid). He went on to form Spirit a few years later.
Randy never made it through to the new century, died on 2nd January 1997 when rescuing his 12 year-old son after he was sucked into a riptide in the surf off Hawaii.
Here's the multi layered psychedelics of his "Hey Joe".

randy california

A name not mentioned that much in the modern times. As a young 15 year old he was considered a genius of the guitar. Friend of Jimi Hendrix before he found success in England in 1967, Randy California went on to form Spirit with drummer Ed Cassidy. A psychedelic fusion sound that stood them apart from other rock bands of the time. They were due to open for Hendrix at the Woodstock festival but Spirit's management in their infinite wisdom decided to nix that for touring the latest album.
Badly depressed by the death of Jimi Hendrix he left Spirit and released his own album Kapt. Kopter & The Fabulous Twirly Birds, that could easily have been dedicated to Jimi's style of song and guitar.
Randy California died in 1997 rescuing his son from drowning.

Here he plays 'Hey Joe'