Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant and Jimmy Page face legal action over 'stealing' Stairway to Heaven

Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant and Jimmy Page are to face a US case over claims they used the opening chord progressions for their hit, Stairway To Heaven.

On Friday, US District Judge Gary Klausner said the 1971 song from the band’s fourth studio album bares “substantial” similarities to Spirit’s 1967 track Taurus.

Judge Klausner said: "While it is true that a descending chromatic four-chord progression is a common convention that abounds in the music industry, the similarities here transcend this core structure.

"What remains is a subjective assessment of the 'concept and feel' of two works ... a task no more suitable for a judge than for a jury."

The lawsuit was brought by Michael Skidmore, a trustee for the late Spirit guitarist and Taurus composer, Randy Wolfe.

Mr Skidmore claims Page may have been inspired to write Stairway To Heaven after the two bands toured together in 1968 and 1969. Wolfe was not credited.

According to Mr Skidmore's lawsuit, Wolfe had complained about the similarities before his death in 1997.

But lawyers for Plant and Page say Wolfe was a songwriter for hire and, therefore, had no claim to copyright and that the chord progression in Stairway To Heaven is too well-known for such protection.

A trial is scheduled for May 10.

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